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Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design

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Forests, Trees and Human Health

Abstract

While studies on physical activity behavior are widely available, research on physical activity environments is relatively new, particularly when related to ‘natural’ environments. In this chapter planning issues and design elements that can influence the use of urban green areas for physical activity are discussed. Availability, features, conditions, safety, aesthetics and climatic comfort are the main ­characteristics of urban green areas considered in the discussion, particularly in relation to natural elements. In the first part of the chapter the current literature presenting scientific evidence is examined. Once this evidence is discussed examples of best practices and significant planning and design solutions concerning the most relevant attributes of the green spaces are presented.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Acknowledgements to Mr. Antero Naskila, City of Helsinki, for his contribution

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dip.TESAF Università di Padova, Padova, Italy

    Paolo Semenzato

  2. Finnish Forest Research Institute, Vantaa, Finland

    Tuija Sievänen

  3. Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Eva Silveirinha de Oliveira

  4. Centro de Ecologia Aplicada Prof. Baeta Neves, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal

    Ana Luisa Soares

  5. Ministerium für Klimaschutz, Umwelt, Landwirtschaft, Natur- und Verbraucherschutz NRW, Düsseldorf, Germany

    Renate Spaeth

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  1. Paolo Semenzato
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  2. Tuija Sievänen
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  3. Eva Silveirinha de Oliveira
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  4. Ana Luisa Soares
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  5. Renate Spaeth
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Correspondence to Paolo Semenzato .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Parks and Urban Landscapes, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, Frederiksberg C, 1958, Denmark

    Kjell Nilsson

  2. , Land Use and Social Research, Forestry Commission, Corstorphine Road 231, Edinburgh, EH12 7AT, United Kingdom

    Marcus Sangster

  3. , National Agricultural Research Foundatio, Forest Research Institute, Thessaloniki, 57006, Greece

    Christos Gallis

  4. , Institute for Housing and Urban Research, Uppsala University, Radhustorget 1, Gävle, 80320, Sweden

    Terry Hartig

  5. , Alterra, Wageningen UR, Wageningen, 6700 AA, Netherlands

    Sjerp de Vries

  6. , Group Society, Environment & Culture, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (E, Sonneggstrasse 33, SOL E, Zurich, 9092, Switzerland

    Klaus Seeland

  7. , National Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Øster Farimagsgade 5 A - 2, Copenhagen K, 1353, Denmark

    Jasper Schipperijn

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Semenzato, P., Sievänen, T., de Oliveira, E.S., Soares, A.L., Spaeth, R. (2011). Natural Elements and Physical Activity in Urban Green Space Planning and Design. In: Nilsson, K., et al. Forests, Trees and Human Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9806-1_9

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