Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Re-naturing the City for Health and Wellbeing: Green/Blue Urban Spaces as Sites of Renewal and Contestation

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Planning Cities with Nature

Part of the book series: Cities and Nature ((CITIES))

Abstract

Widening citizen access to green/blue spaces is of critical importance to public health and for the socio-political sustainability of future cities. Using examples of empirical research from the global north, the UK, and the global south, Brazil, this chapter considers how ‘re-naturing the city’ approaches address these nested concerns. Focusing on four types of green/blue infrastructure: urban wetlands, landscaped urban squares, public aquariums and green wedges, we explore the beneficial and adverse impacts which these environments can have on human health and wellbeing, and discuss implications for social and environmental justice within widely differing global contexts. We find considerable overlap between the two countries in the potential of green/blue infrastructure to promote health and wellbeing and to support social justice considerations. However, in the case of Brazil we consider the potential negative consequences of human–nature connectivity, using virus transmissions by infected mosquitoes as representative of the challenges of green/blue infrastructure expansion.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alex S (2008) Projeto da praça: convívio e exclusão no espaço público. Senac, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Andrade LT (2007) Singularidade e igualdade nos espaços públicos. Revista do Arquivo Público Mineiro 43(2):12–127

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnold M, Shinew K (1998) The role of gender, race, and income on park use constraints. J Park Recreat Adm 16:39–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Barcelona City Council (2018) http://ajuntament.barcelona.cat/ecologiaurbana/en/what-we-do-and-why/public-commitment. Accessed on 22nd Mar 2018

  • Barros P (2010) The contribution of design in sustaining social activities in central urban squares within large cities: the case of Belo Horizonte. Oxford Brookes University, Thesis

    Google Scholar 

  • Bickerdike L, Booth A, Wilson PM et al (2017) Social prescribing: less rhetoric and more reality; a systematic review of the evidence. BMJ Open 7:013384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carr S et al (1992) Public space. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Cavia R, Cueto GR, Sua´rez OV (2009) Changes in rodent communities according to the landscape structure in an urban ecosystem. Landsc Urban Plan 90:1119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ceretti-Ju´nior W, Medeiros-Sousa AR, Bruno Wilke AB et al (2015) Mosquito Faunal Survey In a central park of the City of Sao Paulo, Brazil. J Am Mosquito Contr Assoc 31:1726

    Google Scholar 

  • CfAD (Center for Active Design) (2018) Fitwel. Certification System. https://fitwel.org/about

  • Cook M (2017) Vacating the floodplain: urban property, engineering, and floods in brisbane (1974–2011). Conservation and Society 15(3):344

    Google Scholar 

  • Cracknell D, White MP, Pahl S, Nichols WJ, Depledge MH (2015) Marine biota and psychological wellbeing: a preliminary examination of dose-response effects in an aquarium setting. Environ Behav 48:1242–1269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cronon W (1996) The trouble with wilderness: or, getting back to the wrong nature. Environ Hist 1(1):7–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dooling S (2012) Sustainability planning, ecological Gentrification and the production. In: Cities, nature and development: the politics and production of urban vulnerabilities, p 101

    Google Scholar 

  • EC (European Commission): European Parliament (2004) Directive 2004/35/EC. Environmental Liability

    Google Scholar 

  • Egorov AI, Mudu P, Braubach M, Martuzzi M (eds) (2016) Urban green spaces and health. WHO Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen

    Google Scholar 

  • Elias K (2017) What the Zika epidemic means for gender and urban adaptation planning in Brazil, São Paulo. Nat Cities. Accessed 24 Nov 2017. https://www.thenatureofcities.com/2017/11/24/zika-epidemic-means-gender-urban-adaptation-planning-brazil/

  • Falk JH, Heimlich J, Bronnenkant K (2008) Using identity-related visit motivations as a tool for understanding adult zoo and aquarium visitor’s meaning making Curator. Musm J 51:55–79

    Google Scholar 

  • Foster J (2011) From E. coli to Weil’s disease, the perils of outdoor swimming and how to avoid them. The Daily Mail. Available from: http://www.dailymailcouk/health/article-2015434. Accessed 18 July 2011

