top of page
UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN CAMPUS TREES
- More people were observed outdoors occupying areas with trees than using spaces with out trees (Coley et al. 1997).
- Outdoor spaces with trees attracted larger groups of people (Coley et al. 1997).
- Trees provide an area for relaxation which helps in reducing aggression. This results in improved social interactions and more cooperative behavior (Matsuoka 2010).
- Trees in urban communities provide a sense of safety (Coley et al. 1997).
The essay, “Where Does Community Grow? The Social Context Created by Nature in Urban Public Housing,” by Coley et al., examines the relationship between people and the presence of trees in outdoor spaces in two Chicago public housing developments. Observational data was collected at both sites on multiple summer days at various times. The researchers recorded information on the number of trees, the number of people, the distance of trees from the building, the distance of people from trees, and the activities the people were participating in. Listed below are some of the social benefits trees were found to have on people.
SOCIAL BENEFITS
- Trees increase residents satisfaction with their neighborhood (Coley et al. 1997).
- Residents in urban area that were located near trees reported having larger social networks than locations without nature access (Coley et al. 1997).
- Nature promotes the use of outdoor spaces which then encourages social interactions (Chiesura 2004).
bottom of page