Public Spaces for Youth? The Case of the Jane-Finch Neighborhood in Toronto

Galanakis, Michail

doi:10.1177/1206331215595731

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 21 publications

(32 reference statements)

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“… 56 Improving park environments, by which youth, especially youth of color or those who live in economically precarious positions, do not feel criminalized and overly surveilled, can in turn increase youth engagement in neighborhood and city parks and public spaces. 57 Research that continues to examine the role of parks as not only sites to change health behaviors, but environments to modify social conditions that are ultimately linked to health, are needed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Park-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes Among Youth: A Systematic Review

Wallace¹,

Han

Cohen

et al. 2022

Am J Health Promot

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Objective The purpose of the study is to present a comprehensive systematic review of the effects of park-based interventions on health outcomes among youth, defined as children and adolescents. Data Source Web of Science, MEDLINE, and Scopus databases searched through November 2020. Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Interventions conducted in publicly accessible parks that evaluated health outcomes (i.e., physical, mental, and emotional); focused on children and adolescents (up to 18 years old, or up to 22 years old for individuals with developmental needs); and was published in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Data Extraction Two independent reviewers extracted data and assessed the quality of the 15 included studies using the Guide to Community Preventive Services tool. Data Synthesis Descriptive summary of study characteristics and summarized methodological quality of the studies. Results Twelve studies were person-based interventions involving the evaluation of health outcome changes in cohorts, and the remaining studies were park-based, focused on changing the park environment and observing changes in youth participation in parks. All identified interventions were positively associated with individual-level and park-level outcomes ranging from body weight, moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity, park utilization, and health behavior knowledge. Conclusions This systematic review demonstrated that parks as sites of interventions can provide an environment that promotes health and wellbeing for youth. Nevertheless, the number of relevant studies were limited, thus it is important to leverage and expand on existing knowledge of the utility of parks as sites of intervention to address health concerns at this critical juncture of the life course.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Park-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes Among Youth: A Systematic Review

Wallace¹,

Han

Cohen

et al. 2022

Am J Health Promot

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Exploring Transformative Place-Making within the Comprehensive Spatial Governance of Toronto

Özogul

Taşan‐Kok

2018

disP - The Planning Review

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(Dis)connected by design? Using participatory citizen science to uncover environmental determinants of social connectedness for youth in under-resourced neighbourhoods

Sones,

Holden,

Kestens

et al. 2024

BMC Public Health

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Background Social isolation and loneliness are a growing public health concern. Inadequacies in neighbourhood social infrastructure can undermine social connectedness, particularly for youth, who are dependent on their local environments yet often marginalized from public spaces and city planning. Integrating citizen science with participatory action research, the Youth.hood study set out to explore how neighbourhood built environments help or hinder social connectedness from the understudied perspective of youth in under-resourced and racialized communities. Methods Youth (n = 42) from three neighbourhoods in Vancouver, Canada were recruited to: (1) Assess environmental assets and barriers to connectedness in their neighbourhoods using a digital photovoice app; (2) Analyze and prioritize their collective data into themes; and (3) Design and advocate for environmental improvements through a participatory workshop and forum with residents, city planners, and elected officials. Data on participant characteristics and neighbourhood perceptions were collected via an online survey and analyzed descriptively. Participatory analysis was conducted with youth using methods from thematic analysis, photovoice, and design thinking. Results Youth captured 227 environmental features impacting their connectedness. The most frequently reported assets were parks and nature (n = 39, 17%), including formal and informal green spaces, and food outlets (n = 25, 11%). Top barriers included poor neighbourhood aesthetics (n = 14, 6%) and inadequate streets and sidewalks (n = 14, 6%). Thematic analysis with youth underscored four themes: (1) Connecting through mobility: The fun and functionality of getting around without a car; (2) The power of aesthetics: Mediating connections to people and place; (3) Retreating to connect: Seeking out social and restorative spaces for all; and (4) Under-resourced, not under-valued: Uncovering assets for sociocultural connection. Youth described their local environments as affording (or denying) opportunities for physical, emotional, and cultural connection at both an individual and community level. Conclusion Our findings extend evidence on key environmental determinants of social connectedness for youth, while highlighting the potential of community design to support multiple dimensions of healthy social development. Additionally, this work demonstrates the resilience and agency of youth in under-resourced settings, and underscores the importance of honouring assets, co-production, and intergenerational planning when working to advance healthy, connected, and youthful cities.

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Public Spaces for Youth? The Case of the Jane-Finch Neighborhood in Toronto

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

The Effects of Park-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes Among Youth: A Systematic Review

The Effects of Park-Based Interventions on Health-Related Outcomes Among Youth: A Systematic Review

Exploring Transformative Place-Making within the Comprehensive Spatial Governance of Toronto

(Dis)connected by design? Using participatory citizen science to uncover environmental determinants of social connectedness for youth in under-resourced neighbourhoods

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