Neighbourhood and Community Green Spaces

Benefits

• Green and sustainable locations are more often awarded in tenders. The planning process is also approved more quickly.
• A green outdoor space can be used for multiple use of space. This can be an interesting solution, especially in the built environment – with limited and expensive square meters.
• Various municipalities have incentives for the construction of green spaces in the form of subsidies or attractive loan conditions.
• Greenery promotes the occupancy rate of homes, they are not empty for long.
• Real estate in a green environment is more attractive and worth more. Higher rents may be charged.
• By using greenery, there is less damage to basements and foundations of buildings, because there is less flooding.
• Healthcare costs decrease as a result of more district and neighbourhood green spaces; People feel healthier because they exercise more and have more social contacts.

Energy

• Outdoor greenery reduces heat in and around homes in the summer: less heat stress and less cooling in the form of air conditioning is needed. Greenery on the roof and façade also increases the insulation value of the house.
• Trees that provide shade in parking lots reduce the evaporation of fuel from the fuel tank and the energy consumption of the car’s air conditioning due to shade.

Maintenance

• The Living Public Space and a low-maintenance outdoor space go well together. This starts with a well-thought-out design in which the green professional, residents, (landscape) architect and client sit around the table together in a timely manner.

Sustainable Materials

• There are numerous sustainable materials for outdoor space that contribute to a better living environment for people, animals and plants.

Biodiversity

• Children who have had contact with nature at a young age often show a positive attitude towards nature and the environment later in life.
• For birds, butterflies and bees, neighbourhood green spaces can be an important part of their food network in the city or surroundings.

Flowers & Food

• Urban agriculture can be used for locally produced healthy food. That’s tasty and sustainable. Also consider a picking route!
• Vegetable gardening can lead to a greater intake of fruit and vegetables by children.

Water

• Greenery regulates rainwater drainage and thus limits any nuisance.
• The rainwater can be reused for planting.
• Greenery can contribute to water quality if it is used for the biological purification of released wastewater. This function can be combined with the absorption of peak showers.
• You can even swim in a shared natural swimming pond.

Temperature

• Outdoor greenery – especially trees – reduces the temperature in and around the house. As a result, there is less heat stress. Less cooling is also needed with the help of air conditioners, for example.
• Heat stress has a negative effect on health and can lead to increased mortality in the elderly, babies, pregnant women and the chronically ill.
• During warm periods, people feel more comfortable in a green environment.

Air Quality

• All forms of greenery protect us from pollution from traffic and industry.
• A city tree captures 100 grams of particulate matter every year. This corresponds to the particulate matter production of 5,500 car kilometres.

Smell

• Scent enhances the experience and evokes memories. Smelling scents that we recognise makes us feel safe. This is particularly pleasant for people with dementia.

Noise

• Greenery can contribute to making the noise nuisance caused by existing traffic or industry less of a nuisance.

Appearance

• Just a view of (preferably a lot and varied) greenery from the house is associated with a lower level of the stress hormone cortisol and a higher sense of well-being.

Relaxation

• A green environment is soothing. People also recover faster from stress. In neighbourhoods with more greenery, residents suffer less from anxiety disorders and depression. There is also less cardiovascular disease.
• The more greenery in a neighbourhood, the less medication is used by children with ADHD.

Productivity

• A green environment contributes to less stress, better concentration, more creativity and higher work productivity.

Socialisation

• Greenery leads to a better social climate and informal encounters. Fellow local residents feel more connected and are less lonely.

Movement & Play

• In a green environment, people are more outdoors (in daylight) and more active during the day.
• Community gardening is a form of healthy exercise, also for the elderly.
• Children who play outside in the green more often are more creative, more confident, fitter and smarter.
• Children who grow up with greenery in their immediate environment are less overweight.

Safety

• Loss of trees (e.g. due to disease) and neglect of greenery can lead to higher crime rates in the area.
• Greenery leads to less crime and vandalism. Neighbourhoods with green spaces have an average of 42% less crime than neighbourhoods without green spaces. Green facades also contribute to a sense of security.