Spatial disparities in neighborhood public tree coverage: Do modes of transportation matter?

Urban green space has various environmental and ecological benefits, and uneven access to such amenities has drawn substantial attention from policy makers in developing sustainable community planning. In this study, we illustrate the spatial distribution of publicly owned and maintained trees in Edmonton, Canada and assess neighborhoods’ heterogeneous tree availability by using the container approach. Through spatial regression models, we further investigate the association of neighborhood public tree availability with socio-economic status (SES). We contribute to the existing literature by taking resident modes of transportation into consideration, in addition to many other commonly examined SES such as household income and ethnicity. Another unique contribution of this study is that we distinguish trees planted on different location types (i.e., boulevard, park, and buffer areas) when exploring the unequal coverage across neighborhoods and among different SES groups. Key results include: (1) a general examination without differentiating location types can lead to misleading results and thus provide inappropriate policy recommendations; (2) resident modes of transportation is a critical factor associated with a neighborhood’s public tree coverage; and (3) there exists evident spatial dependence on public tree availability between neighborhoods. The results from this study provide important information to better understand the issue and to allocate public resource (such as tree coverage) more efficiently and effectively to support sustainable community development.     

Association between urban greenspace,tree canopy cover and intentional deaths: An exploratory geospatial analysis

Greenspaces can provide restorative experiences, offer opportunities for outdoor recreation, and reduce mental fatigue; all of which may improve community health and safety. Yet few studies have examined the neighborhood-level benefits of greenspace in reducing violent deaths. This study explored the association between three distinct greenspace metrics: public greenspace quantity, public greenspace accessibility, neighborhood tree canopy cover, and intentional deaths (i.e., homicides and suicides). Generalized linear models and spatial error models investigated the association between greenspace, tree canopy and intentional deaths in three geographically distinct cities in North Carolina, USA. Results revealed that increased neighborhood greenspace accessibility and tree canopy cover were associated with reduced intentional deaths in all three urban areas. Neighborhood greenspace accessibility was the most protective factor across all study areas. The association between neighborhood greenspace accessibility and intentional deaths was more significant for non-firearm deaths as compared to firearm deaths, indicating that weapon type may be an important consideration for neighborhood greenspace interventions. Compared to predominantly White neighborhoods, predominantly Black neighborhoods had higher rates of homicide in Asheville and Durham and higher rates of suicide in Charlotte. Future policy and research should focus on improving equitable access to existing and future greenspaces, especially in primarily Black neighborhoods.     

Spatial and temporal variability of air temperature across urban neighborhoods with varying amounts of tree canopy

Recent studies have emphasized the presence of microclimates in urban settings, but most do not have the high resolution observations necessary to understand the interactions taking place at a neighborhood scale. This study used a network of 10 identical weather stations and high resolution land cover data in Knoxville, Tennessee, to analyze the microclimates of a medium-sized city with a temperate climate. Two stations were installed in each of four urban neighborhoods in locations with varying localized tree cover, and two additional stations were installed in the center of downtown and in a nearby urban nature center. The intra-neighborhood results suggested that there is significant temperature variability within a single neighborhood based on the tree canopy density immediately surrounding a given weather station. However, the inter-neighborhood variability (differences between neighborhoods) was similar in magnitude, which suggests that the overall differences in neighborhood characteristics also have an effect on climate. Land cover at the neighborhood scale (in particular tree canopy percentages at the 500-m radii) had the highest correlation with the minimum daily temperature (Tmin) during the summer season. Maximum daily temperature (Tmax) relied most on the distance of each station from Downtown and the amount of impervious area in the 50 m surrounding each station. Tmax was also most influenced by surrounding land cover during dry conditions (a Dry Moderate air mass). Overall, highly localized impervious land cover percentages and larger-scale forested canopy were important in explaining temperature fluctuation, pointing to the importance of scale in microclimate assessments. Dry air masses enhanced the relationship between land cover and temperature during the day, while moist air masses did the same overnight. These data can be used to better inform planning strategies to build resiliency to extreme heat into urban environments by considering the influence of tree canopy.     

