Dr. Sara Barron (her) and Dr. Emily J. Rugel (she) analyzed data collected during visits to parks in two Australian cities and reviewed evidence from recent decades to develop a new tool to assess green spaces for young adults. We talked to them about their work.
Why are green spaces important?
Dr. Sara Barron SB: Public urban green spaces keep our cities cool, reduce stress and improve mood. They promote activities such as physical exercise and social interactions. These benefits are important for everyone, but especially for young adults, because many chronic mental disorders appear at this time of life. Exposure to the right kind of greenery can foster strong social bonds and a connection with nature during these critical years. Unfortunately, nature and health research, as well as urban planning, tend to ignore this important demographic.
Are there well-designed green spaces in Kato Sterea?
SB: Absolutely. For example, we are very good at providing playgrounds for younger children or including things like park benches for older adults. But when it comes to youth and young adults, there’s a noticeable lack of intentionally designed spaces where they can just be themselves. There are some areas that meet this criteria to some extent, such as the Spanish Banks, where beach logs provide a measure of privacy for individual parkers as well as groups. Stanley Park offers an incredible amount of biodiversity. However, there is a clear need to deliberately design public green spaces to make them more attractive to young people and young adults, particularly in light of emerging research suggesting that young people have experienced poorer mental health as a result of the stresses of the COVID-19 pandemic . Dr. Emily Rugel
Your paper calls on planners to design green spaces that are ‘tolerable green spaces’. What exactly does this term mean?
ER: Tolerant green spaces are places that support young adults’ needs for both social interaction and psychological recovery. They provide order – they are natural, but they are also well-groomed and safe. They present diversity, both in plant life and in the activities they allow. Finally, they give young people a place to either seek solace in quiet solitude or spend time with their friends without adult supervision. We tested this concept in a number of green spaces in Sydney and Melbourne, Australia’s two largest cities. Strips of vegetation placed neatly on either side do well in terms of creating a sense of order, for example. Formal parks planted with more than three species of trees or offering facilities for at least three recreational activities provide diversity. Even pocket parks that use terraces or bushes to create separate areas support seclusion and retreat.
How should Canadian planners and policy makers begin to design green spaces for all ages?
ER: In our paper, we propose a framework for assessing the degree of tolerance of green spaces. Designers and even young scientists can use this tool to assess the spaces that exist today and design future spaces. Some cities may struggle to incorporate green space in densifying areas. The good news is that you don’t necessarily need a lot of space for tolerant designs. Even small plots of land can be turned into green spaces that meet the needs of youth and youth. Interview language: English (Barron, Rugel)
