Fast Fact Library

The greening of vacant lots can reduce self-reported feelings of depression in adults. In a Philadelphia study of 324 participants living in an area where 110 vacant lots received clean-up and greening interventions...

South, Eugenia C., Bernadette C. Hohl, Michelle C. Kondo,  John M. MacDonald, and Charles C. Branas. (2018). Effect of Greening Vacant Land on Mental Health of Community-Dwelling Adults: A Cluster Randomized Trial. JAMA Network Open 1(3):e180298. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.0298

A study of 174 parks in 25 U.S. cities found that parks with walking loops had 90% higher levels of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in park users as compared to parks without walking loops. Parks with walking...

Cohen, Deborah A., Bing Han, Kelly R. Evenson, Catherine Nagel, Thomas L. Mckenzie, Terry Marsh, Stephanie Williamson, and Peter Harnik. “The Prevalence and Use of Walking Loops in Neighborhood Parks: A National Study.” Environmental Health Perspectives 125, no. 2 (2017): 170–74. https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp293.

More time spent outdoors reduces the onset of nearsightedness (or myopia) in children and adolescents, according to a systematic review and meta-analysis of research on the association between time spent outdoors...

Xiong, Shuyu et al. “Time spent in outdoor activities in relation to myopia prevention and control: a meta-analysis and systematic review.” Acta ophthalmologica vol. 95,6 (2017): 551-566. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.13403.

A review of 66 studies on the built environment and quality of life at residential health care centers found that nature-based design features like outdoor gardens provide a variety of positive outcomes including...

Joseph, Anjali, Young-Seon Choi, and Xiaobo Quan. “Impact of the Physical Environment of Residential Health, Care and Support Facilities (RHCSF) on Staff and Residents:  A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Environment and Behavior, 48.10 (December 2016) 1203-1241. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916515597027

A study of tree cover in and around the California residences of 7,910 participants suggests that increased tree cover in a neighborhood is related to better overall health, particularly lower rates of obesity and...

Ulmer, Jared M, Kathleen L. Wolf, Desiree R. Backman, Raymond L. Tretheway, Cynthia JA Blain, Jarlath PM O’Neil-Dunne, and Lawrence D. Frank. (November 2016). Multiple health benefits of urban tree canopy: The mounting evidence for a green prescription. Health & Place 42: 54-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2016.08.011

In a Berlin study, home window views that afforded a higher percentage of vegetation as well as a higher diversity of plant material were connected to lower stress levels in residents, as indicated by lower hair...

Honold, Jasmin, Tobia Lakes, Reinhard Beyer, and Elke van der Meer. “Restoration in urban spaces: Nature views from home, greenways, and public parks.” Environment and Behavior, 48.6 (2016): 796-825.

A study in Toronto, Canada found that having 10 more street trees on a city block, on average, improves health perception in ways comparable to an increase in annual personal income of $10,000 and moving to a...

Kardan, Omid, Peter Gozdyra, Bratislav Misic, Faisal Moola, Lyle J. Palmer, Tomáš Paus, and Marc G. Berman. (2015). Neighborhood greenspace and health in a large urban center. Scientific Reports, 5.

In a review of 30 published health impact assessments on the costs and benefits associated with walking and cycling for transportation, substantial health benefits were found with a shift to active transportation...

Mueller, Natalie, David Rojas-Rueda, Tom Cole-Hunter, Audrey de Nazelle, Evi Dons, Regine Gerike, Thomas Götschi, Luc Int Panis, Sonja Kahlmeier, and Mark Nieuwenhuijsen. (2015). Health impact assessment of active transportation: a systematic review. Preventive medicine, 76, 103-114.

Environments supportive of risky (challenging and exciting) outdoor play promoted increased play time, physical activity, social interactions, creativity, and resilience among children. The overall positive health...

Brussoni, Mariana, Rebecca Gibbons, Casey Gray, Takuro Ishikawa, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, Adam Bienenstock, Guylaine Chabot et al. (2015). What is the relationship between risky outdoor play and health in children? A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6423-6454.

A review of 28 studies found that children aged 3-12 years who spend more time outside are more active and less sedentary than children who spend more time inside. This was apparent across ages, sexes, and contexts.

Gray, Casey, Rebecca Gibbons, Richard Larouche, Ellen Beate Hansen Sandseter, Adam Bienenstock, Mariana Brussoni, Guylaine Chabot et al. (2015). What Is the Relationship between Outdoor Time and Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour, and Physical Fitness in Children? A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6455-6474.