Individual households and their trees: Fine-scale characteristics shaping urban forests

In urban areas, the pattern of trees is often a result of municipal policy, built form, neighborhood socioeconomic conditions, and the actions of local actors. Recent research has focused on the role of neighborhood socioeconomics, and begun to explore the underlying causes of uneven distributions of urban forests associated with different socioeconomic groups. To date, little work has explored property-level tree conditions in relation to disaggregated household characteristics and actions, yet the household is the scale where most decisions about residential tree planting and care are made. This study examines the role of property-level built conditions, household socioeconomics, and residents’ actions and attitudes in relation to property-level canopy cover and tree density. The study area is four neighborhoods in the City of Mississauga (ON, Canada). Regression analyses were conducted to explore significant variables related to the two tree measures for all properties together and separately by neighborhood. The results indicate that property conditions and residents actions are more important in relation to tree variations than socioeconomic factors. Additionally, several significant factors have opposite relationships with percent canopy cover and tree density. These results highlight the need to consider property-level built conditions, residents’ actions, and multiple measures of the urban forest to better understand the patterns of trees in cities.     

Street trees and Urban Heat Island in Glasgow: Mitigation through the ‘Avenues Programme’

Glasgow, Scotland, is embarking on an ambitious plan to convert all city centre thoroughfares into tree-lined streets (the ‘Avenues Programme’) to make the city centre more people-friendly, attractive, greener, sustainable and economically competitive. While it is well-known that urban green infrastructure (UGI) is a promising strategy to address overheating in urban areas, evidence for the surface temperature, air temperature and thermal comfort effects of street trees is contradictory. In the context of a city-centre-wide ‘Avenues Programme’ in Glasgow, we explore its co-benefits in terms of temperature and thermal comfort. We used a multi-method approach, combining GIS-based spatial analysis with fieldwork, microclimate modelling and statistical analysis to determine the scale of the overheating problem and the likely role of its mitigation based on the ‘Avenues Programme’ case study. We show that the Surface Urban Heat Island (SUHI) differences within the city are of the same magnitude as the urban-rural anomaly and “hot” spots are localized in the city centre area and are clustered in different patterns depending on the severity of background temperatures. Therefore, small, isolated patches of vegetation would not be effective for cooling the clusters of overheated areas. Air temperature showed non-linear relationship with tree canopy cover and the relationship is stronger at medium scale. The ‘Avenues Programme’ as a whole, could eliminate the UHI effect in the city centre, with some tree species completely eliminating the UHI in the city centre. Once complete, the ‘Avenues Programme’ could significantly improve thermal comfort during heatwaves from the current ‘hot’ category to ‘slightly warm’ across the city centre.     

Tree canopy change and neighborhood stability: A comparative analysis of Washington,D.C. and Baltimore,MD

Trees provide important health, ecosystem, and aesthetic services in urban areas, but they are unevenly distributed. Some neighborhoods have abundant tree canopy and others nearly none. We analyzed how neighborhood characteristics and changes in income over time related to the distribution of urban tree canopy in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, MD. We used stepwise multiple regression analysis to identify strong predictors of UTC, from variables found in neighborhoods with different patterns of wealth-stability over time. We then built spatial lag models to predict variation in UTC cover, using the results of a Principal Component Analysis of the socioeconomic, demographic, and housing characteristics of the two cities. We found that: (1) stable-wealthy neighborhoods were more likely to have more, and more consistent, tree canopy cover than other neighborhood types; (2) decreases and increases in income were negatively associated with UTC in Washington, D.C. but not Baltimore, where income stability in both wealthy and impoverished neighborhoods was a significant predictor of UTC; and (3) the association of high socioeconomic status with UTC coverage varied between the two cities.     

The cross-level impact of landscape patterns on housing premiums in micro-neighborhoods

This paper attempts to examine the impacts of the spatial structure of landscape on housing premiums in Austin, TX through the years of 2009–2011. Dissimilar to previous studies, this paper highlighted three points. First, landscape patterns was observed—not only the composition but also the configuration in terms of shape, fragmentation, isolation, and connectivity. Second, the definition of neighborhood in this study was closely matched to the nature of a residential neighborhood, which was represented by a residential subdivision that has a name and a high level of homogeneous characteristics (i.e., development age, appraised value, lot size, and housing size). This approach specifically helps understand the impact of landscape configuration at the micro-level neighborhoods. Third, the hierarchical nature of neighborhoods and embedded parcels—nested parcels within the same neighborhood posit a certain level of identity as a whole—was given attention so that multi-level modeling could be employed. Conceptually and theoretically, multi-level modeling is a better approach to examine phenomenon that occur in multi-level units that show a clear hierarchy. The findings indicated that home buyers are willing to pay more to live in neighborhoods with the high ratio of tree cover. This is a finding consistent with previous studies. Meanwhile, the detailed spatial configuration of landscape does not play an important role at the residential neighborhood level. This result urges policy makers to be more scale-sensitive when planning landscape and indicates that micro neighborhoods are not the correct spatial level to discuss the spatial configuration of landscape, greenways, and green network.     

