A recent Planetizen article cites a National Recreation and Parks Association report summarizing the impact of parks on physical and mental health, social functioning, youth development, the environment, and the economy.
The report found that:
- compared to patients with urban views, patients with a view of nature have faster recovery times, need less pain medication, and experience fewer post-surgical complications;
- housing project tenants with a view of vegetation show
- lower levels of violence and aggression than neighbors who can only see concrete and asphalt;
- cognitive functioning, impulse control, and stress resilience increase in individuals with access to greenery; and
- close proximity to parks increases the value of homes, thereby increasing municipal tax revenue.
