Green space in a city is more than green alone:
approximately 15% less children with overweight in green neighbourhoods
The percentage children with overweight in green neighborhoods is approximately 15% lower than in similar but non-green neighborhoods. This has been adjusted for factors such as ethnicity and socio-economic status. This becomes clear from research of Alterra that end 2006 has been presented in the report “Potentials of green!”
The research has been conducted for the ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality of the Netherlands. The Minister wants to get more insight in the impact of green spaces in the city. Green spaces are not only of meaning because it is green. It produces the society more than the well-known contribution to recreation and nature. It is also important for a healthy and attractive living- and working environment. The possibilities which green space offers are however still insufficiently recognized and exploit. Because of this green space often comes off worst when spatial interventions are weighed.
The research report not only motivates an overview of the potential impacts of green space in the city, but focuses also on two impacts of green spaces that are related to important objectives of the ‘Grotestedenbeleid’ (the policy for the 31 biggest cities in the Netherlands). These are the impact on the percentage children with overweight and the impact on binding households with middle and high incomes to the city.
From a statistic analysis it becomes clear that the percentage children with overweight is approximately 15% lower in green neighborhoods than in similar neighborhoods without green. The causal relations behind the statistic link must be examined still further. The expected causal relationship is that children with (sufficiently) physical activity have a smaller chance on overweight than children who don’t. The presence of local green space stimulates children to play outside more, provided that the green space offers the possibility to play, that it is contactable and sufficiently safe.
From a qualitative analysis it becomes clear that the presence of green space in a neighborhood takes an important position at the living preferences of households. No difference has been found to income level. However, households with higher incomes are more able to realize their preferences. That households are also effectively prepared to pay for green space in the neighborhood becomes clear from higher operation prices for houses with a view on green spaces with respect to similar houses without this view.
Further information on this subject at:
Alterra, Wageningen UR
drs. Jan Vreke
0031 (0)317 - 474474
jan.vreke@wur.nl
Alterra-report 1356 can be downloaded for free by means of www.alterra.wur.nl
Uit een kwalitatieve analyse blijkt dat de aanwezigheid van groen in de wijk een belangrijke positie inneemt bij de woonwensen van huishoudens. Hierbij is geen verschil gevonden naar inkomensniveau. Wel is het zo dat huishoudens met hogere inkomens beter in staat zijn hun woonwensen te realiseren. Dat huishoudens ook daadwerkelijk bereid zijn te betalen voor groen in de buurt, blijkt ondermeer uit hogere transactieprijzen voor woningen met uitzicht op groen ten opzichte van vergelijkbare woningen zonder dit uitzicht.
Meer informatie over dit onderwerp kunt u krijgen bij:
Alterra, Wageningen UR
drs. Jan Vreke
0317 - 474474
jan.vreke@wur.nl
Alterra-rapport 1356 kunt u gratis downloaden via www.alterra.wur.nl.