114
to explore, play, discover and engage with nature, all important resources for mental
well-being (Chawla 2015). This calls for green spaces that are not perfectly manicured but include diverse components of green such as adventure areas, wilderness
areas, playgrounds, amongst others. This has been achieved in the development of
the park ‘Gleisdreieck’ in the inner city area of Berlin, where local residents also
took an active role in shaping and planning their local green space (Kabisch 2015;
Rall et al. 2015).
With regard to the social and socio-economic context criteria, Richardson et al.
(2017a, b) showed that children from low-education households had significantly
less natural space in their neighbourhoods, and McMorris et al. (2015) found significant relationships between greenness and physical activity for all income
groups. Increasing levels of greenness do therefore benefit all population groups,
which should be taken into consideration in urban planning for future green space
development and maintenance (Cook et al. Chap. 11, Davies et al. Chap. 12, and
Heiland et al. Chap. 19, all this volume). Roe et al. (2016) highlighted the fact that
particular patterns of use of urban green spaces differ significantly according to
different ethnic and gender groups and needs to be considered by planners and
policy-makers in a way to steer green space provision appropriately. This suggests
that developing new green spaces needs to consider the local context carefully and
sensitively.
Safety plays a major role in green space use. Urban green space might be available in significant quantity but is not used by the residential population because of
safety concerns (Cohen et al. 2010). Perceived safety concerns and poor environmental quality of local green spaces may discourage residents from using these
spaces (Dadvand et al. Chap. 6, this volume). Policy-makers and urban planners
should act in these instances to make areas safer and decrease environmental
pollution.
5.4.3 Directions for Future Research
Several studies have discussed that exposure and use of urban green space differs
according to social and demographic background. Astell-Burt et al. (2014) discussed that exposure to green space varies in different stages in life and that these
differences manifest in health disparities. People of different age groups may have
different needs with regard to urban green spaces, which in turn translates into
diverse health outcome effects (Roe et al. 2017). McMorris et al. (2015) identified
an age-specific relationship to green space use for physical activity with significant
results for associations between younger adults and women and lower associations
with increasing age. In addition, Roe et al. (2017) showed that the use of green
space and perception of green space quality does not only vary by age group but
also by deprivation: Whilst younger people (youth) are using nearby green space
N. Kabisch
to explore, play, discover and engage with nature, all important resources for mental
well-being (Chawla 2015). This calls for green spaces that are not perfectly manicured but include diverse components of green such as adventure areas, wilderness
areas, playgrounds, amongst others. This has been achieved in the development of
the park ‘Gleisdreieck’ in the inner city area of Berlin, where local residents also
took an active role in shaping and planning their local green space (Kabisch 2015;
Rall et al. 2015).
With regard to the social and socio-economic context criteria, Richardson et al.
(2017a, b) showed that children from low-education households had significantly
less natural space in their neighbourhoods, and McMorris et al. (2015) found significant relationships between greenness and physical activity for all income
groups. Increasing levels of greenness do therefore benefit all population groups,
which should be taken into consideration in urban planning for future green space
development and maintenance (Cook et al. Chap. 11, Davies et al. Chap. 12, and
Heiland et al. Chap. 19, all this volume). Roe et al. (2016) highlighted the fact that
particular patterns of use of urban green spaces differ significantly according to
different ethnic and gender groups and needs to be considered by planners and
policy-makers in a way to steer green space provision appropriately. This suggests
that developing new green spaces needs to consider the local context carefully and
sensitively.
Safety plays a major role in green space use. Urban green space might be available in significant quantity but is not used by the residential population because of
safety concerns (Cohen et al. 2010). Perceived safety concerns and poor environmental quality of local green spaces may discourage residents from using these
spaces (Dadvand et al. Chap. 6, this volume). Policy-makers and urban planners
should act in these instances to make areas safer and decrease environmental
pollution.
5.4.3 Directions for Future Research
Several studies have discussed that exposure and use of urban green space differs
according to social and demographic background. Astell-Burt et al. (2014) discussed that exposure to green space varies in different stages in life and that these
differences manifest in health disparities. People of different age groups may have
different needs with regard to urban green spaces, which in turn translates into
diverse health outcome effects (Roe et al. 2017). McMorris et al. (2015) identified
an age-specific relationship to green space use for physical activity with significant
results for associations between younger adults and women and lower associations
with increasing age. In addition, Roe et al. (2017) showed that the use of green
space and perception of green space quality does not only vary by age group but
also by deprivation: Whilst younger people (youth) are using nearby green space
N. Kabisch