The pandemic had ill effects on the mental health of young adults and a new study suggests that cities are moving slow to adapt public greenspaces to fit the needs of the 香蕉视频直播渕issing middle.香蕉视频直播�
A UBC study published Thursday (Nov. 17) found that those aged 15-24 are often left out of being considered when urban planners design their parks, especially when compared to the needs of children and the elderly.
香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e really good at providing playgrounds for younger children or including things like benches in parks for older adults,香蕉视频直播� researcher Sara Barron said in a news release.
香蕉视频直播淏ut when it comes to youth and young adults, there香蕉视频直播檚 a noticeable lack of intentionally designed spaces where they can just be themselves.香蕉视频直播�
Barron and fellow researcger Emily Rugel developed a three-pronged tool to better judge how young adults will utilize parks and greenspaces.
Young people respond better to parks that are well-tended and feel safe. Rugel says safety is a primary concern for young women who use parks.
香蕉视频直播淭hat香蕉视频直播檚 definitely [an area] where we need to think about what safety feels like for young adults versus other people who might be in a green space.香蕉视频直播�
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When it comes to diversity, parks with a variety of plants and available activities scored higher, the study found. There香蕉视频直播檚 also a demand amongst young people for quiet spaces that are more isolated.
香蕉视频直播淪ome people will kind of seek that retreat,香蕉视频直播� Rugel said. 香蕉视频直播淏ut many other young adults want a place where they can come together with their friends, play games and have a loud conversation that they香蕉视频直播檇 get yelled at for in a library.香蕉视频直播�
In exploring the parks and laneways of Melbourne and Sydney in Australia as case studies, Rugel and Barron found very few parks scored highly in all three areas of order, diversity and seclusion. The conflicts between the three is a challenge for cities wishing to adapt the framework.
香蕉视频直播淭here will be tensions between young adults and other park users,香蕉视频直播� Rugel said. 香蕉视频直播淧eople who may want to use a big open space to play a game [conflict] with people who want to be sitting there and having a picnic香蕉视频直播hat香蕉视频直播檚 definitely a tension that we think can be easily resolved, particularly by creating different areas that will provide options to people who butt heads when they香蕉视频直播檙e there for different purposes.香蕉视频直播�
However, there is opportunity to improve smaller 香蕉视频直播減ocket parks香蕉视频直播� and even alleys to better serve young people 香蕉视频直播� such as Melbourne香蕉视频直播檚 laneways that feature street art, plants and shrubbery.
香蕉视频直播淚f you see a place where there香蕉视频直播檚 graffiti, that means there香蕉视频直播檚 an opportunity for a fabulous mural,香蕉视频直播� Rugel said. 香蕉视频直播淭hat would contribute to the sense of order and the sense it香蕉视频直播檚 a place that香蕉视频直播檚 well cared for.香蕉视频直播�
The study finds that greenspaces can positively impact mental health by relieving stress and strengthening social ties. During COVID restrictions, a lack of access to outdoor spaces had direct impacts on young people香蕉视频直播檚 mood, ability to pay attention and to focus on important things.
Rugel hopes the approach is used as a checklist to improve parks in Metro Vancouver and other cities in the area.
dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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