Health Benefits of Green Infrastructure

Speakers: David Rouse, AICP, ASLA, American Planning Association Ignacio Bunster-Ossa, FASLA, AECOM Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington & US Forest Service

This webinar and materials are supported by funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthy Community Design Initiative.

All presentation slides and a recording will be available

following the webinar.

If you have a question for one of our presenters, please use the Q&A box on the lower right section of your screen.

Health Benefits of Green Infrastructure

Health and Green Infrastructure Overview • David Rouse, AICP, ASLA, APA

Green Infrastructure: Scales/Benefits/Metrics

• Ignacio Bunster-Ossa, FASLA, AECOM

Health Benefits of Green Infrastructure: evidence of nature & mental health

• Dr. Kathleen Wolf, University of Washington & US Forest Service

Questions and Discussion

Webinar Outline

Green Communities Hazards Planning Planning and Community Health

National Centers for Planning www.planning.org/nationalcenters

National Centers for Planning www.planning.org/nationalcenters

An interconnected network of natural areas and other open spaces that conserves natural ecosystem values and functions, sustains clean area and water, and provides a wide array of benefits to people and wildlife.

Mark A. Benedict and Edward T. McMahon, Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities, Island Press, 2006 Systems and practices that use or mimic natural processes to infiltrate, evapotranspirate, or reuse stormwater on the site where it is generated.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Green Infrastructure Definitions

Green infrastructure as landscape…the physical manifestation of processes that connect the built and natural environments, performing multiple functions and yielding associated benefits for the health and well-being of people and wildlife.

PAS Report 571, Green Infrastructure: A Landscape Approach, p. 11

Green Infrastructure Definitions

Examples Across Scales Regional Scale

Regional parks and nature preserves River corridors and greenways Working farms and forests City Scale

Urban forest / tree canopy Urban parks Parkways and boulevards

Examples Across Scales Neighborhood Scale

Local parks Constructed wetlands Green streets Site / Building Scale

Stormwater planters Rain gardens Green roofs

The mission of the public health profession is to fulfill society’s interest in assuring conditions in which people can be healthy…

Institute of Medicine, 1988

Green Infrastructure and Public Health

Green Infrastructure and Public Health

How can green infrastructure contribute to assuring conditions in which people can be healthy?

It can improve environmental conditions such as air and water quality that impact human health.

It can encourage walking, biking, and other forms of physical activity.

It can provide access to fresh, healthy foods through community gardens and urban agriculture.

It can improve mental health by bringing people into contact with nature.

It can increase safety through design. It can reduce disparities in health outcomes for poor and

marginalized communities (environmental justice).

Triple Bottom Line

Environment: Improves air and water quality, reduces the heat island effect, and supports walkable communities.

Economy: Provides jobs and promotes physical activity, resulting in reduced healthcare costs.

Equity: Reduces disparities in health outcomes for poor and marginalized communities.

Green Infrastructure Benefits

Source: GreenPlan Philadelphia

Strategic Points of Intervention for Planners Visioning & Goal Setting

Comprehensive Planning

Subarea & Functional Planning

Plan Implementation • Regulations • Public Investment • Private Development

Resources

American Planning Association

American Rivers Trust for Public Land

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: SCALES / BENEFITS / METRICS

Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa / AECOM

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: SCALES / BENEFITS / METRICS

Ignacio F. Bunster-Ossa / AECOM

A working nature . . .

