The value of parks and green spaces in cities is pretty well established, both in terms of the physical health people obtain from the cleaner air and ability to exercise, but also the mental health benefits from the oasis of nature.

New research from the University of Arizona reminds us that simply dumping a park in a city is not enough, and that thought needs to be given to how accessible the park is, especially to citizens hoping to walk to the park.

The researchers collected data from residents of Tuscon, Arizona, both from inside parks and from their homes.  The interviews with residents in their homes showed that walkability was a significant factor in the frequency with which they visited the greenspaces.

What’s more, the data showed that those who walk or cycle to a park were around 3.5x more likely to visit parks each day than those who drove or took public transport to get there.  In a somewhat surprising finding, this was true even when parks were a little way away, with proximity not appearing to be linked with the frequency of visit.

Walkability

The walkability of a park was a key factor, as the authors provide an example of a park that is very close to where people live, but a freeway makes reaching it difficult enough to put many off from trying.

The authors hope that their work will aid planners in better supporting local communities in the capitalization of the green spaces they have available to them.  This is especially important as it is highly likely that the amount of usage is a factor in maintaining and supporting the green spaces that do exist.

With the benefits of green spaces so clearly evident, the key is to ensure as many people use them as possible.  While it should be said that the research was conducted in the United States, with their distinct style of urban planning, the findings are hopefully of interest to planners around the world.