Park Boards | Healthy Trees, Healthy Lives

Park Boards

To improve overall mental health, create treed greenspace within 1000 feet (less than 1/4 mile) of all residences

Stigsdotter, U. K., Ekholm, O., Schepperijn, J., Toftager, M., Kamper-Jorgensen, F., Randrup, T. B Scandinavian Journal of Public Health, 38(4), April 2010, pp. 411 – 417

To decrease heat-related mortality, aim for a minimum of 33% neighborhood tree canopy cover

Chen, D; et al Journal of Environmental Pollution, Vol. 192, 2014

To decrease heat-related mortality in the elderly population, plant trees to increase neighborhood tree cover

Burkart, Katrin; et al Environmental Health Perspectives, 124(7), July 2016

To lessen heat related mortality, increase treed greenspace by 0.4 square miles for every 1,000 people

To increase cardiovascular health, increase the amount of neighborhood forests

EPA EPA Science Matters Newsletter, February 26, 2018

To reduce the liklihood of death from respiratory illness, increase the area of residential greenspace

Villeneuve, P; et al Environmental Research, Vol. 115, May 2012, pp. 51-58

To reduce medical incidences pertaining to respiratory disease, increase the number of neighborhood trees

Rao, M et al Environmental Pollution, Vol. 194, Nov. 2014, pp. 96-104

To decrease the odds of heart disease and stroke, ensure species diversity and variability within greenspaces

Pereira, et al BMC Public Health, 12:466, 2012

To reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke, increase community greenspace and green infrastructure

Seo, S; et al Environment International, Vol. 125, April 2019, pp. 51-57

To reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, ensure every residence is within 1/4 mile of community greenspace

Tamosiunas, A., Grazuleviciene, R., Luksiene, D. et al Environmental Health, 13(1), Mar. 2014, p. 20