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 91裸聊视频渕issing middle.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e really good at providing playgrounds for younger children or including things like benches in parks for older adults,91裸聊视频� researcher Sara Barron said in a news release.
91裸聊视频淏ut when it comes to youth and young adults, there91裸聊视频檚 a noticeable lack of intentionally designed spaces where they can just be themselves.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭hat91裸聊视频檚 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.91裸聊视频�
READ MORE:
When it comes to diversity, parks with a variety of plants and available activities scored higher, the study found. There91裸聊视频檚 also a demand amongst young people for quiet spaces that are more isolated.
91裸聊视频淪ome people will kind of seek that retreat,91裸聊视频� Rugel said. 91裸聊视频淏ut many other young adults want a place where they can come together with their friends, play games and have a loud conversation that they91裸聊视频檇 get yelled at for in a library.91裸聊视频�
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.
91裸聊视频淭here will be tensions between young adults and other park users,91裸聊视频� Rugel said. 91裸聊视频淧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 picnic91裸聊视频hat91裸聊视频檚 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 they91裸聊视频檙e there for different purposes.91裸聊视频�
However, there is opportunity to improve smaller 91裸聊视频減ocket parks91裸聊视频� and even alleys to better serve young people 91裸聊视频� such as Melbourne91裸聊视频檚 laneways that feature street art, plants and shrubbery.
91裸聊视频淚f you see a place where there91裸聊视频檚 graffiti, that means there91裸聊视频檚 an opportunity for a fabulous mural,91裸聊视频� Rugel said. 91裸聊视频淭hat would contribute to the sense of order and the sense it91裸聊视频檚 a place that91裸聊视频檚 well cared for.91裸聊视频�
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 people91裸聊视频檚 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
Like us on and follow us on .