Why don’t people plant trees? Uncovering barriers to participation in urban tree planting initiatives

Urban tree cover is inequitable in many American cities, with low-income and non-white neighborhoods typically having the least coverage. Some municipal and non-profit tree planting programs aim to address this inequity by targeting low-income neighborhoods; however, many programs face lack of participation or resistance from local residents. In this study, we aimed to uncover the economic, social, cultural, and physical barriers that community leaders face in planting trees and fostering engagement in a neighborhood with low tree canopy. In collaboration with an urban greening nonprofit in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (US), twenty in-depth interviews were conducted with community leaders in a low canopy neighborhood, North Philadelphia. Half of these leaders were already involved with local tree planting programs, while the other half were not. Findings reveal that despite broad appreciation for trees and greenspaces, there are concerns about the risks and costs residents assume over the course of a tree’s life cycle, the threat of neighborhood development and gentrification associated with trees, limited plantable space, and limited time and capacity for community organizations. Additionally, these barriers to participation may be amplified among low-income and communities of color who face the legacies of historical tree disservices and municipal structural disinvestment. Addressing community concerns regarding the long-term care of trees beyond the initial tree planting would likely require further programmatic support. Overall, this research highlights the complexity of addressing inequities in tree canopy and the importance of integrating resident and community leader perspectives about disservices and management costs into tree planting initiatives.     

Micro-scale urban surface temperatures are related to land-cover features and residential heat related health impacts in Phoenix,AZ USA

Context

With rapidly expanding urban regions, the effects of land cover changes on urban surface temperatures and the consequences of these changes for human health are becoming progressively larger problems.

Objectives

We investigated residential parcel and neighborhood scale variations in urban land surface temperature, land cover, and residents’ perceptions of landscapes and heat illnesses in the subtropical desert city of Phoenix, AZ USA.

Methods

We conducted an airborne imaging campaign that acquired high resolution urban land surface temperature data (7 m/pixel) during the day and night. We performed a geographic overlay of these data with high resolution land cover maps, parcel boundaries, neighborhood boundaries, and a household survey.

Results

Land cover composition, including percentages of vegetated, building, and road areas, and values for NDVI, and albedo, was correlated with residential parcel surface temperatures and the effects differed between day and night. Vegetation was more effective at cooling hotter neighborhoods. We found consistencies between heat risk factors in neighborhood environments and residents’ perceptions of these factors. Symptoms of heat-related illness were correlated with parcel scale surface temperature patterns during the daytime but no corresponding relationship was observed with nighttime surface temperatures.

Conclusions

Residents’ experiences of heat vulnerability were related to the daytime land surface thermal environment, which is influenced by micro-scale variation in land cover composition. These results provide a first look at parcel-scale causes and consequences of urban surface temperature variation and provide a critically needed perspective on heat vulnerability assessment studies conducted at much coarser scales.

     

Regional relationships between surface temperature,vegetation, and human settlement in a rapidly urbanizing ecosystem

Regional climate change induced by rapid urbanization is responsible for and may result from changes in coupled human-ecological systems. Specifically, the distribution of urban vegetation may be an important intermediary between patterns of human settlement and regional climate spatial variability. To test this hypothesis we identified the relationships between surface temperature, one component of regional climate, vegetation, and human settlement patterns in the Phoenix, AZ, USA region. Combining satellite-derived surface temperature and vegetation data from an early summer day with US Census and topographic data, we found substantial surface temperature differences within the city that correlate primarily with an index of vegetation cover. Furthermore, both of these patterns vary systematically with the social characteristics of neighborhoods through the region. Overall, every $10,000 increase in neighborhood annual median household income was associated with a 0.28°C decrease in surface temperature on an early summer day in Phoenix. Temperature variation within a neighborhood was negatively related to population density. A multivariate model generated using path analysis supports our hypothesis that social impacts on surface temperature occur primarily through modifications of vegetation cover. Higher income neighborhoods were associated with increased vegetation cover and higher density neighborhoods were associated with decreased vegetation variability. These results suggest that settlement patterns in the central Arizona region influence regional climate through multiple pathways that are heterogeneously distributed throughout the city.     

