Fast Fact Library

Residents living near popular public parks are more likely to be satisfied with their local government institutions. A survey of over 5,000 respondents in 26 United States communities found 29% greater satisfaction...

Center for Active Design. “The Assembly Civic Engagement Survey.” (June 2017). https://cdn.plataformaurbana.cl/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/assembly-civic-engagement-survey.pdf.

In a large, international study of urban residents, researchers found that only access to green space and recreational areas made a difference in reducing neighborhood socioeconomic health inequalities, while...

Mitchell, Richard J., Elizabeth A. Richardson, Niamh K. Shortt, and Jamie R. Pearce. (2015). Neighborhood Environments and Socioeconomic Inequalities in Mental Well-Being. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

In a study of four urban parks in low-income neighborhoods in San Francisco, the two recently-renovated parks saw more than a doubling in the number of visitors and a substantial increase in energy expended compared...

Cohen, Deborah A., Bing Han, Jennifer Isacoff, Bianca Shulaker, Stephanie Williamson, Terry Marsh, Thomas L. McKenzie, Megan Weir, and Rajiv Bhatia. (2015). Impact of park renovations on park use and park-based physical activity. Journal of Physical Activity & Health, 12(2), 289-295.

An eight-year longitudinal study of 3,173 children from 12 communities in Southern California suggests that if all children had commensurate access to parkland and recreation programs near their homes, over 9.5% of...

Berhane, Kiros, Brady, Kirby, Chang, Roger, Dahmann, Nicholas, Gilliland, Frank, Jerrett, Michael, McConnell, Rob, Reynolds, Kim, Su, Jason G., Wolch, Jennifer. (2011) Childhood obesity and proximity to urban parks and recreational resources: A longitudinal cohort study. Health & Place 17, 207-214.