Calculating green infrastructure benefits on human health and well-being: Some preliminary results for Huckleberry Trail and Heritage Community Park and Natural Area, Blacksburg, VA

Background/Question/Methods
The purpose of this study is to determine if human health and well-being benefits can be attributed to green infrastructure projects. Research has shown a positive relationship between nature (trees and greenery) and many aspects of human health and well-being (Kaplan et al., 1998). However, research demonstrating a positive relationship between the broader use of green infrastructure and human health benefits is lacking. The health effects investigated in this study included benefits of green infrastructure projects on air filtration and the relationship of these projects to obesity (BMI), physical activity, psychological benefits, place attachment, and perceived safety. This study identifies and quantifies the health and well-being effects of two different types of green infrastructure: the Huckleberry Trail and Heritage Community Park and Natural Area, both located in Blacksburg, Virginia. The air filtration benefits associated with ozone, sulfur, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter were analyzed for each type of green infrastructure using the Urban Forest Effects Model (UFORE). To estimate the health benefits from the improvement in air quality, the US Environmental Protection Agency’s BenMap was used. To identify possible relationships between different types of green infrastructure and obesity (BMI), physical activity, psychological benefits, place attachment, and safety benefits, a survey of citizen attitudes and perceptions was undertaken.

Results/Conclusions
Preliminary results indicate that the higher visitor frequency and closer distance from home to the green infrastructure results in positive psychological benefits and place attachment. There was a positive relationship between level of physical activity that people engage in and the distance to the green infrastructure site and physical health and place attachment. In terms of gender, females were found to have higher physical health benefits and males reported higher psychological benefits. The higher place attachment was reported for the Huckleberry Trail. The results of the study can be used to justify investment in green infrastructure projects and insights into the types of activities that can be provided by landscape architects and planners who design green infrastructure projects. This study has implications for both policy and practice, in better understanding multiple benefits of green infrastructure in terms of health and well-being and in improving the design of green spaces.