Neighborhood satisfaction and use patterns in urban public outdoor spaces: Multidimensionality and two-way relationships

Neighborhood satisfaction and use patterns in public outdoor spaces are generally viewed as single entities, ignoring their multidimensionality as well as detailed associations between them. Such a general assessment raises questions of the kinds of neighborhood characteristics that accrue to satisfaction, and the variety of environmental affordances perceived by residents with respect to nearby outdoor settings. Given the significant role of these factors in people’s life satisfaction and wellbeing, a nuanced approach is needed to help us better understand people-environment relationships and examine practical solutions for creating more livable neighborhoods. This study investigated two-way associations between four aspects of neighborhood satisfaction and three forms of use, as well as the role played by perceived barriers to neighborhood use in these associations. A random sample of 434 Chicago residents participated in a survey (mailed and on-site) with a five-point rating scale. The three major findings through generalized linear modeling include; 1) multidimensionality of both neighborhood satisfaction and use patterns as important to consider in people-environment studies, 2) the significant roles as predictors and as outcomes played by both neighborhood satisfaction and use patterns, with only one factor from each set showing a two-way relationship, and 3) the main effect of perceived barriers on three of the neighborhood satisfactions, and their interactive effect with several of the use pattern and satisfaction factors. These findings contribute to our understanding of people-environment relationships in urban public spaces and provide insights for improving neighborhood satisfaction and frequency of use of public outdoor spaces.     

Insect biodiversity in urban tree pit habitats

Urban green spaces are important for urban insects, providing both habitat space as well as stopover locations within the urban landscape. Street tree pits in cities are small, heterogeneous, and understudied green spaces that may be important for supporting urban insect communities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the composition of insect communities within tree pits in New York City, New York, USA (NYC) and compare tree pit insect communities across NYC neighborhoods. Tree pits in NYC are part of the New York City Parks system but are primarily managed by residents of each street. We postulated that insect assemblages within tree pits would contain both permanent (habitat) and transient (stopover) members and those communities would vary among neighborhoods. Insects were collected from understory plants in tree pits in four NYC neighborhoods during the summer of 2019. We found that the tree pits provided habitat for nine orders and 51 families of insects, the majority of which were herbivores and their associated predators or parasitoids, which were likely utilizing the tree pits as habitat space. Few clearly transient species (e.g. pollinators) were collected. Furthermore, insect communities were similar both within neighborhoods and among neighborhoods, suggesting that while tree pits management is not strictly regulated in NYC, tree pits in all neighborhoods provided habitat to sustain similar insect assemblages. At the neighborhood level, urban tree pits can harbor a diverse insect community and that capability is similar throughout the urban landscape.     

Too hot to handle? On the cooling capacity of urban green spaces in a Neotropical Mexican city

Urban areas are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect, which can be mitigated by urban vegetation through shading and evapotranspiration. Nevertheless, there is still a lack of spatially explicit information on the cooling capacity of green infrastructure for most Latin American cities. In this study, we employed Land Surface Temperature (LST) of the Neotropical Mexican city of Xalapa to (1) analyze its Surface UHI (SUHI) compared to its peri and extra-urban areas, (2) to assess the cooling capacity of urban green spaces larger than 1 ha, and (3) to evaluate the role of green spaces’ size, shape and their surrounding tree cover percentage (Tc) on green spaces cooling range. We evaluated the cooling range of green spaces and their relationships with green spaces metrics and Tc via a linear mixed-effect model and identified threshold values for the variables at 25 m, 50 m, 100 m, and 200 m from the borders of green spaces through Classification and Regression Trees. Xalapa exhibits a SUHI of 1.70 °C compared to its peri-urban area and 4.95 °C to the extra-urban area. Green spaces > 2 ha mitigated heat at ~2 °C and the cooling range was influenced by the size of green spaces ≥ 2.8 ha and Tc > 21% at 50 m and only by Tc surrounding the green spaces at 100 m and 200 m. This shows that the size threshold of urban green spaces should be complemented with the presence of Tc starting at least 50 m to maximize the cooling capacity provided by the green infrastructure. Planning agendas should account for the interaction between the size of green spaces and the cumulative cooling effect of scattered vegetation inside urban areas towards compact green cities to cope with urban warming.     

