**2.1 Green spaces**

The presence of green spaces is considered as one of the important components for good quality of life in urban areas. For this reason, it is important to understand the scale, functions and benefits of green spaces ranging from regional to local scales/levels. In this context, a few definitions are discussed below. Green spaces is a broad terminology, which may be used for both macro level and micro level spatial

*Role of Green Spaces for Maintaining Well-Being in Residential Community Development DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97681*

scales. This is the definition of urban green spaces in the European context, which is concurred with among a majority of ecologists economists, social scientists and planners.

Urban Green [s] are green space[s] located in urban areas mainly covered by vegetation, which are directly used for active or passive recreation, or indirectly used by virtue of their positive influence on the urban environment, accessible to citizens, serving the diverse needs of citizens and thus enhancing the quality of life in cities or urban regions [1].

Whereas, in context of the United Kingdom planning documents, Green spaces are an area of grass, trees, or other vegetation set apart for recreational or esthetic purposes in an otherwise urban environment. Green spaces are the 'green lungs' of our towns and cities which contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by providing places for informal recreation walking, cycling, sitting, socializing and children's play and 'breathing spaces' to take time out from the stresses of modern life. They include not only areas to which the public have physical access, but also visual access, for example, in the way green spaces provide setting for building, communities, and everyday activities.

Yet in the Indian context, green spaces of the residential areas are termed as planned open spaces, which come under the local open space system. Detailed layout of residential sectors will have to give due consideration to the provision of formal and organized second level open space corresponding to the local open spaces forming an integral part of the built form. Local open space system is envisaged to be linearly structured establishing continuity engulfing the recreational and community based social facilities, the third level of open space corresponds to system of open spaces provisions made within sectors and neighborhoods consisting of neighborhood consisting of neighborhood parks linearly inter-linked with an overall open space network.

The above green spaces definitions clearly state that in the European context, the green space definition includes the function, user category, accessibility and its impact on quality of life. Whereas the definition in context of the United Kingdom elaborates green spaces in terms of its physical characteristics, function performed, perceived benefits availed and about physical and visual accessibility. However, in the Indian context green space is considered for provision in the terms of accessibility and connectivity. According to above discussion the green space might be understood as.

Green spaces are those planned open spatial layouts with visual and physical.

Accessibility in a residential community, which are committed to guarantee services including passive and active recreation. As an impact interface they can enhance social cohesion, feelings of safetysecurity as also other perceived benefits to all users.

#### **2.2 Well being**

**Well**-**being** is the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity. It includes having good mental health, high life satisfaction, a sense of meaning or purpose, and ability to manage stress. More generally, well-being is just feeling well (Take this quiz to discover your level of well-being.) Well-being is a positive outcome that is meaningful for people and for many sectors of society, because it tells us that people perceive that their lives are going well. Good living conditions (e.g., housing, employment) are fundamental to well-being. Tracking these conditions is important for public policy.

Wellbeing is important because it effects both physically and mentally, and is the essence of living. Our perception and our ability to observe our thoughts and feelings is what makes us human and separates us from other creatures. We owe it to ourselves to live our lives to the fullest while we have the chance.

There is no consensus around a single definition of well-being, but there is general agreement that at minimum, well-being includes the presence of positive emotions and moods (e.g., contentment, happiness), the absence of negative emotions (e.g., depression, anxiety), satisfaction with life, fulfillment and positive functioning. In simple terms, well-being can be described as judging life positively and feeling good.For public health purposes, physical well-being (e.g., feeling very healthy and full of energy) is also viewed as critical to overall well-being. Researchers from different disciplines have examined different aspects of wellbeing that include the following

