Modeling an Environmental-Social Green Space Index to Improve Community Health and Equity
With the rapid growth of urbanization, green spaces in the form of parks, gardens, and other open areas are extremely important for improving the quality of life for those who live in urban areas. As polluted air and water and overcrowded cities become our everyday lives, the physical and mental health of urban communities has undoubtedly gained increasing attention in recent years. Not surprisingly, green spaces are coming to the rescue. Cancel changes Open spaces such as parks benefit communities by providing a cleaner environment to protect public health such as a reducing in the urban heat island effect and improving air quality. They can also have an impact on social health by contributing to increase community cohesion and wellbeing, and increased property values, among other positive environmental, social, and financial outcomes. As a result, the supply of green space and the ease with which it can be accessed are key concerns in urban planning and policy-making.
Traditionally, their impact on communities has been measured by the greenery they provide. However, their contributions to community fitness and wellness should also be recognized, which motivates us to create an integrated index to paint a picture of green spaces in the U.S. To illustrate the impact of green spaces on community health, we designed the Environmental-Social Green Space (ESGS), an actionable community indicator derived from fitness, greenery and wellness.
While it is not always equitable to access green spaces within cities, it is important to recognize this issue of environment justice and to raise public awareness of the benefitsof green spaces for public health.