Modeling fire and landform influences on the distribution of old-growth pinyon-juniper woodland

Expansion of Pinus and Juniperus species into shrub steppe in semi-arid regions of the western United States has been widely documented and attributed in part to fire exclusion. If decreased fire frequency has been an important cause of woodland expansion, one would expect to find age structures dominated by younger trees on more fire-prone sites, with old-growth pinyon-juniper woodland limited to sites with lower fire risk. We compared current old-growth distribution with spatial models for fire risk in a 19-km² watershed in central Nevada, USA. Multiple GIS models were developed to represent fire susceptibility, according to abiotic factors representing fuels and topographic barriers to fire spread. We also developed cellular automata models to generate fire susceptibility surfaces that additionally account for neighborhood effects. Rule-based GIS models failed to predict old-growth distribution better than random models. Cellular automata models incorporating spatial heterogeneity of site productivity predicted old-growth distribution better than random models but with low accuracy, ranging from 58% agreement at the single-pixel (0.09-ha) scale to 80% agreement for 20-pixel neighborhoods. The best statistical model for predicting old-growth occurrence included the negative effect of topographic convergence index (local wetness), and the positive effects of solar insolation and proximity to rock outcrops. Results support the hypothesis that old-growth woodlands in the Great Basin are more likely to occur on sites with low fire risk. However, weak relationships suggest that old-growth woodlands have not been confined to fire-safe sites. Conservation efforts should consider the landscape context of old-growth woodlands across a broad landscape, with an emphasis on conserving landscape variability in tree age structure.     

Willing partners? Residential support for municipal urban forestry policies

Cities across North America are adopting ambitious goals to grow their urban forests. As existing trees and new planting opportunities are often located on private property, residents’ support and participation is needed in order to meet these goals. However, little research has examined support for municipal urban forestry efforts, including policies specifically targeting residential areas. The objectives of this research are to (1) assess resident’ level of support for common urban forestry policies and (2) determine if there are specific household characteristics associated with different levels of policy support. The objectives are addressed through a statistical analysis of survey responses and a qualitative examination of follow-up interviews with residents in four neighborhoods located in Mississauga (Ontario, Canada). The survey participants and their properties vary in their socioeconomic characteristics, age of development, and urban forest conditions. Our results found that the majority of residents had neutral to very positive attitudes toward common municipal policies encouraging planting and restricting removal of trees, but support levels were lower for the policies than for general statements about desired presence and size of urban trees. Several characteristics are significantly related to level of policy support, including age of household members, education-level, property-level tree density, recent tree planting activity and age of house. Interviews also highlighted residents’ apprehensions about living among tall trees and older resident's concerns with tree maintenance. The results suggest that most residents would be willing partners in urban forestry efforts, with many of these residents already actively planting and maintain trees. However, to increase support and participation rates, different types of trees – including those smaller in stature and ones that require relatively little maintenance – should be part of any planting program to meet the varying needs of households.     

Exotic trees contribute to urban forest diversity and ecosystem services in inner-city Cleveland,OH

Vacant land, a product of population and economic decline resulting in abandonment of infrastructure, has increased substantially in shrinking cities around the world. In Cleveland, Ohio, vacant lots are minimally managed, concentrated within low-income neighborhoods, and support a large proportion of the city’s urban forest. We quantified abundance, richness, diversity, and size class of native and exotic tree species on inner-city vacant lots, inner-city residential lots, and suburban residential lots, and used i-Tree Eco to model the quantity and economic value of regulating ecosystem services provided by their respective forest assemblages. Inner-city vacant lots supported three times as many trees, more exotic than native trees, and greater tree diversity than inner-city and suburban residential lots, with the plurality of trees being naturally-regenerated saplings. The urban forest on inner-city vacant lots also had two times as much leaf area and leaf biomass, and more tree canopy cover. The quantity and monetary value of ecosystem services provided by the urban forest was greatest on inner-city vacant lots, with exotic species contributing most of that value, while native taxa provided more monetary value on residential lots. The predominately naturally-regenerated, minimally managed exotic species on vacant land provide valuable ecosystem services to inner-city neighborhoods of Cleveland, OH.     

A quasi-experimental analysis on the causal effects of COVID-19 on urban park visits: The role of park features and the surrounding built environment

Although many studies have explored the correlations between mobility intervention policies and park use during COVID-19, only a few have used causal inference approaches to assessing the policy’s treatment effects and how such effects vary across park features and surrounding built environments. In this study, we develop an interrupted time-series quasi-experimental design based on three-month mobile phone big data to infer the causal effects of mobility intervention policies on park visits in Shenzhen, including the first-level response (FLR) and return-to-work (RTW) order. The results show that the FLR caused an abrupt decline of 2.21 daily visits per park, with a gradual reduction rate of 0.54 per day, whereas the RTW order helped recover park visits with an immediate increase of 2.20 daily visits and a gradual growth rate of 0.94 visits per day. The results also show that the impact of COVID-19 on park visits exhibited social and spatial heterogeneities: the mobility-reduction effect was smaller in low-level parks (e.g., community-level parks) with small sizes but without sports facilities and water scenes, whereas parks surrounded by compact neighborhoods and land use were more impacted by the pandemic. These findings provide planners with important insights into resilient green space and sustainable neighborhood planning for the post-COVID era.     

