Greenspace and Natural Resources
Development requires the use of land and the land has many characteristics. While some regions enjoy spectacular natural environments that people understand and cherish, others have extremely rich ecosystems that are not well understood and often are not appreciated for the contribution they make to quality of life.
The key natural resources necessary to sustain life are air and water, and in surveys overwhelming numbers of people realize these must be “clean.” Sprawling and serendipitous growth produces dangerous air and water pollution, whether it’s caused by emissions from vehicles and industrial facilities, or the accumulated cast-off substances of millions of individuals. Smart growth looks for ways to minimize or eliminate all types of emissions.
By definition, development replaces and thus destroys natural resources, so smart growth looks for ways to limit that loss and particularly to preserve diversity and sensitive areas such as watersheds, marshes, forests, and prairie. In hundreds of communities, efforts are underway to buy and protect important land for the use of all people, present and future, and to move growth to other places. Smart growth advocates ask for a range of greenspace types, from developed parks with recreational amenities to more natural places with wildlife habitat intact. Proximity to such amenities is an important part of neighborhood development and some sort of greenspace should be within walking or biking distance of all citizens.
These places have far more than aesthetic value. Trees and other vegetation help mitigate air pollution and flooding. They provide enormous cooling potential, and, of course, they provide oxygen. And research indicates that human recovery from stress is faster and more complete when people are exposed to natural outdoor environments; indeed, human reaction to visual clutter may include elevated blood pressure, increased muscle tension, and impacts on work performance. (Return to Home Page)
Economy, Community, Environment
Smart Growth Trends
Strong Central Cities
Mobility and Land Use
Clusters
Community & Place: Revitalizing Neighborhoods
Greenspace and Natural Resources
Home page