At the latest, by the time of the Covid-19 pandemic, everyone realized how beneficial it is to go to the park and take a walk. Scientists may have seen this effect firsthand because research into the health benefits of nature has increased dramatically since then.
The list of benefits of spending enough time outdoors seems endless: Scientific American mentions lower blood pressure, a stronger immune system, lower risk of cardiovascular disease, better sleep and slower cellular aging.
Mental health also benefits, as spending time outdoors can relieve symptoms of depression and stress, as well as improve concentration. It is not just green spaces such as parks or forests that have these positive effects: blue spaces (i.e. lakes, seas and other rivers) and brown spaces (i.e. deserts) are also present.
Access to green space – a social justice issue
Conversely, it is not good to not have access to green space. Jennifer D. Roberts, a health equity expert at the University of Maryland, notes in Scientific American that low-income households “less likely to have trees […]large area and quality parks”.
According to Marcia P. Jimenez of Boston University School of Public Health, there is a greater risk to the health of socioeconomically disadvantaged people and people of discriminated ethnicity than lack of access to the park. In comparison, food access, air pollution, area socioeconomic status, or work environment have a greater impact on health.
However, research has shown that improving access to green space is a particularly important health booster for disadvantaged groups. In comparison, access to parks and forests has a relatively smaller impact on the health of more privileged groups. Thus, improving access to parks could be a good starting point for combating health inequities.
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