I love my local public green spaces. I have two (a town park and a nearby school) within easy walking/biking distance from home. We see friends and acquaintances regularly when at the playground, swimming in the river or attending community events like concerts, fairs or athletic competitions. It is wonderful to connect with your neighbors and really feel part of the community. Public green space is lovely in my rural town, but they are a necessity in urban settings. Urban green spaces have been shown to support healthy behaviors including increased physical activity and social engagement. 

Urban green spaces are public land with vegetation, parks, forests or water features, located within an urban setting. They are typically open spaces to support people gathering for social, leisure and recreational activities, and are critical components in fostering social cohesion and a sense of belonging. Social cohesion refers to the interpersonal dynamics and sense of connection among humans, and higher levels are associated with physical and psychological benefits. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs starts with physiological needs (food, water and rest) and safety/security, then the next important need is that of love and belonging. Humans have a need for affiliation; to be part of a team or tribe. From an evolutionary perspective, social bonds have helped humans to survive and thrive. Urban green spaces provide a place for people to gather to build these social connections.  

A “green third place”

To further emphasize this concept, consider that there are several places in our lives where we can connect with others and build relationships. Urban green spaces are ideal “third places”; Ray Oldenburg’s concept of social surroundings for your community life versus your first place (home; personal life) or second place (work life)¹. It should be a comfortable, welcoming, and accessible space for social interaction that fosters a sense of belonging. Like Cheers pub in Boston, “Where everybody knows your name.” 

In a third place you are free of obligations, all are of equal social status, newcomers are welcomed, connection is the focus with playful conversation and socializing, and it is a homey, inviting space that is conveniently located. Connections can be through shared leisure interests, activities or hobbies, shared neighborhoods or shared cultures. Third places can be a commercial space like a café, pub, bookstore, barber shops, quilt store; religious places; libraries; shared leisure facilities like gyms or bowling alleys; or outdoor recreation/gathering places such as parks and green spaces (my personal favorite).  

One of the characteristics of a third place is accessibility—ideally being within walking distance of home. One of the key metrics of ACSM’s American Fitness Index rankings is percentage of a population within 10-minute walk to a park. My two closest cities, Boston and New York, tied for highest score (99%) with Arlington, San Francisco and St. Paul. Additionally, that walk should be safe, so the Fitness Index also assesses pedestrian fatalities, Complete Streets policies and bike/walk scores.  Other related community/environment Fitness Index indicators include parks per 10,000 residents, recreation facilities (ball diamonds, basketball hoops, playgrounds, recreational centers, swimming pools and tennis courts), and park expenditure per resident. Perceived pedestrian and leisure facilities (including park density) are key aspects of sense of community belonging². Having green spaces nearby contributes to the health of the individual and the community while enhancing social cohesion.

See how your city ranks on the above indicators by using our rankings comparison tool. 

Supporting all aspects of health

Neighborhood/built environment and social/community context are key social determinants of health. Simply having more green spaces nearby can help address some of the disparities in health outcomes that especially affect marginalized communities. Access to urban parks has been shown to decrease the negative effects of inadequate housing and emotional stress as well as increase social cohesion for immigrant families³. There are also climate related benefits with more trees improving air quality and decreasing the temperature of urban areas.  

Urban green spaces are multifunctional and multigenerational, supporting a variety of communal activities. I especially like the physical activity opportunities from athletic courts and fields, playgrounds, skateparks/plazas and water features. Skate parks provide recreational space for various wheels including skateboards,  rollerblades, BMX bikes and scooters, and are an alternative to organized sports where kids coach one another. When there is greater social cohesion in a community parents can feel more comfortable allowing kids more freedom knowing that their neighbors will look out for them. Having places for kids to safely gather can contribute to their sense of belonging and decrease feelings of loneliness. Third places are vital for nurturing healthy relationships where you can let your guard down and can feel part of something bigger than yourself.  

Urban parks provide open spaces for communal gatherings, parties, concerts and games like Mah-Jongg or Ultimate Frisbee. Opportunities for synchronous movement like dancing, yoga, Tai Chi or group training can enhance social cohesion by activating the mirror neural network releasing dopamine, creating feelings of pleasure and bonding. Urban green spaces can also provide commercial space for farmers markets or flea markets and agricultural space for urban or community gardens. This can increase the percentage of residents consuming more fruits and vegetables per day (other Fitness Index indicators!). Exposure to nature and green spaces directly contributes to improved physical and psychological health as also discussed in our previous blogs (here, here and here). 

So, find your local “green third place” to really connect to your community and start living your best life. 

 

Author

Melissa W. Roti, PhD, FACSM

Professor, Director Exercise Science Program

Westfield State University, Westfield, MA

On Twitter: @MelissaRoti 

 

References

 1. Oldenburg, Ray (1989). The Great Good Place: Cafes, Coffee Shops, Community Centers, Beauty Parlors, General Stores, Bars, Hangouts, and How They Get You Through the Day. New York: Paragon House. ISBN 978-1-55778-110-9.

2.  Du, Y, Jiang H, Huang Z, & Yang H. (2023) Associations between neighborhood environment and sense of community belonging in urban China: Examining mediating effects of neighborly interactions and community satisfaction. Front Public Health vol 10: 1105473.

3. Hordyk, SR, J Hanley, & E Richard. (2015) “Nature is there; its free”: Urban greenspace and the social determinants of health of immigrant families. Health Place Vol 34:74-82.