405
nity level. Examples of community engagement processes include group workshops, roundtable discussions and charrettes.
5. Need to design urban green space interventions that incorporate and maximize
health, environmental and social benefits.
6. Need to use a dual approach that incorporates promotion and marketing of urban
green space as well as changing the physical environment (i.e. more complex
than ‘build it and they will come’), particularly for health and social benefits.
7. Local practitioners need to actively engage with the evaluation process, for
example by engaging with local universities, organisations and the local
community.
17.3.2 Policy Recommendations
Providing and protecting urban green space presents a significant policy opportunity to improve multiple facets of quality of life and the environment with welldeveloped and sensitive urban green space interventions. Whilst the evidence
summarised here and in other reviews is sometimes mixed, there is a preponderance
generally supporting the association between urban green space and health, wellbeing, and social and environmental outcomes. Policy-makers must also ensure that
any provision or improvement of urban green space is done so through an ‘equity
lens’. The few published economic evaluations of urban green space interventions
are positive. Bird et al. (2014) suggest significant financial savings could be made
as a result of increased numbers of people walking and cycling. Similarly, a modelling study suggested that effectiveness estimates as low as a 2% gain in population
physical activity levels would be cost-effective (£18, 411/disability-adjusted lifeyear) (Dallat et al. 2014). Although the direct health gains are predicted to be small
for any individual, summed over an entire population they are substantial (e.g.
health value of physical activity in natural environments in England has been estimated at £2.2bn/year) (White et al. 2016).
17.3.3 Research Recommendations
Findings from the recent WHO Regional Office for Europe report (2016) demonstrate substantial evidence to support the association between urban green space for
environmental, health and well-being impacts, alongside suggested mechanisms of
action. We must now move towards intervention-based research that will help
policy- makers and practitioners. Findings from the evidence review suggest that
areas in need of specific attention include research investigating the impact of urban
green space interventions on equity indicators and economic factors (for more
information, see Kabisch, Chap. 5 this volume). Research should also move beyond
assessing the effects of such interventions on physical activity and usage, towards
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions
nity level. Examples of community engagement processes include group workshops, roundtable discussions and charrettes.
5. Need to design urban green space interventions that incorporate and maximize
health, environmental and social benefits.
6. Need to use a dual approach that incorporates promotion and marketing of urban
green space as well as changing the physical environment (i.e. more complex
than ‘build it and they will come’), particularly for health and social benefits.
7. Local practitioners need to actively engage with the evaluation process, for
example by engaging with local universities, organisations and the local
community.
17.3.2 Policy Recommendations
Providing and protecting urban green space presents a significant policy opportunity to improve multiple facets of quality of life and the environment with welldeveloped and sensitive urban green space interventions. Whilst the evidence
summarised here and in other reviews is sometimes mixed, there is a preponderance
generally supporting the association between urban green space and health, wellbeing, and social and environmental outcomes. Policy-makers must also ensure that
any provision or improvement of urban green space is done so through an ‘equity
lens’. The few published economic evaluations of urban green space interventions
are positive. Bird et al. (2014) suggest significant financial savings could be made
as a result of increased numbers of people walking and cycling. Similarly, a modelling study suggested that effectiveness estimates as low as a 2% gain in population
physical activity levels would be cost-effective (£18, 411/disability-adjusted lifeyear) (Dallat et al. 2014). Although the direct health gains are predicted to be small
for any individual, summed over an entire population they are substantial (e.g.
health value of physical activity in natural environments in England has been estimated at £2.2bn/year) (White et al. 2016).
17.3.3 Research Recommendations
Findings from the recent WHO Regional Office for Europe report (2016) demonstrate substantial evidence to support the association between urban green space for
environmental, health and well-being impacts, alongside suggested mechanisms of
action. We must now move towards intervention-based research that will help
policy- makers and practitioners. Findings from the evidence review suggest that
areas in need of specific attention include research investigating the impact of urban
green space interventions on equity indicators and economic factors (for more
information, see Kabisch, Chap. 5 this volume). Research should also move beyond
assessing the effects of such interventions on physical activity and usage, towards
17 Environmental, Health and Equity Effects of Urban Green Space Interventions