Utilization of Urban Trails: A Give and Take Relationship
I have spent the past few weeks, like all of my fellow citizens of Austin, waiting for the Sun to make an appearance. I’ve walked to class in the rain, stared at the rain from my apartment window, and obsessively checked the weather, desperately hoping for the rain to subside. While poor weather conditions don’t typically have such an adverse effect on me, those weeks of seemingly endless storms brought me to the realization of how important spending time outdoors is in my everyday life. It wasn’t until I felt the sheer joy of seeing the Sun, my long-lost friend, that I understood its impact on my well-being. As the saying goes, you never know a good thing until it’s gone.
With the clouds and precipitation seemingly behind me for the time being, I feel newly committed to being more intentional about spending time outside. There are many days that the only time I spend outside is my commute to and from campus, but empowered with a newfound appreciation for the outdoors, I look forward to reaping the benefits of the green spaces in my community. One way in which I plan to be physically active outdoors is to take advantage of the Greenbelt, a nearby trail that attracts many people in my neighborhood on a daily basis. The utilization of urban trails has many benefits, including the improvement of many mental health determinants, the promotion of physical health, and cultivation of the city.
Being physically active outdoors can improve a person’s mental health in many ways. One of the major mental health benefits is the reduction of stress. According to Kondo of Health and Place (2018), research shows that those who spent time outdoors “found improvements in mood and restoration along with improvements in blood pressure and cortisol measurements” (p.147). These findings are significant because not only did research participants report qualitative improvements in mood, but they also exhibited quantitative decreases in physiological determinants of stress. Even more striking are the effects of outdoor physical activity on people who suffer from depression. In a study conducted by Fruhauf, of the Mental Health and Physical Activity Journal (2016), when comparing outdoor physical activity to indoor physical activity in depressive patients, those who participated in outdoor activities reported reduced symptoms of depression, such as fatigue (p.8). Furthermore, utilizing trails allows people to reap the mental benefits of physical activity and exposure to green space, as well as enhanced social capital. According to Barton, of Perspectives in Public Health (2012), “engaging in physical activities in green spaces also plays a role in reducing social isolation” (p. 3). She goes on to explain the detrimental effects of social isolation on mental health, thus solidifying the idea that by reducing harmful factors, one can greatly improve their mental health.
In addition to diminishing the effects of stress, fatigue and social isolation, physical activity outdoors can also enhance positive determinants of mental health. Meenapriya, of Drug Invention Today (2018) found through a large study of college students that those who engage in regular physical activity see improvements in “their memory, focus and concentration” (p. 2). Because features of urban cities like walking trails encourage college students to engage in physical activity, the experience can also enhance their mental acuity. Outdoor exercise has also been found to contribute to major improvements in emotional well-being. A study conducted at the Peninsula College of Medicine (2011) found that “exercising in natural environments was associated with greater feelings of revitalization, increased energy and positive engagement” (p.1). The ability of something as simple as participating in physical activity outdoors to contribute so much to a person’s mental health is astounding and definitely something that should be taken advantage of.
Beyond mental health, the utilization of trails also has the potential to significantly promote a person’s physical health. While the health benefits of exercise are well-understood and widely acknowledged, the benefits of time spent in green spaces on physical health are also significant. Carrie Arnold of Environmental Health Perspectives (2016), notes that in studies of mortality in women, those who were exposed to green spaces with the most frequency had the longest life-spans. More specifically, Arnold cites that these women had “a 41% lower rate of kidney disease mortality, a 34% lower rate of respiratory disease mortality, and a 13% lower rate of cancer mortality” (p.169). By compounding the positive effects of physical exercise and exposure to greenery, a person can drastically improve their physical health.
Evidence shows that physical activity in green spaces promotes a higher degree of commitment to making exercise routine and habitual. Shanahan of Sports Medicine (2016) explains that “green spaces are thought to facilitate the kinds of physical activity that tend to attract greater long-term adherence” (p. 990). Therefore, outdoor physical activity creates a positive feedback loop of health benefits. Because being physically active outdoors encourages people to adhere to healthy exercise habits, they will spend more time outdoors over time. The time they spend in green spaces reduces their mortality, furthering this cycle of positive behaviors for physical health.
Furthermore, the benefits of utilizing trails extends beyond the scope of any singular person and contributes to the cultivation of a city. As the research illustrates, outdoor physical activity is extremely beneficial to a person’s health, but not everyone in a city has easy access to these outdoor features. According to Mehl, policy director at Headwaters Economics (2018), the people who benefit most from urban amenities like trails and parks are those who live in closest proximity. He goes on to argue that improving access to these resources will not only extend the health benefits to more people in a given city but can also help to “revitalize urban neighborhoods” (p. 2). When more residents of a city are healthy and happy, it thrives. Beyond cultivation of general well-being among the people of a city, it may also be pointed out that the utilization of trails yields economic benefits. DeLaughter of Houston Public Media cites Rose Gowen, a physician and the Brownsville City Commissioner, who claims, “the region could save millions on medical costs if residents were more physically active” (p.2). Therefore, by encouraging and facilitating physical activity, the utilization of trails can cultivate a city to greater economic prosperity.
Finally, and perhaps most interestingly, in studies comparing indoor and outdoor physical activity, those who engaged in outdoor physical activity exhibited superior environmental behaviors. Fang, of the International Journal for Environmental Research and Public Health (2017), found in a recent study that outdoor activity “had a positive direct impact on environmental behaviors” (p.9). The positive environmental behaviors examined in the study included persuading others to recycle, spending leisure time outdoors and volunteering at local parks. People have a natural affinity for the outdoors, so the more time we spend immersed in that environment, the more likely we become to engage in behaviors that preserve its integrity.
Although I live extremely close to Shoal Creek Trail, I rarely make the time in my day to day life to utilize it. However, after researching the various benefits of exercising and spending time in green spaces, I decided that I should pay the local trail a visit. Last week, as a cold front hit Austin, I decided it was the perfect time to go for a run outdoors. Typically, I choose to run on a treadmill in the gym because the air-conditioned environment is hard to resist. However, running outdoors is a totally different experience. As I ran, I found myself enjoying the scenery and actually being distracted from my increased heart rate and shortness of breath. I slowed my pace as I came across a massive piece of public art, one of Patrick Dougherty’s Stickwork sculptures. After spending some time admiring the sculpture and the way it was so seamlessly integrated into the surrounding nature, I continued my run and returned home. Throughout the rest of the day, I noticed I was more energetic and actually skipped my ritual of afternoon coffee and chose to drink water instead. Taking the opportunity to exercise outdoors was a very positive experience and I plan to incorporate the practice into my daily life.
More recently, a couple of my friends and I used the trail to walk to Whole Foods. Rather than walking straight down North Lamar, exposed to traffic sounds and exhaust fumes, we were able to take the trail and enjoy the greenery. One unique aspect of Austin is the way in which the natural and urban elements of the city intertwine. This presents the opportunity to immerse yourself in the natural elements while commuting to an urban destination. I think the act of incorporating exercise and green space into daily tasks such as grocery shopping is very beneficial. By simply taking some extra time out of our seemingly busy lives and opting to walk rather than drive, enjoy green spaces rather than adhere to concrete routes, one can easily reap many health benefits, both physically and mentally.
This experience has demonstrated to me the importance of spending time outdoors, especially when it’s something I can so easily accomplish in my day to day life. When I chose to be intentional about exercising and spending time outdoors, I noticed the positive impacts almost immediately. I think everyone could improve their lives exponentially by making this a more common practice in their lives.
Bibliography
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