Joshua W. R. Baur

Small-Scale Urban Nature Parks: Why Should We Care?

Small-scale urban natural parks have the potential to contribute to the health and well-being of urban communities. Although recreation researchers have seldom focused on such areas, recreation research theory can be successfully applied to urban natural parks, especially if augmented by the application of social capital and social networks theory. Social capital and networks theories will aid recreation researchers and policy makers in understanding the processes and benefits associated with urban green space. This understanding may be important relative to low income urban community members who may not participate regularly in nature-based recreation.

Urban parks and psychological sense of community.

Abstract Parks and other urban natural spaces are increasingly becoming recognized as valuable for supporting socially healthier urban communities. Currently, however, there remains a relative shortage of empirical research specifically evaluating the relationship. This study explores psychological sense of community (PSOC) and its relationship to urban parks, using survey data collected in Norfolk, Virginia. Regression, t-test, and chi square analyses were used to examine how park use frequency and proximity are related to overall PSOC and its components. Our findings suggest that park use has a relationship to PSOC among respondents in our sample. More significantly for park planners and managers, our results also suggest that the presence of nearby parks, regardless of visitation, also has a positive relationship to PSOC.

Urban green spaces, recreation and spiritual experiences

ABSTRACT This paper presents a conceptual discussion of the relationship between urban and urban proximate nature areas, recreation and spiritual experiences. The paper’s discussion is grounded in scholarship that proposes links between nature-based recreation, spirituality and general health. Though prior scholarship has occurred primarily in the context of wilderness and remote area recreation, some scholarship has focused on urban green spaces like gardens. This paper adopts an urban nature spaces focus in response to the phenomenon of increasing global urbanization. Many city residents often have limited access to remote nature sites that offer healthy responses to the stresses of urban living. Urban green space may provide similar salubrious experiences as remote settings and have the added advantage of being conveniently located for city dwellers. By considering the potential contribution of urban natural spaces to spiritual experiences, scholars and natural resource managers can further develop a more integrated and comprehensive understanding of the costs and benefits of urban nature to inform management discussions.

Dog park users: An examination of perceived social capital and perceived neighborhood social cohesion

ABSTRACT Dog parks have the potential to be sites that engender community benefits. The purpose of this study is to examine whether dog parks, as places providing social interaction opportunities with other dog owners, can engender perceived social cohesion. Dog parks represent small-scale places where social interaction can occur to improve the personal connections and interpersonal interactions that facilitate neighborhood livability and urban quality of life. The theoretical frameworks of bridging and bonding social capital were explored, in terms of weak/bridging and strong/bonding social ties, as aspects affecting perceived neighborhood social cohesion. We hypothesized that both bridging/weak ties and bonding/strong ties were precursors to neighborhood social cohesion but explored the extent to which weak and strong social ties impact social cohesion in a simultaneous or stepwise manner. Our findings indicate support for the latter.