Landscape

Community

Garden

Landscape

Community

Garden

SYSTEMS THINKING

AIR QUALITY STORMWATER

WASTE WATER

SOLID WASTE

CULTURAL HERITAGE

BIOTA

EXERCISE & FITNESS

ACTIVE MOBILITY

CARBON

ENERGY

HEAT ISLAND

CONNECTVITY

SOCIAL CAPITAL ALLERGENS

BMP’S

COMMUNITY IDENTITY

PUBLIC ART

NOISE

Orchard Hills Park / AECOM

LANDSCAPE

HERITAGE PRESERVATION

Trinity River Corridor / WRT

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE IS TRANSFORMATIVE

CIVIC IDENTITY

FLOOD CONTROL

FLOOD CONTROL

300 acres wetland

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION

19,000 trees

• 4,000 ANNUAL TONS OF CO2 SEQUESTERED

CARBON SEQUESTRATION

RECREATION

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

COMMUNITY

Gateway Park Competition / AECOM

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE = PLACEMAKING

San Francisco SSIP / AECOM

URBAN FOREST HABITAT RESTORATION

URBAN FOREST HABITAT RESTORATION

ACTIVE MOBILITY

SOCIAL SPACE

CULTURAL IDENTITY

Dutch Kills Green / WRT

Landscape Performance

• 20.2 million gallons of stormwater prevented from entering the city’s CSO’s—a $3.4 million savings in future capital costs.

• 1,079 lbs of carbon sequestered per year in 174 new trees on-site and adjacent to the site.

• 12% increase in bicycle traffic, with an average of 3,416 cyclists using the path every day.

• 23% reduction in ambient noise (from a typical range of 85-101dB to 69-75dB).

GARDEN

Sidwell Friends School / Kieran Timberlake / Andropogon Associates

WATER CONSERVATION

ENERGY CONSERVATION BIODIVERSITY

Daiichi Headquarters LA / WRT

SOCIAL EQUITY

CLANER AIR / WORKPLACE EFFICIENCY

The Ridge / Onion Flats

LIVING STREETS

NATURE PLAY

Cultural Heritage Civic Identity Flood Control Ecological Restoration Carbon Sequestration Recreation Economic Development Urban Forest Habitat Restoration Active Mobility Social Space Community Identity Water Conservation Energy Conservation Biodiversity Cleaner Air Workplace Efficiency Living Streets Nature Play

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: Creates . . . Promotes . . . Enhances . . . Achieves . . . Sustains . . .

Cultural Heritage Civic Identity Flood Control Ecological Restoration Carbon Sequestration Recreation Economic Development Urban Forest Habitat Restoration Active Mobility Social Space Community Identity Water Conservation Energy Conservation Biodiversity Cleaner Air Workplace Efficiency Living Streets Nature Play

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE: Creates . . . Promotes . . . Enhances . . . Achieves . . . Sustains . . .

The Hundertwasser House

Ken Yeang : It sounds facile, but giving joy and happiness to occupants is an essential aspect of why we are architects. One way to give spaces a feeling of cheerfulness is the enabling the simple enjoyment of daylight as it enters a space or as it brightens up a space in the morning

Mass General Hospital http://wikoffdesignstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/thumbs_97805-exam-room-massachusetts-general-hospital-lunder-building-nbbj-1114.jpg.1064x0_q90_crop_sharpen.jpg

Mass General Hospital http://wikoffdesignstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/thumbs_97805-exam-room-massachusetts-general-hospital-lunder-building-nbbj-1114.jpg.1064x0_q90_crop_sharpen.jpg

Hospital patients who can see greenery from their windows recover more quickly than those who don’t. http://www.metropolismag.com/Point-of-View/November-2011/Frontiers-of-Design-Science-Biophilia/

Health Benefits of Green Infrastructure: evidence of nature & mental health Kathleen Wolf, Ph.D. Research Social Scientist University of Washington USDA Forest Service American Planning Association Webinar September 10, 2015

urban forestry :: green infrastructure

Reducing Stormwater Runoff

Image courtesy of the Center for Urban Forest Research

Tanner Springs Park Portland OR

linked to active living network

neighborhood social cohesion

environmental education & social learning

co-benefit opportunities

Stormwater Report, online April 2014 (search health)

What is the Evidence? Nearby Nature for Human Health, Welfare & Function

Finding that study . . . . . .

Green Cities: Good Health

Sponsors: USDA Forest Service, U&CF Program University of Washington NGO partners

thanks! to U of WA students: Katrina Flora Mary Ann Rozance Sarah Krueger

www.greenhealth.washington.edu

research review & summaries

12

metro nature & health benefits across the life cycle

Urban Forests and Newborns the natural environment may affect pregnancy outcomes . . .

