Peer-reviewed article
Neighbourhood green spaces and child well-being in Central India: a multisectoral perspective
Manmeet Chandra Verma, Rajshree Kamat ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined how neighbourhood green spaces support child well-being in Central India's cities through input from 167 professionals across multiple sectors including architecture, urban planning, education, and public health. Green spaces were found to help children by promoting physical activity, improving air quality, building social connections, and supporting mental health. The research identified sector-specific barriers like land availability and public interest, alongside common challenges like inadequate funding and safety concerns. The study emphasises that multisectoral collaboration is essential for developing and maintaining effective green spaces for children.
Key points
- Neighbourhood green spaces promote physical activity, reduce air pollution exposure, foster social cohesion, and enhance mental health among children
- ANOVA analysis revealed significant sectoral differences in perceiving 'Lack of Land' and 'Insufficient Public Interest' as barriers to green space implementation
- Barriers such as 'Inadequate Funding,' 'Poor Urban Planning,' 'Safety Concerns,' and 'Lack of Priority from Development Authorities' were uniformly perceived across all sectors
- Each sector contributes distinct expertise: architects design functional spaces, planners ensure strategic placement, educators emphasise cognitive benefits, and health professionals advocate for health outcomes
- Participatory approaches involving community members and children are recommended for creating more relevant and user-friendly green spaces
Limitations
The study surveys professional perceptions rather than directly measuring child well-being outcomes or green space utilisation patterns. It does not provide evidence of causal links between green space interventions and specific child health or development improvements.
Abstract
Urban green spaces (UGS) are critical for fostering child well-being, particularly in rapidly urbanising metro cities. This study explores the significance, challenges, and potential enhancements of neighbourhood green spaces (NGS) in Central India from a multisectoral perspective, encompassing insights from architecture, urban planning, education, research, public health, environmental science, community leadership, NGOs, and policymaking sectors. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, gathering data from 167 professionals across these sectors. The findings underscore the vital role of NGS in promoting physical activity, reducing air pollution exposure, fostering social cohesion, and enhancing mental health among children. ANOVA analysis revealed significant sectoral differences in the perception of barriers to implementing NGS, notably “Lack of Land” and “Insufficient Public Interest,” while other barriers such as “Inadequate Funding,” “Poor Urban Planning,” “Safety Concerns,” and “Lack of Priority from Development Authorities” were uniformly perceived across sectors. These results suggest the need for sector-specific strategies to address land availability and public interest issues and broad-based interventions for other barriers. The study highlights the importance of multisectoral collaboration in optimising the development and maintenance of NGS. Each sector contributes unique expertise – architects design functional spaces, urban planners ensure strategic placement, educators and researchers emphasise cognitive benefits, and public health professionals advocate for health outcomes. Future research should incorporate participatory approaches involving community members, particularly children, to create more relevant and user-friendly green spaces. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding and enhancing NGS in Central India's metro cities, emphasising their critical role in supporting child health and development.