The Importance of Parks for the Community and the People
Have you ever had a day so stressful and difficult that you had to go on walk? Just to get away from a terrible situation even if only for a moment. You then walk outdoors hoping to calm your nerves, reflect, and regain your composure. When you go on a walk, whether down the street or in a nearby park, do you feel at peace or rejuvenated? Well, there is a scientific reason for why you feel better after taking time to go outside. Studies have shown the positive effects from going or living near a park have positive effects on mental health, physical activity, social gathering, local economic support and child development. By just walking to the closest park you are doing wonders for your mind and body.
Issues of mental health complications effect many people in the United States. Mental health issues have greater prevalence in urban environments. A study was conducted comparing rural living to urban living. The results showed that the majority of the urban participants developed signs of mood and anxiety disorders. According to McHale et al., mental distress is common among urban residents. “Mental distress has been linked with several health issues such as coronary heart disease and stroke” (McHale et al., Pub Med). In the majority of cases, greenery seemed to alleviate some of the symptoms of mental distress the residents experienced. Green areas, even small fragmented areas of greenery seemed to alleviate distress and resulted in improvement in overall mental wellbeing (McHale et al., Pub Med).
In addition to alleviating mental distress, parks have helped many adults deal with the financial distress that comes with socioeconomic inequality. A study utilized 21,244 adults within Barcelona to determine the effects parks have on different socioeconomic backgrounds. Socioeconomic status and location of residents varied between the participants chosen for the study. Researchers examined the psychological and financial stress each participant experienced. Considering the residential location of the participants, results showed the difference in financial stress between the least and most financially burdened diminished by 40% when they had easy access to greenery and parks (Rodriguez, City Parks May Mend the Mind).
Parks allow for people to enjoy the beauty of nature while also engaging in physical activity. Older people, especially, benefit from parks as it allows them to stay physically and mentally stimulated. As people get older their physical maneuverability becomes limited. As a result, strenuous physical activity cannot be achieved. By allowing older people to walk through parks and along nature trails, older people are able to partake in physical activity. In addition, social participation among people starts to decline as they get older. By getting outdoors and participating, parks provides “forms of activities (that) can contribute to a greater sense of social integration particularly among older adults” (Moore et al, 321, Associations Among Park Users…)
Likewise, parks appear to have numerous benefits towards children. Besides providing a safe place for children to experience fun, there has been noticeable improvement in cognitive functionality among younger children. This data comes from a study conducted on 2,593 children between the ages of 7 and 10 at multiple primary schools throughout Barcelona (Rodriguez, City Parks May Mend the Mind). Payam Dadvand, a physician and researcher at the Center for Research in Environmental Epidemiology in Barcelona states, “green spaces provide children with opportunities to develop mental skills such as discovery and creativity.” In addition, parks assist with mental development by reducing air pollution and noise and increasing physical activity among children. (Rodriguez City Parks May Mend the Mind).
In urban areas, parks are frequented often for social interaction. According the Jaime Rae Walker, the natural elements of parks encourage social interaction among park dwellers. 70% of people in a Californian park study indicated they interacted with fellow park-goers even with something as simple as a “hello.” Parks are great way to meet and interact with people who you otherwise may never have the opportunity to speak to. Because parks cater to many demographics of people, it serves as a “green magnet” for pulling in people from different backgrounds to intermingle and interact with one another (Walker, Parks: Community Place…). A study done in New York parks indicated many people appreciated seeing familiar faces. It allows for a chance to meet new friends, become acquainted with people regularly seen at the park, and develop a sense of familiarity with people (Walker, Parks: Community Places…). Given the geographic and population size of an urban area like New York City, parks seem like an efficient way to foster a sense of community amongst its residents.
With the growing rate of urban environments, parks also play a vital ecological role within the urban center. Growing urban populations have led to the rise in a phenomenon called Urban Heating Islands (UHIs). This is caused by impervious ground surfaces (concrete), loss of vegetation, and industrial and human activity (Chen et al., Pub Med). Urban Heating Islands increase surface and air temperatures, increase the water and energy consumption (that comes from air conditioners) and increase ground level pollutants which are dangerous to human health. According to the research done by Chen et al., the best solution to the UHI problem, is implementation of vegetation in urban centers. Vegetations cools down urban areas through shade and a process called evapotranspiration where water is transferred from land to the atmosphere by evaporation. By utilizing vegetation, the microclimate of urban areas can be regulated, the comfort of the citizens will be increased, and it can reduce energy use because people will not need to rely on air conditioning units as much to remain cool (Chen et al., PubMed).
According to Steven E. Mock et al., “strong economic cases can also be made for many urban parks and public spaces as contributors to economically vibrant communities…”. Parks act as an economic boost for the city’s local economy. Many parks act as tourist attraction gathering people from all over the world to see the unique features of the environment. Parks are also a great way to employ some of the citizens.
In order to experience parks, I decided to visit Zilker Park here in Austin. I needed to change up my scenery a bit because I was having an especially difficult week in school. Driving though the park roadway to out parking spot, I could see there was giant field, volley ball nets and places for people to play catch with their dog or play frisbee with a friend. On the other side of the roadway, there were trees that paved the way for the formation of trail that followed along the river.
The trail was a diverse area for people to engage in a variety of activities. Some people were biking, running, or walking. People of all ages, races, and genders were using the trail. There were couples, friends, some were alone, some were with their dogs, and there were entire families using the trail together.
