Analyzing Government Policies on Urban Green Space and Public Health

This essay examines the importance of urban green spaces for the quality of life in cities, focusing on Australian government policies related to these spaces and their impact on human stress and children's health. It highlights how urban green projects aim to improve the health index of cities by providing access to quality environments. The essay discusses various policies implemented by local governments to address issues like heat waves and promote mental calmness, increased physical activity, and social interactions. It references the World Health Organization's findings on the role of urban green spaces in reducing depression and physiological stress, as well as their positive effects on children's health by reducing obesity risks and promoting better social interaction. Ultimately, the essay concludes that urban green spaces are beneficial for human well-being, and policies supporting them are crucial for developing healthy and green cities. Desklib offers similar solved assignments for students.

Running head: NURSING PUBLIC HEALTH
GOVERNMENT POLICIES ON URBAN GREEN SPACE
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author note

1NURSING PUBLIC HEALTH
Urban green spaces are an important aspect for the quality livelihood and viability of a
city or town. It increases visual focus as well as its proper management, maintenance and
structure helps to enhance the quality of the city (Francis et al. 2012). This assignment deals with
the Australian urban green space related policies that affect human stress and health of children.
Health is the central idea that helps to understand human sustainability. The Urban green
projects are being developed so that health index of such major cities can be improved and
people can have access to quality environment. According to Wolch, Byrne and Newell (2014),
these urban green space related policies primarily focused on the issues related to heat waves that
were affecting the health of citizens as the temperatures were higher than optimum level. The
local government of different cities implemented different policies such as zero carbon evolution
(Moreland city council 2014), Victorian Department of Transport Planning and Local
Infrastructure 2014, Department of Infrastructure and Transport Major Cities Unit 2013 and
many more (Hartig et al. 2014). It helped to reduce the level of stress and enhances mental
calmness by relaxation, increased activities and social interactions. The World Health
Organization also determined that urban green spaces were helpful in reduction of depression
and decreases the indicators of physiological stress. The health of children are also improved as
increased activities reduces the risk of child obesity and poor walkability and social interaction
(Francis et al. 2012).
Therefore, from this discussion it is evident that creation of urban green spaces are
helpful for human to reduce their stress and connect with the nature, and policies related to these
green spaces helps to fulfill the aim of developing healthy and green cities.

2NURSING PUBLIC HEALTH
References
Francis, J., Wood, L.J., Knuiman, M. and Giles-Corti, B., 2012. Quality or quantity? Exploring
the relationship between Public Open Space attributes and mental health in Perth, Western
Australia. Social science & medicine, 74(10), pp.1570-1577.
Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., De Vries, S. and Frumkin, H., 2014. Nature and health. Annual review
of public health, 35, pp.207-228.
Wolch, J.R., Byrne, J. and Newell, J.P., 2014. Urban green space, public health, and
environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and
Urban Planning, 125, pp.234-244.

3NURSING PUBLIC HEALTH
Bibliography
Bratman, G.N., Hamilton, J.P. and Daily, G.C., 2012. The impacts of nature experience on
human cognitive function and mental health. Annals of the New York Academy of
Sciences, 1249(1), pp.118-136.
Francis, J., Wood, L.J., Knuiman, M. and Giles-Corti, B., 2012. Quality or quantity? Exploring
the relationship between Public Open Space attributes and mental health in Perth, Western
Australia. Social science & medicine, 74(10), pp.1570-1577.
Hartig, T., Mitchell, R., De Vries, S. and Frumkin, H., 2014. Nature and health. Annual review
of public health, 35, pp.207-228.
Shanahan, D.F., Lin, B.B., Bush, R., Gaston, K.J., Dean, J.H., Barber, E. and Fuller, R.A., 2015.
Toward improved public health outcomes from urban nature. American Journal of Public
Health, 105(3), pp.470-477.
Wolch, J.R., Byrne, J. and Newell, J.P., 2014. Urban green space, public health, and
environmental justice: The challenge of making cities ‘just green enough’. Landscape and
Urban Planning, 125, pp.234-244.