Neighbors and Nature

1. Neighbors and Nature

2. A study conducted by Frances E. Kuo, Rebekah L. Coley, and Liesette Brunson Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

3. With funding from • The Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture • The USDA Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry Program on the recommendation of the National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council

4. Take home message

5. Take home message Green residential spaces strengthen communities.

6. Presentation outline • Why Study Neighbors and Nature? • The Approach • The Findings • So What?

7. Why Study Neighbors and Nature?

8. Social ties matter. They are the glue that binds individuals together to form a community.

9. When neighborhood ties are strong, residents • help and protect each other

10. When neighborhood ties are strong, residents • help and protect each other • feel empowered to take action

11. When neighborhood ties are weak, residents • feel isolated and unsupported

12. When neighborhood ties are weak, residents • feel isolated and unsupported • have fewer resources to rely on

13. ? Greener residential spaces Stronger neighborhood ties

14. We know that informal social contact on shared paths can lead to social ties.

15. Contact in other common areas might also provide chances for social ties to form. More use of spaces Stronger neighborhood ties

16. If common areas aren’t used, these chances to form ties won’t occur.

17. The more trees a residential space has, the more likely it is to be used. More use of spaces Greener residential spaces

18. Barren spaces • disliked • feared • unused

19. Green spaces • liked • feel safer • well used

20. Can trees promote neighborhood social ties by drawing residents into outdoor common spaces?

21. This study examines the following relationships: More use of spaces Greener residential spaces Stronger Neighborhood Ties 1 2 3

22. The Approach

23. The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because • buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs

24. The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because • buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs • residents are randomly assigned to buildings

25. The Robert Taylor Homes were chosen as a research site because • buildings are similar; only the quantity of nearby vegetation differs • residents are randomly assigned to buildings • residents have similar characteristics

26. The participants were • 145 female, heads of household, under 60 years old

27. The participants were • 145 female, heads of household, under 60 years old • from 18 buildings that varied along the full range of vegetation

28. The participants were • 145 female, heads of household, under 60 years old • from 18 buildings that varied along the full range of vegetation • recruited by interviewers going door-to-door

29. Measures • A “Greenness of Common Spaces” score was obtained for each building.

30. Measuring greenness of common spaces Robert Taylor Homes without trees (barren) Robert Taylor Homes with trees (green)

31. Measures • A “Greenness of Common Spaces” score was obtained for each building. • Residents rated how much time they spent just outside their building.

32. Measures • A “Greenness of Common Spaces” score was obtained for each building. • Residents rated how much time they spent just outside their building. • Residents reported on their neighborhood social ties.

33. Different aspects of neighborhood social ties were measured: • socializing at Robert Taylor Homes • knowing nearby neighbors • local sense of community

34. Finally, the relationships between greenness, common space use, and social ties were analyzed.

35. The Findings

36. Are greener spaces used more? More use of spaces? Greener residential spaces 1

37. Yes! Green spaces are used more Very much 4 3.5 3 2.5 Use of building’s common spaces 2 1.5 1 .5 No use 0 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 not green very green Greenness of building’s common space

38. Do well-used spaces lead to stronger neighborhood ties? More use of spaces 2 Stronger Neighborhood Ties?

39. 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 .5 .5 0 0 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 .5 .5 0 0 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 Yes! More use of common spaces leads to stronger ties Socializing at Taylor Nearby neighbors 4 Use of building’s common spaces Use of building’s common spaces Local sense of community General social ties Use of building’s common spaces Use of building’s common spaces

40. Do greener spaces result in stronger ties? Greener residential spaces Stronger Neighborhood Ties? 3

41. 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 .5 .5 0 0 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4 3.5 3.5 3 3 2.5 2.5 2 2 1.5 1.5 1 1 .5 .5 0 0 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 0 .5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 Yes! Greener spaces lead to stronger neighborhood ties Socializing at Taylor Nearby neighbors Greenness of common spaces Greenness of common spaces Local sense of community General social ties Greenness of common spaces Greenness of common spaces

42. In other words • Green common spaces receive significantly more use.

43. In other words • Green common spaces receive significantly more use. • Use of outdoor common spaces strengthens neighborhood social ties.

44. In other words • Green common spaces receive significantly more use. • Use of outdoor common spaces strengthens neighborhood social ties. • Green common spaces lead to strong neighborhood social ties.

45. So What?

46. Poor, inner-city residents rely heavily on neighbors, so it is vital to form neighborhood ties.

47. But, these neighborhoods often lack the green spaces that help build these ties.

48. Adding trees and greenery can help bring neighbors together.

49. Ideas for policymakers, city planners, developers, and building owners • Include green spaces in urban developments.

50. Ideas for policymakers, city planners, developers, and building owners • Include green spaces in urban developments. • Plant trees close to buildings.