Table of Contents
Introduction: Re-imagining the city: urban greening as creative solution to social and ecological challenges
Chapter 1: Nature, Health, Well-being and Sense of Place: what do we know? What don’t we agree on?
Biological paradigm: adaptive and utility
The Social Construction Paradigm: constructed, political, and relational
New directions in nature, health, and well-being research
Moving forward: research, policy, and practice on nature and health in cities
Chapter 2: Ecology in the margins: Green Infrastructure and stormwater management
Introduction
Ecosystem services, green infrastructure, and stormwater: a short history of re-thinking water in cities
City-wide approaches to urban greening and stormwater: the case of Philadelphia
Piece-by-piece layering and conversion: urban greening and stormwater in Toronto
Small-scale urban greening and green infrastructure: reflections
Links to research and moving forward
Chapter 3: Meadows in the sky: a green roof case study
Introduction
What do we know about green roofs, health, and well-being?
Methods
Results: what did they think and feel about green roofs?
Implications for policy, research, and the human relationship to nature
Asking the same questions in a different way: a survey
Lessons learned from quantitative versus qualitative methods
Conclusion
Chapter 4: Reclaiming the city: vacant lots and post-industrial corridors
Introduction
Marginal spaces: regreening neglected areas
Case studies: Chicago and Philadelphia
Chicago and vacant lots
Vacant lots: Philadelphia
Post-industrial urban greening: elevated parks
Case study: Philadelphia’s Rail Park
Case study: Chicago’s The 606
Small-scale urban greening, interstitial, and post-industrial space: reflections and moving forward
Research and the real-world: opportunities for collaboration and change
Conclusion: Policy lessons and Research Implications: Connecting urbanites to nature and re-thinking urban greenspace
Introduction
Policy
Review of case study conclusions
Lessons learned, looking ahead
Frame the issue
Governance, funding, and legislation
Tactical urbanism, community outreach, and research
A way forward: learning by doing, adaptive planning
Research context
How do we value urban nature as experienced with SSUG projects?
How we experience SSUG: implications for research
Education and design implications for health, well-being, and ecological sustainability
Looking ahead