The interconnections between parks, wellness, and community.

Author
Affiliation

Rye Whalen

The University of Arizona

Keywords

parks, wellness

Component 1

Research topic: The interconnections between parks, wellness, and community.

The study of this topic is crucial as it sheds light on the complex relationships between accessibility to green spaces, physical activity levels, stress reduction, social cohesion, and economic development.

Parks extend numerous health benefits to our society, community-based parks can serve as hubs for social interaction, promoting a sense of community cohesion and civic engagement.

Parks have been shown to increase property values, attract investment, and stimulate economic growth through tourism and recreation-based industries.

The intersection of parks, wellness, and community is a critical area of research that demands further exploration due to its multidimensional benefits for individual and community health, economic development, and overall quality of life. By continuing to investigate this topic, policymakers, urban planners, and public health officials can work towards creating more equitable, healthy, and vibrant communities through the strategic allocation of parks and green spaces.

Outcomes

Positive Outcomes:

  1. Improved Physical Health

  2. Enhanced Mental Health

  3. Social Cohesion

  4. Economic Development

Negative Outcomes:

  1. Inequitable Distribution of Green Spaces

  2. Maintenance Costs

  3. Environmental Impacts

  4. Safety Concerns

Research Questions

How does accessibility to green spaces impact physical activity levels and overall health outcomes? Are there differences in these effects based on factors such as age, gender, income level, or race/ethnicity?

How do parks contribute to social cohesion and community engagement? Are there specific park design features or programming initiatives that enhance these outcomes?

The primary focus of this research is to investigate the multidimensional benefits of parks, wellness, and community for individual and community health, economic development, and overall quality of life. Specifically, we seek to understand how accessibility to green spaces impacts physical activity levels, overall health outcomes, social cohesion, and economic development

Component 2

Considerations about research material: (Nordh and Østby 2013), (Cohen and Katta 2016), (Gongora 2024)

References

Cohen, Han, D. A., and S Katta. 2016. “The First National Study of Neighborhood Parks: Implications for Physical Activity.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 51 (4): 419–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2016.03.021.
Gongora, Vanessa. 2024. “"Kids in the Westside Have a New Place to Play in John f. Kennedy Park".” https://www.kgun9.com/news/community-inspired-journalism/westside-news/kids-in-the-westside-have-a-new-place-to-play-in-john-f-kennedy-park.
Nordh, H, and K Østby. 2013. “Pocket Parks for People – a Study of Park Design and Use.” Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 12 (1): 12–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2012.11.003.