Urban Green Spaces: The Secret to Happier, Healthier Cities

Modern city dwellers remain creatures of nature at heart, and growing research underlines how green spaces in urban environments shape our psychological well-being. In an article by Metka Novak, award-winning urban and environmental planner Tony Matthews of Griffith University in Queensland, Australia, highlights the powerful influence of vegetation on mental health. “The presence, or the absence, of nature has a strong effect on our general psychological state,” he explains.

Biophilia and well-being

The instinctive human desire to connect with nature, known as biophilia, underpins many of these benefits. Cities rich in trees, parks, plants and flowers tend to foster happier residents, whereas areas lacking greenery often see lower levels of physical activity alongside rising rates of illness, weight gain and sadness. As Tony Matthews observes, “If you think about a city as part of the psychological environment, then one of the things that help good psychological and good mental health outcomes is lots of greenery,” a concept that is “increasingly understood and accepted.”

Social benefits

In urban sociology, parks and gardens function as so-called ‘third places’: venues primarily used for social rather than commercial exchange. “It can be a public park, it can be a dog park, it can be a farmers’ market. Fundamentally, it’s a place where social, not commercial, activity is the primary reason for being there,” Tony explains. Unlike cafés or restaurants, parks allow people to linger without cost, fostering casual interaction and community bonds.

Loneliness is a silent epidemic in many cities, linked to depression, cardiovascular disease and even increased mortality. “Loneliness is probably the largest form of poor mental health in cities. There is a huge number of people living in cities all around the world that are extremely lonely,” Tony says, continuing, “if you don’t have good third places where people can go and have a social experience, you’re losing a significant opportunity to do something about that loneliness.” Well-designed green spaces offer regular opportunities for casual encounters that help alleviate isolation.

As residents use and enjoy shared green areas, their attachment to place grows stronger. Tony Matthews notes that meeting friends, exercising or simply relaxing in a park nurtures a sense of belonging. “Social cohesion is the difference between knowing who your neighbours are and being friends with them, or not knowing them,” he says. “If you have good social cohesion, if you’re well connected to social networks and places, particularly third places, your mental health improves.”

Wildlife connections and mental recharge

Even low-level interactions with wildlife, such as feeding ducks, deliver therapeutic benefits. Studies suggest that observing plant growth or seasonal changes in foliage brings “an improved individual and social experience,” as Tony describes it. These connections help people feel part of a broader ecosystem.

“We decompress and recharge better in nature than we do in other spaces,” Matthews points out. Breaks in green settings reduce stress, stimulate involuntary attention and lessen cognitive fatigue far more than office or home environments. Access to parks and tree-lined streets also lowers the risk of mood disorders, anxiety and schizophrenia among urban residents.

Health outcomes and recovery

Patients with window views of vegetation recover more quickly in hospital, partly due to these mental health effects. Tony’s ongoing research into green infrastructure in aged-care facilities highlights the importance of shade, seating and open air for older people’s physical, social and psychological well-being.

Supporting children’s development

Green schools and classrooms improve acoustics, lighting and thermal comfort, which in turn support better academic performance and health, according to research by McGraw-Hill Construction. In Australia, the rise of vertical schools raises questions about where pupils can access outdoor greenery for play and physical education – essential elements for growing minds and bodies.

Challenges and future directions

Despite clear advantages, creating and maintaining urban green space faces obstacles. Much land is privately owned, limiting public access, while councils worry about maintenance costs and insurance liabilities. Yet without sufficient greenery, long-term public health expenses soar: in Europe, mental illness costs average €600 billion annually, including €190 billion in direct care and €260 billion in lost productivity.

The World Health Organization recommends at least 9 m² of green space per person, with every resident ideally within 400 metres of a park or garden. India’s capital offers just 1.8 m² per capita and faces high rates of anxiety and schizophrenia. By contrast, Oslo boasts green areas covering 68 per cent of the city and ranks among the world’s happiest capitals.

Momentum is building among planners, architects and policy-makers to treat greenery as critical infrastructure rather than an afterthought. As Tony Matthews observes, urban green space has become “something that’s really quite focused on now.” Translating this growing recognition into action will be essential if cities are to nurture healthier, happier communities.

This article was curated, reviewed, and verified by the Conservation Mag team. Further reading: https://citychangers.org/psychological-effects-of-greenery/.