The trail itself was wide enough so people going either direction had plenty of room to maneuver. The trail itself was covered in rocks, but they were fine-grained, so movement was accessible for many. The trees arched naturally allowing for shade along the trail, something that is needed to combat the hot temperatures here in Austin. For the most part, the river was on our left side as we walked along it. The sight never got old. For some stretches of the trail the river was partially concealed by the thickness of the trees until the tree lining thinned out and gave way to a beautiful view of the water glistening from the mid-afternoon sun (when it did come out on such a cloudy day).
The trail had signs posted along it is notifying users their mileage location. In addition, there were signs notifying us of the trees that inhabited the park. Although we didn’t look at it for long it was nice to see little details, like the signs, included. The signs were possibly made for tourists visiting the park for the first time. The trail also a generous bench placement allowing for many opportunities of rest. Trashcans were also frequent, so people were incentivized to just throw the trash along the trail. Regarding trash, I actually didn’t notice much besides maybe a couple of candy wrappers.
The trail veered off a bit to the left giving another place to rest. However, at this resting sight there was a water fountain, a couple of benches and the ability to view the river up close. Along the water, I could see a couple of turtles bobbing their head out from the water. In addition, I could see some people kayaking along the water. In the distance, I could see the Austin skyline which starkly contrasted with the greenery I have been exposed to for the last 30 minutes.
After some sight-seeing, and turtle gazing, we stumbled across a wooden bridge that took us to the other side of the river. As we followed this trail, I could start hearing the faint sounds of cars rumbling past us. We were underneath a bridge used as a busy highway. By this point in the journey, the park started to slightly interact with the urban areas of Austin.
Finally making our way up to the pedestrian bridge I could see, the river unobstructed by trees. On one side of the bridge I could see a highway bridge that was backed up with cars. On the other side was a bridge that served trains. Now that I was on the bridge I was immersed in a mix of urban and natural views. Although the noise of the cars was somewhat bothersome, the bridge itself was beautiful. The bridge went from one side of the river to the other where it connected to downtown Austin.
This side pedestrian bridge was had greenery, benches, and lamps on both sides of it. I’m not sure what the bridge was made out of, but it was smooth enough for people to ride their electric scooters across it. As we walked along the bridge the Austin skyscrapers grew larger in size as we walked closer towards out destination. My favorite part of the bridge was an area that went downward that led to some seating area. This seating area are surrounded by a lot of greenery and was beautiful sight to behold.
From a personal experience, I mentally needed a visit to the park. By taking time out of my stressful week and coming to the park it helped me unwind a bit. I think what I liked most about the park was the diverse scenery it provided. It gave me a chance to view nature at its finest, and not just see miles of concrete sidewalks. In Austin, there is a lot of urban area, traffic, cars, etc. By going to the park, it allowed me time to appreciate my sights and not have to worry about the constant stress and noise associated with downtown living. I feel I take these parks for granted. I never really noticed or appreciated parks until I utilized them as a way to alleviate some of my most stressful times here at UT. By utilizing the park space, it gave me a chance to get away from the hectic lifestyle of a sprawling, concrete jungle and enjoy at least one moment in mother nature.
Sources
Li, Z., Chen, D., Cai, S., & Che, S. (2018, April 25). The ecological services of plant communities in parks for climate control and recreation — A case study in Shanghai, China. In US National Library of Medicine . Retrieved September 18, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5919075/
Mika, M., Zawiliska, B., & Pawlusinski, R. (2016, May 1). Exploring the economic impact of national parks on the local economy. Functional approach in the context of Poland’s transition economy. In Journal of Studies and Research in Human Geography . Retrieved September 18, 2018, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=e372f967-01b2-4854-9f67-9c82242fac56%40sessionmgr101
Mock, S. E., Havitz, M. E., Lemieux, C. J., Flannery, P. D., Eagles, P., & Doherty, S. T. (2016). The Contributions of Parks Commitment and Motivations to Well-being. In Journal of Park and Recreation Administration. Retrieved September 18, 2018, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=1&sid=3784091a-1ca9-4076-b69e-0409192b7719%40pdc-v-sessmgr01
Moore, S., Gauvin, L., Daniel, M., Kestens, Y., Dube, U., & Richard, L. (2010, January 6). Associations among Park Use, Age, Social Participation, and Neighborhood Age Composition in Montreal . In Routledge Taylor & Francis Group . Retrieved September 18, 2018, from http://web.b.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=10&sid=1aee6070-7976-494f-8d77-0ca4135e2170%40pdc-v-sessmgr06
Reid, C. E., Clougherty, J. E., Shmool, J., & Kubzansky, L. D. (n.d.). Is All Urban Green Space the Same? A Comparison of the Health Benefits of Trees and Grass in New York City. In International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health . Retrieved September 19, 2018, from http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/14/11/1411/htm
Rodriguez, T. (2016, May). City Parks May Mend the Mind . Retrieved September 18, 2018, from Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection.
Tsai, W., McHale, M. R., Jennings, V., Marguet, O., Hipp, J., Leung, Y., & Floyd, M. F. (2018, February 15). Relationships between Characteristics of Urban Green Land Cover and Mental Health in U.S. Metropolitan Areas. In US National Library of Medicine . Retrieved September 18, 2018, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5858409/
Walker, J. R. (n.d.). Parks: Community Places that Provide Social Support and a Sense of Community . Retrieved September 19, 2018, from https://agrilifecdn.tamu.edu/urbanparks/files/2016/06/Social-Support-and-Sense-of-Community.pdf
