Accessibility to and enjoyment of parks and outdoor space has taken on somewhat of a new meaning in the time of COVID-19.
Reaping the benefits of being outdoors, particularly reductions in stress and anxiety, is more important than ever. However, access to the outdoors is also more restricted than ever and inequities in access to outside play have been exacerbated. In this blog, we look at the critical role of urban nature and how some regional policy makers are addressing this issue both during- and post-pandemic.
Urban nature plays a critical role during COVID-19
Samuelsson et al. (2020) in “Urban nature as a source of resilience during social distancing amidst the coronavirus pandemic,” help us understand the importance of nature during this crisis. They provide
- Evidence that urban nature is a source of resilience and supports well-being
- Suggestions to policymakers to make urban nature a priority in their sustainability agendas.
Nature is even more important during this time. Among obvious benefits, the ability to be outside offers an escape from household confinement, ability to socially interact at safe distances, and a “sense of connection with the outside world” (p. 1). Other scholars note that spending time with other people outdoors in nature can help to enhance social cohesion and build social capital (Jennings & Bamkole, 2019), benefits much needed especially for vulnerable populations, like the elderly who are living alone.
Our regional leaders know this and have taken action
Parks and outdoor spaces have been among the first areas to re-open to public use:
- Last month, King County Parks re-opened parks and trails, urging people to Recreate Responsibly. Parks were also among the last to close in King County last month – a measure many policymakers deemed necessary as residents enjoyed warm weather at popular beaches like Alki and Golden Gardens. Those who “felt the squeeze” of not being able to go outside just recently now may know what it might be like to not have that access,
- Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan recently announced over 20 miles of residential streets, so-called “Stay Healthy Streets,” will be permanently closed to through traffic (with the exception of residents, delivery drivers, garbage and recycling workers, and emergency response vehicles).
- The Washington State Department of Transportation Active Transportation Division recently announced a call for projects for the Pedestrian and Bicyclist Program and the Safe Routes to School Program. The purpose of these programs include: reducing/eliminating pedestrian and bicyclist traffic crashes; increasing the number of adults and children who can and do walk or bike for transportation (including to school) safely; building connected networks of pedestrian and bicyclist facilities for children within two miles of a school, and more. Increased funding for these types of projects can be a meaningful change.
Looking ahead: what does this mean and what can we do?
While dense urban environments offer a number of benefits, including the possibility for high-volume housing, reduced transportation use, and increased social interaction, COVID-19 will influence future urban planning:
- Williams (2020) in Coronavirus Crisis Threatens Push for Denser Housing (The New York Times) reflects on the fact that transportation accessibility and density have been the focus of new housing in urban areas for some time, but as social distancing and working from home become the norm, developers may change the way they build housing.
- The challenge for developers will be combining density with safety and sanitation. Transit-oriented developments may be much more focused on public health, including more open spaces, broader sidewalks, and narrower roads.
This will have an impact on the access our region’s youth have to outdoor space, and the safety they feel while outdoors.
- Unique policy changes to support public health, such as closing residential roads to through traffic to make more space for socially-distanced walking, will continue – and this is a critical policy window to make more change.
- Youth have unique needs that infrastructure does not always support, especially in the southern part of King County. This includes adult supervision, safe walking or biking routes to parks in the absence of vehicle transportation, and easy public transportation options.
The King County Play Equity Coalition is trying to increase awareness of the ways Covid-19, and the fallout from it, will exacerbate inequities in youth access to play spaces. In light of this, we have made some recommendations to regional parks directors encouraging them to consider equitable access as they re-open facilities. These recommendations include
- Coordination between municipal park agencies in the opening of facilities and health and safety protocols governing the openings.
- Collaboration between park agencies, school districts, and non-profits in the provision of facilities for programming.
Municipalities might also consider the ways safe water access might be constrained this summer – fewer lifeguards, no shared PFDs, less summer camp programming around the water – and prioritize youth safety in and around our region’s beaches.
We want to hear from you. How do you think policymakers might re-imagine outdoor recreation and nature for youth against this backdrop?
REFERENCES
Frumkin, H., Bratman, G.N., Breslow, S.J., Cochran, B., Kahn Jr, P.H., Lawler, J.J., Levin, P.S., Tandon, P.S., Varanasi, U., Wolf, K.L. and Wood, S.A., 2017. Nature contact and human health: A research agenda. Environmental health perspectives, 125(7), p. 075001.
Jennings, V., & Bamkole, O. (2019). The relationship between social cohesion and urban green space: An avenue for health promotion. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(3), 452.
Samuelsson, K., Barthel, S., Colding, J., Macassa, G., & Giusti, M. (2020). Urban nature as a source of resilience during social distancing amidst the coronavirus pandemic.