How much value can you put on green space? One of the things I love about the city where I live is its parks. The photo above was taken along the Eramosa River within steps of a residential neighbourhood. I used to walk there regularly when I lived there. Now in another part of Guelph, my home backs onto a conservation area full of meadows, wetlands and mixed woods. The networks of trails through these places testifies to the pleasure residents derive from being able to walk there.
A recently published study in Psychological Science quantifies the improvement to quality of life. As reported by Conservation, It amounts to about a quarter the added satisfaction of being married versus unmarried and employed versus unemployed. For an individual it might not amount to much, but considered over a population it can amount to large social value, well worth consideration for city planning.
What is your favourite city park?