  • Friedli L, Jackson C, Abernethy H, Stansfield J (2017) Social prescribing for mental health—a guide to commissioning and delivery. Guidance published by CSIP North West Social Prescribing Development Project. http://www.centreforwelfarereform.org/library/by-az/social-prescribing-for-mental-health.html. Accessed 1st Nov 2017

  • Gascon M, Zijlema W, Cristina V, White MP, Mark J, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ (2017) Outdoor blue spaces, human health and well-being: a systematic review of quantitative studies. Int J Hyg Environ Health 220:1207–1221

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GFA (Green Flag Award) UK (2018). http://www.greenflagaward.org.uk/about-us/. Accessed Mar 2018

  • Gonçalves FM (2002) Discussões sobre o papel dos espaços livres públicos nos bairros de elite contemporâneos. Paisagem e ambiente: ensaios 2:9–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haase D, Kabisch S, Haase A, Andersson E, Banzhaf E, Baró F, Brenck M, Fischer LK, Frantzeskaki N, Kabisch N, Krellenberg K, Kremer P, Kronenberg J, Larondelle N, Mathey J, Pauleit P, Ring I, Rink D, Schwarz N, Wolff M (2017) Greening cities—to be socially inclusive? About the alleged paradox of society and ecology in cities. Habitat Int 64:41–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heritage Lottery Fund (2018) https://www.hlf.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/press-releases/work-begins-walthamstow-wetlands. Accessed on 22nd Mar 2018

  • Isin EF (ed) (2008) Recasting the social in citizenship. University of Toronto Press, Toronto

    Google Scholar 

  • IWBI (International WELL Building Institute) (2018) The well community standard (Pilot). Delos. https://www.wellcertified.com/en/resources/well-community-standard-pilot. Accessed 2nd Mar 2018

  • Jennings V, Johnson Gaither C, Schulterbrandt Gragg R (2012) Promoting environmental justice through urban green space access: a synopsis. Environ Justice 5:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koch R, Latham A (2011) Rethinking urban public space: accounts from a junction in West London. Trans Inst Br Geogr 37(4):515–529

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee JH, Scott D, Floyd MF (2001) Structural inequalities in outdoor recreation participation: a multiple hierarchy stratification perspective. J Leis Res 33:427–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lemes de Oliveira F (2017) Green wedge urbanism; history, theory and contemporary practice. Bloomsbury Academic, London

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lennon M, Douglas O, Scott M (2017) Urban green space for health and wellbeing: developing an ‘affordances’ framework for planning and design. J Urban Des 22(6):778–795

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Low S, Taplin D, Scheld S (2009) Rethinking urban parks: public space and cultural diversity. University of Texas Press, Texas

    Google Scholar 

  • Markevych I, Schoierer J, Hartig T, Chudnovsky A, Hystad P, Dzhamboy AM, Fuertes E (2017) Exploring pathways linking greenspace to health: theoretical and methodological guidance. Environ Res 158:301–317

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Massey DB, Allen J, Pile S (eds) (1999) City worlds. Psychology Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Medeiros-Sousa AR, Ceretti-Ju´nior W, de Carvalho GC et al (2015) Diversity and abundance of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an urban park: larval habitats and temporal variation. Acta Trop 150:2009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meerburg BG, Singleton GR, Kijlstra A (2009) Rodent-borne diseases and their risks for public health. Crit Rev Microbiol 35:22170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell R, Popham F (2008) Effect of exposure to natural environment on health inequalities: an observational population study. Lancet 372:1655–1660

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montana JL, Alexander SK, Olimb LS, Restani M (2016) Use of least-cost path analysis to identify potential movement corridors of swift foxes. J Mammal 97(3)9:891–898

    Google Scholar 

  • Natural England (2015) Green bridges; a literature review. Commissioned Report NECR181. First published 27 July 2015

    Google Scholar 

  • Natural England (2017) Green infrastructure—valuation tools assessment. Commissioned Report NECR126. First published 27 Sept 2013

    Google Scholar 

  • Oliveira AL, Mascaró JJ (2007) Análise da qualidade de vida urbana sob a ótica dos espaços públicos de lazer. Ambiente Construído 7:59–69

