Articlegreen2008

Is Green Space in the Living Environment Associated with People's Feelings of Social Safety?

Jolanda Maas · Peter M. M. Spreeuwenberg · Marijke van Winsum-Westra · Robert A. Verheij · Sjerp de Vries · Peter Groenewegen

217 citations0/0 files storedEnvironment and Planning A Economy and Space

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Urban Green Space and Health Crime Patterns and Interventions Urban Transport and Accessibility

Abstract

The authors investigate whether the percentage of green space in people's living environment affects their feelings of social safety positively or negatively. More specifically they investigate the extent to which this relationship varies between urban and rural areas, between groups in the community that can be identified as more or less vulnerable, and the extent to which different types of green space exert different influences. The study includes 83 736 Dutch citizens who were interviewed about their feelings of social safety. The percentage of green space in the living environment of each respondent was calculated, and data analysed by use of a three-level latent variable model, controlled for individual and environmental background characteristics. The analyses suggest that more green space in people's living environment is associated with enhanced feelings of social safety—except in very strongly urban areas, where enclosed green spaces are associated with reduced feelings of social safety. Contrary to the common image of green space as a dangerous hiding place for criminal activity which causes feelings of insecurity, the results suggest that green space generally enhances feelings of social safety. The results also suggest, however, that green space in the most urban areas is a matter of concern with respect to social safety.

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References

1999Systematic Social Observation of Public Spaces: A New Look at Disorder in Urban Neighborhoods 2006Green space, urbanity, and health: how strong is the relation?2002Urban residential environments and senior citizens’ longevity in megacity areas: the importance of walkable green spaces 2001Environment and Crime in the Inner City 2003Natural Environments—Healthy Environments? An Exploratory Analysis of the Relationship between Greenspace and Health 19991. Ecometrics: Toward a Science of Assessing Ecological Settings, with Application to the Systematic Social Observation of Neighborhoods 2001Aggression and Violence in the Inner City 2007Do green areas affect health? Results from a Danish survey on the use of green areas and health indicators

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