Program on the Environment

Substantial research shows that nature makes us healthier, happier, and more connected. Marginalized communities often do not have equitable access to green space, leading to a disparity in who gets to experience these benefits. Across the Pacific Northwest, there are numerous organizations addressing this gap through community-based green space programs, practices, and policies. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the motivations and barriers of community leaders involved in these projects to understand how to better support their work. Through my internship with the UW Center for Nature and Health, I created a directory containing 60+ community leaders invested in green space initiatives, which will serve as a tool for future collaboration. To answer my research questions, I conducted an online survey as well as semi-structured interviews to gather data on these leaders’ motivations and challenges, along with their insights into community preferences and engagement. Results reveal that leaders are primarily motivated by the potential community health benefits of green spaces. Many of them also had outdoor experiences growing up, which inspired them to ensure that everyone can experience healing qualities of nature. The most prevalent barriers are inaccessible distances, perceived safety, and poor funding for green spaces. Findings also highlighted the importance of boosting community participation to ensure that green spaces are culturally relevant, with effective strategies including providing translations, transportation, childcare, and financial compensation. These results are significant because they can help inform future policy and outreach to better support initiatives that are growing green spaces.