10% increase in tree-canopy cover within 50m of a house = lower number of low weight births (1.42 per 1000 births) Donovan et al., Health & Place 2011; Hystad et al., Env Health Perspectives 2014

Elders: mobility & social connections

Mental Health treatment & therapy

America’s State of Mind, Medco Health Solutions, Inc

% of U.S. Population Using Mental Health Medications 2001 vs 2010

America’s State of Mind, Medco Health Solutions, Inc

Prevalence of Adult Antidepressant Use 2010

Green Streets for Walkability

18

Aspinall et al. 2013. The Urban Brain: Analysing Outdoor Physical Activity with Mobile EEG. British Journal of Sports Medicine

evidence of lower frustration and higher meditation when moving into the greener streets

Physical Activity & Depression Reduction Review of 13 high quality studies exercise recommended for

mild to moderate depression people who are willing & motivated associated meditation and mindfulness are

important

Josefsson et al. 2013. Physical Exercise Intervention in Depressive Disorders. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports 19

Improving Depression 20 adults with major depression walk in a park setting and an urban setting 50-minute walks one week apart before-after testing:

Mood: Positive and Negative Affect (PANAS) Cognition: Backward Digit Span (BDS)

Berman et al. 2012. Journal of Affective Disorders

cognitive and affective improvements after walking in a nature setting

America’s State of Mind, Medco Health Solutions, Inc

Change in % Population on ADHD Treatments 2001 - 2010

America’s State of Mind, Medco Health Solutions, Inc

% of Americans Ages 20-44 on ADHD Meds 2001 - 2010

ADHD and nature contact 17 children aged 7-12 with

diagnosed ADHD 20-minute guided

walks Park Neighborhood Downtown

Pre-walk puzzles Post-walk cognitive test

Faber Taylor & Kuo. 2009. Journal of Attention Disorders

ADHD and nature contact 96 children aged 7-12

diagnosed ADD or ADHD Parents gave postactivity

attentional functioning ratings (PAAF) – 4 measures: Can’t stay focused on unappealing

tasks (homework or chores) Can’t complete tasks Can’t listen and follow directions Easily distracted

Faber Taylor. 2001. Environment & Behavior

Mental Health & Function just doing better!

Green High School Campuses

cafeteria & classroom window views with greater quantities of trees and shrubs

positively associated with: standardized test scores, graduation rates %s of students planning to attend a four-year

college fewer occurrences of criminal behavior

26

Matsuoka. 2010. Landscape & Urban Planning

Attention Restoration Theory Rachel & Stephen Kaplan, U of MI

directed attention fatigue . . . .

Workplace Nature Views

Well-being desk workers without view of nature

reported 23% more ailments in prior 6 months

Job Satisfaction less frustrated and

more patient higher overall job

satisfaction and enthusiasm

Kaplan, R. 1993. Landscape and Urban Planning

the biophilic office cubicle!

bottom line = $$ benefits of trees & nature

http://www.jimkukral.com/

Nature and Creativity

role of nature in creativity

development

http://daycare.sulekha.com

Give Your Ideas Some Legs

Oppezzo & Schwartz. 2014. Journal of Experimental Psychology

creative test – analogy generation

conditions: sit inside, treadmill walk, walk outside, wheelchair outside

walking outside produced most novel & highest quality analogies – walking opens up free flow of ideas

Nature & Creative Professionals

Plambech & Konijnendijk van den Bosch. 2015. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening

focused interviews in Denmark

nature: makes us more curious supports flexible thinking recharges directed-attention

aids 2 phases of the creative process: Preparation phase and Incubation phase

sensory dimensions: space & serene

https://www.concur.com

Mindfulness

constant busyness

attempted

multi-tasking

‘out of

balance’ Anna and Elena Balbusso, NY Times

Nature and Mindfulness focus soft fascination undirected attention

credit: Michael Hellgren

Attention Restoration Theory, Kapan & Kaplan

Summary • evidence of nature & human health?

Green Cities: Good Health

• ~ 40 years of research, > 3K peer-reviewed publications

• better mental health & function

• ADHD, attention restoration theory, creativity, mindfulness

www.naturewithin.info