Parks and the Pandemic: A Scoping Review of Research on Green Infrastructure Use and Health Outcomes during COVID-19

Abstract

Green infrastructure (GI) has long been known to impact human health, and many academics have used past research to argue for the potential importance of GI as a mechanism for maintaining or improving health within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This scoping review addresses the question: What evidence, if any, have researchers found of a relationship between green infrastructure use and health during the COVID-19 pandemic? Specifically, evaluating the (a) association of GI use with COVID-19 disease outcomes and (b) association of GI use with other health outcomes as impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Twenty-two studies were identified that measured GI use and studied it in relation to health outcomes during the pandemic. The studies were reviewed for the specific measures and types of GI use, level of analysis, specific types of health outcomes, and the conclusions reached with regard to GI use and health. Studies exploring COVID-19-specific health outcomes showed mixed results, while non-COVID health outcomes were more consistently improved through GI use, particularly with regard to improved mental health. While the evidence strongly suggests that GI use has played a protective role in non-COVID-19 physical and mental health during the pandemic, questions remain with regard to possible impacts on COVID transmission and mortality.

Tourism as a Tool in Nature-Based Mental Health: Progress and Prospects Post-Pandemic

“…All of these considerations, already important worldwide per-pandemic, have become increasingly urgent and significant post-pandemic. There is now very extensive research detailing the effects of COVID-19 itself, and associated personal and social disruptions, on: deterioration in mental health [ 51 , 74 , 75 , 94 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 ]; access to, and enjoyment of nature during the pandemic [ 99 , 100 , 101 , 102 ]; and the effects of nature on maintaining mental health [ 103 , 104 , 105 , 106 , 107 ]. There is also a growing body of statistical and modelling information on the effects of the pandemic in decreasing economic productivity at various scales [ 108 , 109 , 110 , 111 , 112 ].…”

The Benefits of Green Infrastructure Planning in Addressing Lost Spaces Underneath Elevated Urban Highways

“…Apart from that, economic benefits in terms of higher land and property value, increased investment and spending, as well as environmental cost-saving are also the direct outcomes of spaces and cities with more GI elements (Choi et al, 2021;Hansen et al, 2019;Kim, 2016;Gore et al, 2013). Moreover, improved physical and mental health benefits following the recent global Covid-19 pandemic are linked with urban areas that have more GI elements (Pamukcu-Albers et al 2021;Heckert & Bristowe 2021;Hanzl, 2021). In particular, scholars have highlighted the importance and advantage of a tactical approach in transforming urban spaces to create more green areas that benefit the general public.…”

Determinants of voluntary compliance: COVID-19 mitigation

“…We described their potential limitations below: Research has indicated that there are potential positive and negative correlations between frequency of park visits and health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is uncertain whether frequent visits to parks are the risky behavior of COVID-19 or beneficial for health ( Heckert and Bristowe, 2021 ). Public transit infrastructure and access vary greatly by county, and some counties do not have sufficient budgets or/and demand to establish public transit, which may mislead the mobility measure ( Nichols and Taylor, 2018 ).…”

“…Research has indicated that there are potential positive and negative correlations between frequency of park visits and health outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, it is uncertain whether frequent visits to parks are the risky behavior of COVID-19 or beneficial for health ( Heckert and Bristowe, 2021 ).…”