Recent studies show that urban parks are healthy in surprising ways in addition to physical and emotional health, writes Jeff Caldwell of Litchfield Landscape Elements.
Studies have shown that urban parks have a positive effect on everything from physical health and fitness to cognition and memory, writes Jeff Caldwell, an urban parks enthusiast and manager at Litchfield Landscape Elements. But shopping impulse control?
According to another study published in PLOS ONE, natural settings significantly improved impulse control. In this study, participants were asked to look at images from one of three categories: natural, urban and geometric shapes. After looking at the images, researchers asked each participant whether they would prefer a smaller amount of money immediately or a larger amount sometime in the future — $10 today versus $100 next week, as an example. Those who looked at natural images were far more likely to choose the larger amount of money in the future.
Jeff goes on to explore the reasons for the many and varied beneficial effects of urban parks.
FULL STORY: The Effects Of The Natural Landscape In Urban Environments

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.

Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.

Test News Post 1
This is a summary

Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.

Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service