1. School of Planning, Design and Construction, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA 2. Pacific Coast Land Design, Inc., Ventura, CA 93001, USA
Urban green spaces contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by reducing levels of stress and anxiety. Marginalized communities in the USA experience poor health outcome in part because of health disparities related to social and structural determinants of health. The purpose of this study is to assess the prospective role of Kellogg Park, a newly built community park in a marginalized community in California, in enhancing residents' physical and mental health. The researchers collected the data by conducting an in-person survey, which covered questions related to environmental and safety perceptions, overall satisfaction, changes in physical activity changes and mental health with respondents' pre- and post-occupancy experiences. For analyzing data, bivariate analyses using a t-test and a correlation analysis were conducted to examine if there was a relationship between the overall satisfaction and visiting experience. The results indicated an increased positive environmental perception. Besides, respondents reported positively to questions of safety and their overall satisfaction. This research yielded positive results, indicating an improvement in the respondents' physical activity changes and mental health after the construction of the park. The results will advocate for and assist planners, designers, and policy-makers in prioritizing green spaces in marginalized communities.
● Reveals that increased physical and mental health was closely related to the accessibility of urban green spaces
● Finds that a close relationship existed between the overall satisfaction with the visit experience and that of the exercise equipment, safety of the park, and quality of the park
● Reveals that non-homeowners with children felt safer than homeowners with children about children playing at the park after its completion
. [J]. Landscape Architecture Frontiers, 2024, 12(3): 62-71.
Musab WEDYAN, Angle CRUZ, Fatemeh SAEIDI-RIZI, Jun-Hyun KIM. The Prospective Role of New Community Parks in Enhancing Human Health in Marginalized Communities: A Case of Kellogg Park in Ventura, California, USA. Landsc. Archit. Front., 2024, 12(3): 62-71.
It is easy to get to Kellogg Park from my residence.
12%
21%
26%
32%
9%
3.06
1.17
I can easily access Kellogg Park by walking.
15%
15%
9%
29%
32%
3.50
1.45
I can easily access Kellogg Park by biking.
9%
12%
6%
35%
38%
3.82
1.31
I visit Kellogg Park often.
23%
6%
24%
26%
21%
3.15
1.43
My child often uses the playground at Kellogg Park.
6%
6%
18%
47%
23%
3.76
1.06
My child often uses the play equipment at Kellogg Park.
0
32%
21%
32%
15%
3.29
1.09
There is enough seating at Kellogg Park.
0
32%
21%
32%
15%
3.29
1.09
Park safety perception
I feel that Kellogg Park is safe at night.
9%
18%
26%
29%
18%
3.29
1.21
I feel that there is ample light at night in Kellogg Park.
6%
12%
18%
32%
32%
3.74
1.20
Tab.2
Item
Strongly disagree
Disagree
Neither agree nor disagree
Agree
Strongly agree
Mean
SD
I am satisfied with the maintenance of Kellogg Park.
18%
29%
24%
6%
24%
2.88
1.42
I am satisfied with the aesthetics of Kellogg Park.
3%
6%
18%
44%
29%
3.91
0.98
I am satisfied with the exercise equipment at Kellogg Park.
0
6%
18%
29%
47%
4.18
0.95
I am satisfied with how safe Kellogg Park is when I visit.
3%
3%
9%
38%
47%
4.24
0.91
I am satisfied with my health now that Kellogg Park has been built.
0
9%
12%
44%
35%
4.06
0.91
Overall, I am satisfied with the quality of Kellogg Park.
3%
12%
12%
41%
32%
3.88
1.08
Overall, I am satisfied with my visit experience at Kellogg Park.
9%
6%
6%
35%
44%
4.00
1.24
Tab.3
Item
Never
Somewhat often
Often
Very Often
Always
Rather not answer
Before
I walk around the neighborhood.
5.88%
11.76%
35.29%
14.71%
20.59%
11.76%
I do physical activity during weekdays.
8.82%
35.29%
23.53%
17.65%
14.71%
0
I have positive emotions.
2.94%
35.29%
20.59%
17.65%
14.71%
8.82%
I feel safe to let my kids walk in the neighborhood.
2.94%
29.41%
5.88%
29.41%
29.41%
2.94%
After
I walk around the neighborhood.
8.82%
23.53%
23.53%
17.65%
17.65%
8.82%
I do physical activity during weekdays.
2.94%
29.41%
20.59%
26.47%
17.65%
2.94%
I have positive emotions.
5.88%
23.53%
20.59%
11.76%
23.53%
14.71%
I feel safe to let my kids walk in the neighborhood.
0
14.71%
11.76%
41.18%
29.41%
2.94%
Tab.4
Fig.4
Pearson's R
Value
Asymptotic standard error
Approximate Ta
Approximate significance (p-value)
Visit experience versus exercise equipment of the park
0.435
0.151
2.735
0.010b
Visit experience versus safety of the park
0.467
0.155
2.987
0.005b
Visit experience versus quality of the park
0.331
0.205
1.984
0.056b
Tab.5
Mean
SD
Stand error mean
t
df
Significance (2-tailed)
Biking
1.73529
1.05339
0.18065
9.606
33
0.000
Walking
1.38235
1.79249
0.30741
4.497
33
0.000
Tab.6
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