Parks, woods reduce rich-poor health gap
Other that aethestics, what's the best argument for parks and other open cities in cities or poor areas?
They can reduce the ''health gap'' between economic classes, say researchers from two Scottish universities. Their study, released today, could give more of a push to governments seeking to preserve or create more green spaces.
According to this report on the BBC:
Even small parks in the heart of our cities can protect us from strokes and heart disease, perhaps by cutting stress or boosting exercise.Their study, in The Lancet, matched data about hundreds of thousands of deaths to green spaces in local areas.
When the records of more than 366,000 people who died between 2001 and 2005 were analysed, it revealed that even tiny green spaces in the areas in which they lived made a big difference to their risk of fatal diseases.
...In an accompanying article in The Lancet, Dr Terry Hartig, from the Institute for Housing and Urban Research at Uppsala University in Sweden, wrote: "This study offers valuable evidence that green space does more than 'pretty up' the neighbourhood - it appears to have real effects on health inequality, of a kind that politicians and health authorities should take seriously."
Readers, what do you think? Do local, state, and federal authorities do enough to promote and maintain parks in your communities? Do think, with all the pressing demands upon government, that parks receive enough priority? Or do you think value of parks -- and findings of this study -- are overrated? Let us know in the comments section below.
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I definitely agree that parks are a huge part of a healthy lifestyle. Having a few parks in a city is perfect to me because in any real city (not most southern cities, like Nashville where I live now) is walkable, making parks perfectly accessable and an opportunity and run around, maybe play in a sports league or just to sit and enjoy.
Cities in general aren't very conducive to healthy living. Of course, people in society feel better camped together, but the amount of pollution, congestion, and heavy industry in cities is a big problem, one that won't go away with a couple token parks here and there. What we should do is reshape our cities to be structured more like New Pedestrianism (see michaelearth dot come for more on this idea).
Not to mention cleaner air. I live by a wonderful park, I get to see it every day. I feel I breathe better there, and it alleviates visual pollution. Better for the children, too.
I beg to differ with FJ (comment #2): cities are our best hope for healthy living! I live in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston, a very pedestrian-friendly community with more green space per person than any other city in Massachusetts. Cities are not automatically bad; many are very walkable and bikable and have good public transportation and therefore have much less traffic, congestion, and pollution than you'll see at the strip mall on any given weekend. In addition, in my neighborhood, no one uses things like pesticides on their lawns (like in the suburbs), or gas-powered leaf blowers, or even rock salt in the winter (too many dog owners and gardens bordering the sidewalks!). And having lived in cities in different parts of the country my whole life, I can tell you that there's no such thing as a "token" park. Every open space that is dedicated to community use -- whether as a park, a playground, a community garden, or something else -- is precious. I think the researchers are onto something ...
There are a number of nice parks in my community. Parks and open spaces not only offer people an opportunity for exercise but they make a community a better place to live and are an asset to property values.
But really, a "health gap"? If that is the case for parks then the state should be looking into other habits that beneficiaries of state funds get into. Do they smoke and drink too much while at the same time we are paying for the healthcare or healthcare insurance? Do they eat unhealthy foods with state money.
BE careful how you justify certain public expenditures - the same justifications can be used to do things you may notlike
This blogger might want to review your comment before posting it.
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