Earlier studies suggest green spaces in primarily urban areas improve health by lowering stress and encouraging exercise.
“There is a huge body of research showing that having access to green spaces is psychologically beneficial,” says urban naturalist Mike Houck, who is executive director of the Urban Greenspace Institute in Portland, Ore.
When Houck began his career in 1980, urban planners often told him there was no place for nature within the city limits.
“They told me my job was to protect the natural areas outside the city and that everything within was essentially up for grabs,” he tells WebMD. “It has taken 30 years, but attitudes have definitely changed.”
So much so that two major health insurance providers in Portland, Ore. were active in persuading voters to pass a $227 million bond in 2006 dedicated to acquiring new green spaces.
“That was the first time they had ever endorsed a bond measure, but they understood its importance,” he says. “It is inconceivable to me that a person out for a walk or a bicycle ride or a kayak trip does not benefit both physically and mentally.”