Public Health in Oregon - Join The Conversation

I definitely agree that a person’s proximity to green spaces is probably connected to their socioeconomic status, and perhaps even influences their social networks. Green spaces can serve as a hub for community events, a meeting place for neighbors and an opportunity for kids to socialize with kids they might not have otherwise met. And when a neighborhood has natural beauty to offer, you’ll want to get out and walk around. But if you live in a neighborhood that’s anything but picturesque, you probably won’t be inspired to take a leisurely stroll around the neighborhood.

Also, as mentioned, if a neighborhood has a low socioeconomic status, there probably won’t be many green spaces anyway. And if there are, they’re often overtaken with gang activity and parents just don’t want their kids to play there.

It’s a complex problem, and it’s definitely one that’s going to need community support, police enforcement, urban planning, public health organizations, city councils and the entire village to find a solution. But we definitely need to keep pushing for accessible green spaces in all areas of Portland and some offer beauty and a small haven for everyone, especially in areas where people’s lives might be filled with hardship and moments that don’t allow for much tranquility and verdure.

I totally agree with the findings of this study, I have always believed that the natural environment especially green spaces have a beneficial effect on well-being. Nowadays stress has become a major component of urbanization and consequently most people’s life, which can overtime lead to a dramatic affect on one’s health, causing depression, anxiety and other chronic health conditions. Living near parks or other green spaces gives one the opportunity to enjoy nature with friends and family, relax, have fresh air, enjoy the sight of plants and animals, be physically active and start to think positively about life, all of which play a major role in relieving stress and depression. I used to live in a place with almost no green space at all; I just moved to Oregon and I’m starting to feel the difference.
A Japanese study showed that “Views of greenery from the ward window reduces length of stay in hospital following operations, with less analgesia being required”
Personally, I believe that the more time one spends outdoors in green spaces, the less he’s going to feel stressed. However, for people to be stimulated to use these green spaces, they should be perceived as an attractive, clean, nearby and safe setting.
Given the advantages of green spaces, policy makers should ensure the availability and maintenance of these settings, their safety, their accessibility to all people regardless of their socio-economic status, their sufficiency in size and make sure that they are located near residential areas.

Nature has an abundance of natural resources. One of them is greenspaces. They release pure air and provide a sense of relaxation. These places really help people get rid of their daily stress and anxiety. The pure air is also very good for people suffering from asthma and respiratory problems.
  I do not want to question the scientific grounds of this research but I believe further study is needed for conclusive results on the benefits of greenspaces, and on people suffering from stomach bugs and urinary tract infections.
  When people are relaxed, this will have a positive impact on their health. Considering all the benefits that are provided by greenspaces (pure air, scenery, relaxation), we shall protect these natural resources and create others. Furthermore, their cost of maintenance is very low. Let us promote greenspaces and we will feel better!

An individual’s proximity to “green spaces” is indicative of more than just improved health. It implies a higher level of income and a comfortable, low stress lifestyle. Although this study did control for demographic and socio-economic characteristics, it’s interesting where the relationships between the two variables remained the strongest. Stronger connections were found for populations of lower socio-economic status and for anxiety and depression disorders.
  This illustrates an important concept. Those who cannot afford to live somewhere with accessible green areas are often living lives of considerable stress, which is a major contributor to anxiety and depression. Stress, in turn, reduces the immune system leaving one more vulnerable to infections. Stress also contributes to the other major health concerns listed, such as heart disease and migraines.
  This study appears to attribute a therapeutic quality to green areas, which brings to mind the clichéd expression, which came first: the chicken or the egg? Were these populations healthier because they were close to green spaces, or were they close to green spaces because they were already of higher socio-economic status, and therefore healthier? However, the authors do stress the importance of green spaces for children and marginalized populations. Hopefully this study and others like it will help contribute to policy change to incorporate more green space in future urban planning projects, making it a convenience that all can enjoy.

Green space has been linked to a more positive health outcome. The question is why? Is living near green space the reason people have healthier lives? Or is it that only people who have a higher socioeconomic status can afford to live near green space? Taking a closer look at this study I discovered that they did account for low and high level of incomes. With the greatest positive impact being to children with low level income, it makes me believe that as a society, we do not pay enough attention to making sure we have a healthy environment around us and our children. I believe that green space may help depression, cardiovascular disease and asthma because having this area around us encourages us to take a walk, breath in fresh air, and gives us time to relax. So many people today never have the time, or feel safe enough to go outside and enjoy nature.
The study suggested that communities living in urban areas with green space do not get the same health outcome as those living in other communities. In the urban areas the parks that exist at times can be unsafe and in turn are not utilized the way they are intended. Parents today are concerned with letting their children leave the house. When I was a kid my parents never let me stay inside when the weather was nice out. Having green space around us encourages exercise, relaxation, and an escape from everyday worries. The unfortunate part is that many times the only green space around is miles away. For the lower socioeconomic communities, transportation is difficult and time consuming. I feel we should learn from studies like this and make green space part of every community whenever possible.
When new homes and apartments are built, having areas that are safe and part of nature should be part of the plan. We are so worried about fixing health care that it is time to take an upstream approach and look at ways that could help people not get sick in the first place. Maybe a small part of the answer could be enabling our communities by having green space as a fundamental part of the plan instead of an add-on for those who can afford it.