The pandemic had ill effects on the mental health of young adults and a new study suggests that cities are moving slow to adapt public greenspaces to fit the needs of the 含羞草研究社渕issing middle.含羞草研究社�
A UBC study published Thursday (Nov. 17) found that those aged 15-24 are often left out of being considered when urban planners design their parks, especially when compared to the needs of children and the elderly.
含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e really good at providing playgrounds for younger children or including things like benches in parks for older adults,含羞草研究社� researcher Sara Barron said in a news release.
含羞草研究社淏ut when it comes to youth and young adults, there含羞草研究社檚 a noticeable lack of intentionally designed spaces where they can just be themselves.含羞草研究社�
Barron and fellow researcger Emily Rugel developed a three-pronged tool to better judge how young adults will utilize parks and greenspaces.
Young people respond better to parks that are well-tended and feel safe. Rugel says safety is a primary concern for young women who use parks.
含羞草研究社淭hat含羞草研究社檚 definitely [an area] where we need to think about what safety feels like for young adults versus other people who might be in a green space.含羞草研究社�
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When it comes to diversity, parks with a variety of plants and available activities scored higher, the study found. There含羞草研究社檚 also a demand amongst young people for quiet spaces that are more isolated.
含羞草研究社淪ome people will kind of seek that retreat,含羞草研究社� Rugel said. 含羞草研究社淏ut many other young adults want a place where they can come together with their friends, play games and have a loud conversation that they含羞草研究社檇 get yelled at for in a library.含羞草研究社�
In exploring the parks and laneways of Melbourne and Sydney in Australia as case studies, Rugel and Barron found very few parks scored highly in all three areas of order, diversity and seclusion. The conflicts between the three is a challenge for cities wishing to adapt the framework.
含羞草研究社淭here will be tensions between young adults and other park users,含羞草研究社� Rugel said. 含羞草研究社淧eople who may want to use a big open space to play a game [conflict] with people who want to be sitting there and having a picnic含羞草研究社hat含羞草研究社檚 definitely a tension that we think can be easily resolved, particularly by creating different areas that will provide options to people who butt heads when they含羞草研究社檙e there for different purposes.含羞草研究社�
However, there is opportunity to improve smaller 含羞草研究社減ocket parks含羞草研究社� and even alleys to better serve young people 含羞草研究社� such as Melbourne含羞草研究社檚 laneways that feature street art, plants and shrubbery.
含羞草研究社淚f you see a place where there含羞草研究社檚 graffiti, that means there含羞草研究社檚 an opportunity for a fabulous mural,含羞草研究社� Rugel said. 含羞草研究社淭hat would contribute to the sense of order and the sense it含羞草研究社檚 a place that含羞草研究社檚 well cared for.含羞草研究社�
The study finds that greenspaces can positively impact mental health by relieving stress and strengthening social ties. During COVID restrictions, a lack of access to outdoor spaces had direct impacts on young people含羞草研究社檚 mood, ability to pay attention and to focus on important things.
Rugel hopes the approach is used as a checklist to improve parks in Metro Vancouver and other cities in the area.
dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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