The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place
Greenspaces promote mental and physical health, yet racialized immigrants are known to experience inequitable greenspace access. There is growing interest in the ability of greenspace to support immigrant settlement and wellbeing. This paper responds to the need for greater attention to equity and i...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000015 |
| _version_ | 1797798614277292032 |
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| author | Sara Edge Claire Davis Jennifer Dean Yemisi Onilude Andrea Rishworth Kathi Wilson |
| author_facet | Sara Edge Claire Davis Jennifer Dean Yemisi Onilude Andrea Rishworth Kathi Wilson |
| author_sort | Sara Edge |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Greenspaces promote mental and physical health, yet racialized immigrants are known to experience inequitable greenspace access. There is growing interest in the ability of greenspace to support immigrant settlement and wellbeing. This paper responds to the need for greater attention to equity and inclusion within greenspace and wellbeing studies by examining the unique experiences facing immigrant populations. Given increasing immigrant settlement into rural and suburban places globally we also address the lack of knowledge on urban and rural greenspace differences, despite known distinctions in place-based attributes (e.g., density, accessibility, level of diversity/xenophobia). We explore urban and rural greenspace experiences in one of the top immigrant-receiving countries in the world through focus group and interview data from immigrants living in a dense, highly diverse Canadian urban neighbourhood, in addition to an outlying rural community. These insights are complemented by perspectives from planners, decision-makers and designers with influence over greenspace development/management. Our findings contribute towards the development of more equitable and inclusive greenspace by addressing the dearth of knowledge on related experiences and impacts facing immigrant populations specifically. We illuminate challenges and/or assets involved in supporting immigrant wellbeing and settlement in greenspaces including factors unique to and/or exacerbated by urban or rural contexts. Place-based attributes (e.g., distance, connectivity, space, density, demographics, level of familiarity with diversity, presence of culturally inclusive infrastructure, environmental quality, etc.) must be better understood and managed through planning, design and decision-making to support wellbeing given their influence upon physical activity, social interactions, feelings of safety and belonging. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:06:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-94de1a1a71854968976d959f69542087 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-5581 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T04:06:28Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wellbeing, Space and Society |
| spelling | doaj.art-94de1a1a71854968976d959f695420872023-06-21T07:00:41ZengElsevierWellbeing, Space and Society2666-55812023-01-014100127The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in placeSara Edge0Claire Davis1Jennifer Dean2Yemisi Onilude3Andrea Rishworth4Kathi Wilson5Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street JOR 6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada; Corresponding author.Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street JOR 6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, CanadaSchool of Planning, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, Toronto Metropolitan University, 350 Victoria Street JOR 6th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaDepartment of Geography, Geomatics and Environment, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Ontario, CanadaGreenspaces promote mental and physical health, yet racialized immigrants are known to experience inequitable greenspace access. There is growing interest in the ability of greenspace to support immigrant settlement and wellbeing. This paper responds to the need for greater attention to equity and inclusion within greenspace and wellbeing studies by examining the unique experiences facing immigrant populations. Given increasing immigrant settlement into rural and suburban places globally we also address the lack of knowledge on urban and rural greenspace differences, despite known distinctions in place-based attributes (e.g., density, accessibility, level of diversity/xenophobia). We explore urban and rural greenspace experiences in one of the top immigrant-receiving countries in the world through focus group and interview data from immigrants living in a dense, highly diverse Canadian urban neighbourhood, in addition to an outlying rural community. These insights are complemented by perspectives from planners, decision-makers and designers with influence over greenspace development/management. Our findings contribute towards the development of more equitable and inclusive greenspace by addressing the dearth of knowledge on related experiences and impacts facing immigrant populations specifically. We illuminate challenges and/or assets involved in supporting immigrant wellbeing and settlement in greenspaces including factors unique to and/or exacerbated by urban or rural contexts. Place-based attributes (e.g., distance, connectivity, space, density, demographics, level of familiarity with diversity, presence of culturally inclusive infrastructure, environmental quality, etc.) must be better understood and managed through planning, design and decision-making to support wellbeing given their influence upon physical activity, social interactions, feelings of safety and belonging.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000015GreenspaceImmigrant wellbeingRural settlementUrban settlementSense of place |
| spellingShingle | Sara Edge Claire Davis Jennifer Dean Yemisi Onilude Andrea Rishworth Kathi Wilson The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place Wellbeing, Space and Society Greenspace Immigrant wellbeing Rural settlement Urban settlement Sense of place |
| title | The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| title_full | The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| title_fullStr | The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| title_full_unstemmed | The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| title_short | The role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| title_sort | role of urban and rural greenspaces in shaping immigrant wellbeing and settlement in place |
| topic | Greenspace Immigrant wellbeing Rural settlement Urban settlement Sense of place |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666558123000015 |
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