Park Equity

Why is Access to Nature Important?

Lack of outdoor time has been linked to a wide range of behavioral and health issues, including childhood obesity, attention deficit disorder (ADD), and depression. While many adults of generations past spent large portions of their childhood outdoors play with other kids, today’s youths are more likely to stay inside watching television, playing video games, or simply may not have access nature due to large-scale land development.

Research shows there are significant positive impacts of spending time in nature on a child’s physical, cognitive, and social maturation. Play in nature, particularly during the critical period of middle childhood, appears to be an important time for developing the capacities for creativity, problem-solving, and emotional and intellectual growth¹.

In a 2006 report, the Trust for Public Land documented that urban parks can be beneficial to the communities and citizens in many ways:

Community Health – evidence shows that access to park space encourages physical activity and promotes psychological benefits for children and teens
Social – green space can offer recreational opportunities, create a sense of place, and has been linked to crime reduction
Economic – numerous studies have shown that access to green space increases property value and even will make visitors want to shop or linger in greener areas
Environmental – green spaces in cities provide a benefit to air quality, temperature cooling, and may aid in filtering storm-water runoff

The Maryland Partnership for Children in Nature was created in 2008 to ensure that all young people have the opportunity to learn about their environment, connect with their natural world and grow into responsible stewards.

This “Park Equity Analysis” provides a quantitative statewide analysis to increase the access to public lands for children of underserved communities.

¹Kellert, Stephen R. “Nature and Childhood Development.” In Building for Life: Designing and Understanding the Human-Nature Connection. Washington, D.C.: Island Press, 2005.