2024 / Built environment + Urban design, Urban

Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health

Citation

Wolf, K. L., Shah, S., Egan, J. M., & Burian, M. S. (Eds.). (2024). Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health. Environmental Finance Center, University of Maryland. https://arch.umd.edu/research-creative-practice/centers/environmental-finance-center/resources/publications/nature-urban-planning-better-human-health

Link to file

Urban planning, public health, and nature are deeply connected. Research shows that time in natural environments can lower stress, support mental health, strengthen social ties, and encourage physical activity — all of which contribute to better health. Understanding exactly which features of nature matter, and how they benefit people, is key to shaping cities in ways that serve both community needs and public-health goals.

Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health is a guide that gives planners a clear roadmap for weaving nearby nature into the planning process, with the aim of promoting health and creating vibrant places to live for everyone. Drawing on the evidence base, it helps planners align their work with public-health priorities and set goals that get the most out of a community’s natural assets. It also shows how to treat nature as part of an urban system — designing environments that bring residents into closer contact with nature, encourage physical activity, and improve overall health.

Americans face a range of health challenges, from chronic physical disease to mental-health struggles, and a growing body of evidence suggests that living near nature helps.

Chapters 1-2 lay out the background and evidence for nature’s positive impact on health.
Chapter 3 introduces the plan-making process and explains how public engagement and collaboration across sectors can bring nature into it.
Chapter 4 covers the physical qualities of nature that influence well-being, offering practical guidance on designing and managing urban green spaces using “activating elements” such as dosage and sound.
Chapter 5 turns to the perceptual and experiential side of urban nature (wayfinding, spatial definition, and safety) with insights for planning environments that are inclusive and responsive to diverse needs.
Chapter 6 focuses on putting plans into action, showing how public land use, development regulations, and economic tools like incentives can attract public and private investment to fund, preserve, and expand urban green spaces.

Abstract

Urban planning, public health, and nature are intricately connected. Studies show that exposure to natural environments can reduce stress, improve mental health, increase social cohesion, and promote physical activity – all of which can attribute to positive health outcomes. Understanding the specific elements of nature experiences and their health benefits is crucial for tailoring urban planning efforts to meet community and public health goals.

Nature in Urban Planning for Better Human Health provides a roadmap for planners to incorporate nearby nature into the planning process to promote health and create vibrant urban living spaces for all residents. Using evidence from the literature, the guide will help planners align their efforts with public health priorities and establish goals that maximize the benefits of natural assets. It shows how planners can carefully consider nature as part of an urban system to design environments that enhance residents’ interactions with nature, promote physical activity, and improve overall health outcomes.

Americans face several health crises, from chronic physiological disease to mental health issues. A growing body of evidence suggests that proximity to nature has a positive impact on human health. Chapters 1 and 2 of the guide provide the background and evidence for the positive impact of nature on health. Chapter 3 introduces plan-making and describes how public engagement and cross-sector collaboration can be used to integrate nature into plan-making process. Chapter 4 discusses the important physical aspects of nature that influence residents’ well-being, providing guidance on how to design and manage urban green spaces using the principles of “activating elements” such as dosage and sound. Perceptual and experiential aspects of urban nature, such as wayfinding, spatial definition, and safety considerations, are described in Chapter 5, providing valuable insights to planning environments that are inclusive and supportive of diverse needs. Finally, Chapter 6 focuses on the implementation of community plans. It shows how public land use, development regulations, and economic approaches such as incentives can be used to attract public and private capital to fund, preserve, and expand urban green spaces.