    Google Scholar 

  • Packer J, Ballantyne R (2002) Motivational factors and the visitor experience: a comparison of three sites. Curator 45:183–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Perry T, Matsui E, Merriman B, Duong T et al (2003) The prevalence of rat allergen in inner-city homes and its relationship to sensitization and asthma morbidity. J Allergy Clin Immunol 112:34652

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • PG (Prefeitura de Goiania) (2018) Online material. http://www4.goiania.go.gov.br/portal/pagina/?pagina=noticias&s=1&tt=not&cd=8545&fn=true. Accessed 2nd Mar 2018

  • Radhuber IM (2012) Indigeneous struggles for a plurinational state: an analysis of indigeneous rights and competences in Bolivia. J Lat Am Geogr 1(2):167–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robba F, Macedo SS (2003) Praças brasileiras. Edusp, São Paulo

    Google Scholar 

  • Roberts D, Boon R, Diederichs N, Douwes E, Govender N, McInnes A, Spires M (2012) Exploring ecosystem-based adaptation in Durban, South Africa; “learning-by-doing” at the local government coal face. Environ Urban 24(1):167–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell RC (1999) Constructed wetlands and mosquitoes: health hazards and management options an Australian perspective. Ecol Eng 12:10724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith C, Buckley N, Bridges E, Pavitt B, Moss A (2018) Self-reported impacts of volunteering in UK zoos and aquariums. Cult Trends 27:18–32

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swyngedouw E (2016) The mirage of the sustainable ‘smart’ city: Planetary urbanization and the spectre of combined and uneven apocalypse. In: Nel-lo O, Mele R (eds) Cities in the 21st Century. Routledge, London, pp 134–143

    Google Scholar 

  • The Royal Parks (2017) https://www.royalparks.org.uk/managing-the-parks/park-regulations-legislation-and-policies. Accessed at 15th Dec 2017

  • Traweger D, Slotta-Bachmayr L (2005) Introducing GIS-modelling into the management of a brown rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) (Mamm. Rodentia Muridae) population in an urban habitat. J Pest Sci 78:1724

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Traweger D, Travnitzky R, Moser C (2006) Habitat preferences and distribution of the brown rat (Rattus norvegicus Berk.) in the city of Salzburg (Austria): implications for an urban rat management. J Pest Sci 79:11325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Völker S, Matros J, Claßen T (2016) Determining urban open spaces for health-related appropriations: a qualitative analysis on the significance of blue space. Environ Earth Sci 75:1–18

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walthamstowe Wetlands (2017) https://walthamstowwetlands.com/. Accessed 14th Dec 2017

  • Wheeler BW, White M, Stahl-Timmins W, Depledge MH (2012) Does living by the coast improve health and wellbeing? Health Place 18:1198–1201

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wolch JR, Byrne J and Newell JP (2014) Urban green space, public health, and environmental justice: the challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape Urban Plann 125:234–244

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodberry Wetlands (2017) http://www.woodberrywetlands.org.uk/. Accessed at 14th Dec 2017

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Technology, University of Brighton, Lewes Road, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK

    Mary Gearey

  2. Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew St, Glasgow, G3 6RQ, UK

    Lynette Robertson

  3. Urban Institute, School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Jamie Anderson

  4. Department of Projects, School of Architecture, UFMG (Federal University of Minas Gerais), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 30130-141, Brazil

    Paula Barros

  5. School of Psychology, University of Plymouth, European Centre for Environment and Human Health and University of Exeter Medical School, Plymouth, UK

    Deborah Cracknell

Authors
  1. Mary Gearey
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Lynette Robertson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jamie Anderson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Paula Barros
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Deborah Cracknell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mary Gearey .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Portsmouth School of Architecture, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK

    Fabiano Lemes de Oliveira

  2. School of Environment, Education and Development, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK

    Ian Mell

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gearey, M., Robertson, L., Anderson, J., Barros, P., Cracknell, D. (2019). Re-naturing the City for Health and Wellbeing: Green/Blue Urban Spaces as Sites of Renewal and Contestation. In: Lemes de Oliveira, F., Mell, I. (eds) Planning Cities with Nature. Cities and Nature. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01866-5_11

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation