Grass and trees in outdoor spaces were shown to increase the use and social activity in outdoor places.
In a definitive study, grass and trees in outdoor spaces were shown to increase the use and social activity in outdoor places. This research resolves any questions about the value of grass and trees in promoting social interaction that arose from less comprehensive earlier studies.
Sullivan and associates state: “It seems likely that spending more time in nearby common spaces with trees and grass fosters informal face-to-face contacts among neighbors that lead to more social interaction . . . The results here suggest that by increasing face-to-face contact and the number of individuals involved in social interactions, trees and grass in inner-city common spaces contribute to the social cohesion and vitality of a neighborhood.”
Previous research presented conflicting information regarding neighborhood common space usage and the presence of nature. This study reveals that trees and grass “not only bring neighbors together but also support social interaction among them.”
Sullivan, William., Frances Kuo, and Stephen DePooter. 2004. The fruit of urban nature: Vital neighborhood spaces. Environment and Behavior, vol. 36 no. 5, pp. 678–700.