IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i6p5251-d1098841.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Policymaker and Practitioner Perceptions of Parks for Health and Wellbeing: Scoping a Holistic Approach

Author

Listed:
  • Brenda B. Lin

    (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Environment, Brisbane 4001, Australia)

  • Susan Thompson

    (City Futures Research Centre, Arts Design & Architecture Faculty, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Richard Mitchell

    (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G3 7HR, UK)

  • Thomas Astell-Burt

    (School of Health and Society, Faculty of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong 2522, Australia
    Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Sydney 2000, Australia)

  • Evelyne De Leeuw

    (Healthy Urban Environments Collaboratory, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Bin Jalaludin

    (School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia)

  • Xiaoqi Feng

    (Population Wellbeing and Environment Research Lab (PowerLab), Sydney 2000, Australia
    School of Population Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
    George Institute for Global Health, Newtown 2042, Australia)

Abstract

Urban parks provide a multitude of health benefits for citizens navigating the challenges of 21st-century living. And while this is well known by both scholars and practitioners, there is less understanding about the differential impacts of park size, type of facilities, community accessibility, and management. This is the central concern of the research reported here, which is a part of a larger project titled ‘Better Parks, Healthier for All?’ funded under the UKRI-NHMRC Built Environment and Prevention Research Scheme 2019. Within this broader context, the current paper discusses the results of a focus group to better understand how different park qualities promote physical and mental health. Using a COVID-safe research approach, we brought key park providers, park policymakers, and green and open space designers from New South Wales, Australia, together to participate in an online focus group in May 2021. The recruitment was based on the domain expertise and practitioner knowledge of the issues at hand. The ensuing discussion canvassed three areas of interest: What is park quality? How is park quality associated with health? How can we assess park quality and its ability to deliver health outcomes? A thematic analysis of the group’s deliberations reveals a very holistic appreciation of park quality. The ability of a park network to provide a range of health outcomes is central to this view, with each park playing a role in delivering different benefits across the network. Our findings indicate that there are many opportunities to enhance the myriad of benefits and multiple ways to gain them. Co-design is essential to ensure that parks best suit the local context and provide relevant benefits to all stakeholders. In this way, local communities can gain ownership and enhanced agency in relation to using and enjoying their parks. We conclude that delivering locally networked parks and associated spaces for community health and wellbeing are essential in the broader context of global environmental sustainability.

