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View Full Version : In Urban Neighborhoods, More Trees Equals Less Crime



Chris
04-07-2013, 04:18 PM
Equals, iow, a correlation, not sure causation, but interesting nonetheless.

Plant a tree!


Say you live down the street from a small urban park—does that make you feel more safe, or less? Green space has been thought to work both ways. Shrubs, for instance, could conceal burglars, or a tree-lined sidewalk could obstruct a clear view of the street. On the other hand, green space encourages people to spend more time in public areas, which deters crime—and greenness might even be good for the soul.

A new study finds that, in Philadelphia at least, greener neighborhoods have significantly fewer crimes than non-vegetated areas. And this effect held true even after the researchers controlled for socioeconomic factors.

...the researchers found that greenness was a strong marker of safety. Rates of assault, robbery and burglary were all significantly higher in non-vegetated neighborhoods. This effect remained true even when the effects of population density, poverty and education were taken into account, the authors report in Landscape and Urban Planning.

The explanation, the authors say, is twofold: One, green spaces encourage people to spend more time socially outdoors, which discourages crime. It’s especially helpful for crime control when young and old people mix together in public places. And two, the presence of plants has a therapeutic effect. Vegetation decreases mental fatigue and its associated symptoms, such as irritability and decreased impulse control, both considered to be precursors to violence....

Read more @ In Urban Neighborhoods, More Trees Equals Less Crime (http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/d-brief/?p=517#.UWGLKZO858F)