**4.1 Impact of accessibility, connection and recreation in green space use and impact on well being**

Many empirical studies have been attempted to understand the purview of green space with respect to accessibility and connection in residential and city level, in the

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

UK and European cities. A few of them as illustrated below attempt to understand the needs of users. Two empirical studies, one in the UK and the other in Canada had been conducted to explore the modern meaning of open spaces and for the quality of green space for walk-able community areas respectively. The study by Burgess, J, carried an empirical research in local and neighborhood level park in UK with a sample size of 406 to explore modern meaning and values for open spaces in the city. According to their findings, the major physical factors to impact park use were accessibility and connection while the rest are natural elements required for active and passive activities. In this study, apart from recreational needs and maintenance, other attributes also impact the use value of local and neighborhood level parks. These were the natural environment, sensitivity to the change of seasons, wild patches of land and woods., Varied topography and plants, were also addressed for creating an appealing environment yet it strongly implied proximity to the residential area as significant. A similar study conducted was theory-based qualitative research conducted in the urban community of Canada. The study tried to explore a framework for understanding the quality of an urban community in the relationship between quality and physical form. The physical attributes strongly advocated by the researcher were outdoor amenities, adequate seating, barrier-free environment to achieve the quality for the walk able community. In other words, recreational facilities should be placed in the accessible distance and connected with other essential street furniture. Therefore, both these studies emphasize on outdoor amenities and physical characteristics of GS enhancing the sense of community. There are several studies, which indicate the high demand of GS at the spatial level. In this purview, conducted the survey in few European cities at neighborhood and city level and strongly advocated regarding the spatial needs for GS for all. The report produced by them stated an observation given below., Where one GS site cannot accommodate all users or serve a full range of purposes, the wider spread of GS provision in an area as a whole is required. Similarly, Sullivan et al. [7] found the relation between GS and involvement of individuals in social activity. Their study states that 83% more individuals engaged in social activity in GS as opposed to sparsely vegetated or concrete ones.

The recent model for the benefits of urban green space as shown in **Figure 2** suggested by Bedimo-rung et al. [8] describes the relationships between park benefits, park use, and physical activity, and the antecedents/correlates of park use. In this classification scheme, the discussion focuses on park environmental characteristics that could be related to physical activity, including park features, condition, access, esthetics, safety, and policies which is responsible for well being of residents. In another study by Giles-Corti et al. [9, 10] tested three models of accessibility: simple distance from respondent's home to all public open spaces in the study area, distance and attractiveness. Here the attractiveness of public open space scored over the distance and attractiveness or size of the POS. However, when the size of green space is considered, those with excellent access to large attractive public open space were more likely to use them, suggesting that after distance was taken into account, size was more important than attractiveness in encouraging use.The above discussion during this period strongly indicates that the most of the studies related to green space are exploring various other aspects apart from its importance of physical proximity. Later on, many studies suggested the relation between the accessibility and quality of green space are not different perspective when usability of green space is considered. Both these aspects impact equally upon green space usability.

The concept of *accessibility for all* was also tested in various studies which is responsible for developing the well being for the residents in which it was observed that to induce diversity in the usage of green space, diversity in amenities is also required. The study conducted by Croucher et al. [11] does not encourage

#### **Figure 2.**

*A model for the benefits of urban green space (re modified by author) source: Bedimo-rung et al. [8].*

undedicated use unless there is diversity in facilities. Further studies distinguished between the tangible and intangible benefits as an exploration of individual and neighborhood shows that the perceived benefits enhanced due to increased green space, recreation activities and accessibility to all persons. Thus, both studies emphasize the quantity, as well as the quality of green space. The study reveals that these are the two most important considerations for the diverse users across individuals to communities.