Suggested Citation

  • Brenda B. Lin & Susan Thompson & Richard Mitchell & Thomas Astell-Burt & Evelyne De Leeuw & Bin Jalaludin & Xiaoqi Feng, 2023. "Policymaker and Practitioner Perceptions of Parks for Health and Wellbeing: Scoping a Holistic Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-16, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5251-:d:1098841
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5251/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/6/5251/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Raffaello Furlan & Brian R. Sinclair, 2021. "Planning for a neighborhood and city-scale green network system in Qatar: the case of MIA Park," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(10), pages 14933-14957, October.
    2. Yi-Ya Hsu & Scott Hawken & Samad Sepasgozar & Zih-Hong Lin, 2022. "Beyond the Backyard: GIS Analysis of Public Green Space Accessibility in Australian Metropolitan Areas," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-25, April.
    3. Flavia C. Peréa & Nina R. Sayles & Amanda J. Reich & Alyssa Koomas & Heather McMann & Linda S. Sprague Martinez, 2019. "“Mejorando Nuestras Oportunidades”: Engaging Urban Youth in Environmental Health Assessment and Advocacy to Improve Health and Outdoor Play Spaces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
    4. He, Brian Y. & Zhou, Jinkai & Ma, Ziyi & Chow, Joseph Y.J. & Ozbay, Kaan, 2020. "Evaluation of city-scale built environment policies in New York City with an emerging-mobility-accessible synthetic population," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 444-467.
    5. Phi-Yen Nguyen & Thomas Astell-Burt & Hania Rahimi-Ardabili & Xiaoqi Feng, 2021. "Green Space Quality and Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-38, October.
    6. Julie H. Dean & Danielle F. Shanahan & Robert Bush & Kevin J. Gaston & Brenda B. Lin & Elizabeth Barber & Lara Franco & Richard A. Fuller, 2018. "Is Nature Relatedness Associated with Better Mental and Physical Health?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, June.
    7. Lincoln R Larson & Viniece Jennings & Scott A Cloutier, 2016. "Public Parks and Wellbeing in Urban Areas of the United States," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(4), pages 1-19, April.
    8. Shujin Zhang & Peiheng Yu & Yiyun Chen & Ying Jing & Fanxin Zeng, 2022. "Accessibility of Park Green Space in Wuhan, China: Implications for Spatial Equity in the Post-COVID-19 Era," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-20, April.
    9. Mark Scott, 2020. "Covid-19, Place-making and Health," Planning Theory & Practice, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 21(3), pages 343-348, May.
    10. Michelle C. Kondo & Jaime M. Fluehr & Thomas McKeon & Charles C. Branas, 2018. "Urban Green Space and Its Impact on Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-28, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Ebru Alakavuk & Duygu Cinar Umdu, 2023. "Urban Open Therapy Gardens in EU Cities Mission: Izmir Union Park Proposal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-19, April.
    2. Shujuan Li & Bo Yang & Haiquan Li, 2023. "Using Big Data to Assess Park System Performance during the COVID-19 Pandemic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-17, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Lisa Dandolo & Klaus Telkmann & Christina Hartig & Sophie Horstmann & Sara Pedron & Lars Schwettmann & Peter Selsam & Alexandra Schneider & Gabriele Bolte & on behalf of the INGER Study Group, 2023. "Do Multiple Sex/Gender Dimensions Play a Role in the Association of Green Space and Self-Rated Health? Model-Based Recursive Partitioning Results from the KORA INGER Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-23, March.
    2. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Margarita Kokkinaki & Marios-Dimitrios Sinvare & Chrisovalantis Malesios & Panayiotis G. Dimitrakopoulos & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2023. "Keep Calm and Go Out: Urban Nature Exposure, Mental Health, and Perceived Value during the COVID-19 Lockdown," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    3. Chuloh Jung & Nahla Al Qassimi & Mohammad Arar & Jihad Awad, 2022. "The Improvement of User Satisfaction for Two Urban Parks in Dubai, UAE: Bay Avenue Park and Al Ittihad Park," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Matthew H. E. M. Browning & Alessandro Rigolon, 2018. "Do Income, Race and Ethnicity, and Sprawl Influence the Greenspace-Human Health Link in City-Level Analyses? Findings from 496 Cities in the United States," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, July.
    5. Argyro Anna Kanelli & Maria Lydia Vardaka & Chrisovaladis Malesios & Zainab Jamidu Katima & Olga-Ioanna Kalantzi, 2024. "Can Campus Green Spaces Be Restorative? A Case Study from Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-21, January.
    6. Tianrong Xu & Nikmatul Adha Nordin & Ainoriza Mohd Aini, 2022. "Urban Green Space and Subjective Well-Being of Older People: A Systematic Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-29, October.
    7. Kristoffer Mattisson & Anna Axmon & Gunilla Carlsson & Agneta Malmgren Fänge & Connie Lethin & Emilie Stroh, 2022. "Sociodemographic Variations in the Availability of Urban Green Spaces in an Older Swedish Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-17, October.
    8. Linda Powers Tomasso & Jie Yin & Jose Guillermo Cedeño Laurent & Jarvis T. Chen & Paul J. Catalano & John D. Spengler, 2021. "The Relationship between Nature Deprivation and Individual Wellbeing across Urban Gradients under COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-20, February.
    9. Yanyan Zhang & Meng Wang & Junyi Li & Jianxia Chang & Huan Lu, 2022. "Do Greener Urban Streets Provide Better Emotional Experiences? An Experimental Study on Chinese Tourists," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-21, December.
    10. Zhen Li & Wanmin Zhao & Miaoyao Nie, 2021. "Scale Characteristics and Optimization of Park Green Space in Megacities Based on the Fractal Measurement Model: A Case Study of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-18, July.
    11. Hui, Ling Chui & Jim, C.Y., 2022. "Urban-greenery demands are affected by perceptions of ecosystem services and disservices, and socio-demographic and environmental-cultural factors," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C).
    12. Amber L. Pearson & Victoria Breeze & Aaron Reuben & Gwen Wyatt, 2021. "Increased Use of Porch or Backyard Nature during COVID-19 Associated with Lower Stress and Better Symptom Experience among Breast Cancer Patients," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(17), pages 1-13, August.
    13. Rui Zhou & Ying-Jing Zheng & Jing-Yi Yun & Hong-Mei Wang, 2022. "The Effects of Urban Green Space on Depressive Symptoms of Mid-Aged and Elderly Urban Residents in China: Evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(2), pages 1-12, January.
    14. Fei Qin & Yiqing Song & George P Nassis & Lina Zhao & Yanan Dong & Cuicui Zhao & Yiwei Feng & Jiexiu Zhao, 2020. "Physical Activity, Screen Time, and Emotional Well-Being during the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Outbreak in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-16, July.
    15. A. Haven Kiers & Billy Krimmel & Caroline Larsen-Bircher & Kate Hayes & Ash Zemenick & Julia Michaels, 2022. "Different Jargon, Same Goals: Collaborations between Landscape Architects and Ecologists to Maximize Biodiversity in Urban Lawn Conversions," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-18, September.
    16. Massoni, Emma Soy & Barton, David N. & Rusch, Graciela M. & Gundersen, Vegard, 2018. "Bigger, more diverse and better? Mapping structural diversity and its recreational value in urban green spaces," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 31(PC), pages 502-516.
    17. Huiying Ng, 2020. "Recognising the edible urban commons: Cultivating latent capacities for transformative governance in Singapore," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(7), pages 1417-1433, May.
    18. Somajita Paul & Harini Nagendra, 2017. "Factors Influencing Perceptions and Use of Urban Nature: Surveys of Park Visitors in Delhi," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, April.
    19. He, Brian Yueshuai & Zhou, Jinkai & Ma, Ziyi & Wang, Ding & Sha, Di & Lee, Mina & Chow, Joseph Y.J. & Ozbay, Kaan, 2021. "A validated multi-agent simulation test bed to evaluate congestion pricing policies on population segments by time-of-day in New York City," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 101(C), pages 145-161.
    20. Zihe Wang & Gege Yan & Siyuan Wang, 2022. "Fairness Evaluation of Landscape Justice in Urban Park Green Space: A Case Study of the Daxing Part of Yizhuang New Town, Beijing," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-18, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:6:p:5251-:d:1098841. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.