Components of small urban parks that predict the possibility for restoration

• In densifying cities, small green spaces such as pocket parks are   likely to become more important as settings for restoration.   Well-designed small parks may serve restoration well, but earlier   research on restorative environments does not provide detailed   information about the specific components of the physical environment   that support restoration. In this study we assessed the extent to which   hardscape, grass, lower ground vegetation, flowering plants, bushes,   trees, water, and size predicted the judged possibility for restoration   in small urban green spaces. We took individual parks as the units of   analysis. The parks were sampled from Scandinavian cities, and each   park was represented by a single photo. Each photo was quantified in   terms of the different objective park components and also rated on   psychological variables related to restoration. The ratings on the   psychological variables being away, fascination, likelihood of   restoration, and preference were provided by groups of people familiar   with such parks. The variables most predictive of the likelihood of   restoration were the percentage of ground surface covered by grass, the   amount of trees and bushes visible from the given viewing point, and   apparent park size. Formal mediation analyses indicated distinctive   patterns of full and partial mediation of the relations between   environmental components and restoration likelihood by being away and   fascination. Our results provide guidance for the design of small yet   restorative urban parks.

Nyckelord

Design

Pocket park

Landscape architecture

Stress

Restorative environments

Vegetation

SOCIAL SCIENCES

SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP

Publikations- och innehållstyp

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art (ämneskategori)