Street trees in Bangalore: Density,diversity, composition and distribution

Once renowned as India’s “garden city”, the fast growing southern Indian city of Bangalore is rapidly losing tree cover in public spaces including on roads. This study aims to study the distribution of street trees in Bangalore, to assess differences in tree density, size and species composition across roads of different widths, and to investigate changes in planting practices over time. A spatially stratified approach was used for sampling with 152 transects of 200 m length distributed across wide roads (with a width of 24 m or greater), medium sized roads (12–24 m) and narrow roads (less than 12 m). We find the density of street trees in Bangalore to be lower than many other Asian cities. Species diversity is high, with the most dominant species accounting for less than 10% of the overall population. Narrow roads, usually in congested residential neighborhoods, have fewer trees, smaller sized tree species, and a lower species diversity compared to wide roads. Since wide roads are being felled of trees across the city for road widening, this implies that Bangalore’s street tree population is being selectively denuded of its largest trees. Older trees have a more diverse distribution with several large sized species, while young trees come from a less diverse species set, largely dominated by small statured species with narrow canopies, which have a lower capacity to absorb atmospheric pollutants, mitigate urban heat island effects, stabilize soil, prevent ground water runoff, and sequester carbon. This has serious implications for the city’s environmental and ecological health. These results highlight the need to protect large street trees on wide roads from tree felling, and to select an appropriate and diverse mix of large and small sized tree species for new planting.     

Hierarchical factors impacting the distribution of an invasive species: landscape context and propagule pressure

Distribution of invasive species is the outcome of several processes that interact at different hierarchical levels. A hierarchical approach is taken here to analyze the landscape level distribution pattern of Purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), an aggressive wetland invader. Using land use/land cover (LULC) data and loosestrife presence records we were able to identify and characterize the key processes that resulted in the observed large-scale distribution. Herbaceous wetlands, edges of open water sites, and developed open spaces were identified as loosestrife’s preferred LULC types. Analysis of spatial neighborhoods of these key land cover types revealed that disturbance modified open water edges and herbaceous wetlands were more likely to be invaded by loosestrife. Moreover, developed open spaces appear to hold loosestrife only if there is water rich conditions in the immediate neighborhood. Neighborhood analyses also showed that wetlands and open water edges embedded within a neighborhood matrix of grassland and agricultural environments is less likely to contain loosestrife. Finally, there is strong evidence of propagule pressure. Open water edges and wetlands invaded by loosestrife had on an average more loosestrife as neighbors than uninvaded lake edges and wetlands. Taken together, it is apparent that loosestrife’s landscape level distribution is the outcome of three nested hierarchical factors: habitat preference, the spatial neighborhood and propagule pressure. The patterns characterized suggests that occurrence of an invasive species is not merely contingent on availability of suitable habitat but is also influenced by human actions within its proximity, and is further constrained by dispersal limitation.     

Sidewalks,trees and shade matter: A visual landscape assessment approach to understanding people’s preferences for walking

IntroductionPublic health professionals and urban designers consider neighborhood sidewalks as a vehicle for promoting outdoor physical activity. The design of streetscape and available greenness may also influence walking behaviors and physical activity more generally.MethodData collection included a visual landscape assessment (VLA) survey, followed by focus groups to evaluate streetscape features that influence participants’ preferences for and choice of walking routes. With the considerations of equity in access to the environmental amenities, the study was conducted in marginalized communities. Sixty-nine people from low-income neighborhoods in Denver, CO participated in this study. Data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively, using multilevel statistical models.ResultsMore shade and trees, higher levels of maintenance, and the presence of a buffer between the street and sidewalk increase the likelihood of intuitively choosing a street for walking. The availability of natural surveillance, the presence of an open view, and the presence of attractive buildings increase the likelihood of cognitively choosing a street for walking.ConclusionPeople‘s preferences for and choice of walking routes, which include desired shade and walkability, should be considered in neighborhood planning to promote walkable environments.