Every week, we bring you the latest news in placemaking, landscape architecture, the nature-mental health link, and much more. Check back each week for new roundups and items.
Doctor’s orders: Get outside!
“We all know the drill: Get sick. Go to the doctor. Receive a prescription for medicine. Take the medicine until you feel better. But what if, instead of being handed a prescription for medication at the end of your appointment, you instead received a prescription for spending more time outdoors? That’s the premise behind a new Boston-area program piloted by the Appalachian Mountain Club and MassGeneral Hospital for Children. The program, called “Outdoors Rx,” focuses on children 13 years of age and under and capitalizes on the natural resources right in its patients’ backyards. “There’s a growing body of research looking at the benefits of the outdoors on kids. For mental, physical and spiritual health, the outdoors is good for you. It reduces the symptoms of ADD and ADHD, asthma and childhood obesity,” said Pam Hess, Outdoors Rx’s program director.”
Buena Vista Park – Green Space both Tamed and Wild
“As an architect who has spent her career working to bring urban spaces to life, Bonnie Fisher can look at Buena Vista Park analytically, as a 36-acre space used by different people in different ways…Fisher’s experience with Buena Vista Park rings true for much of today’s San Francisco, where almost any spot on the map can unfold accordion-like, revealing more and more facets of the way we live now. That might not be obvious at first glance: The city’s third-largest park rears up as a green world unto itself, surrounded by residential buildings, including an array of 19th century mansions and a pair of 1920s apartment towers that look as though they’re covered in vanilla frosting. But even an outsider’s casual stroll shows the range of park users all staking out turf. There’s a playground near Haight Street to the north and tennis courts on the southeast slope. One shaded clearing is reserved for off-leash dogs. Six acres are designated as a natural resource area.”
Think About Your Urban Trees Before Planting Them, Research Says
“Urban trees are overachievers. Their skills range from purifying air to preventing crime to boosting your mood. But to what extent can these stars of the street have an impact beyond their neighborhoods, helping to mitigate global climate change? And how can we maximize their potential to do so in the most cost-effective manner? These are urgent questions, at a time when more than a thousand mayors have committed to reducing their cities’ greenhouse gas emissions, yet must operate within limited budgets. Though we may be tempted to simply seed-bomb any and all available urban land, emerging research suggests that the answers are more complicated. There are two ways that urban trees can curb atmospheric carbon. One is by directly removing it — trees breathe in carbon dioxide, retain the carbon and release the oxygen back into the air. The other is by influencing energy use in nearby buildings. By offering shade in hot weather and intercepting winds in cold weather, trees can diminish the need for air conditioning and heating. But the magnitude of these effects depends on variables such as species, location and even the kinds of buildings in question.”
Enjoy the Great Outdoors
“Great news — we are not couch potatoes after all. A recent study by the Outdoor Foundation found that nearly half of all Americans age 6 and over are physically active outside in the fresh air and sunshine. In 2012, outdoor participants made an estimated 12.4 billion outings — up slightly from 2011. More than 141 million Americans headed to the great outdoors to exercise and commune with nature. Running, jogging, fishing, bicycling, camping and hiking are the most popular activities for all age groups. They are considered “gateway” activities that lead to a greater interest in the outdoors and a healthy lifestyle.”
