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Can Urban Green Space Reduce Violent Crime?

A new systematic literature review explores the possible connection between urban green space, violent crime, and health.

Citation and link to Open Access article: Shepley, M., Sachs, N., Sadatsafavi, H., Fournier, C., & Peditto, K. (2019). The impact of green space on violent crime in urban environments: an evidence synthesis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(24), 5119.

Marjory’s Garden Story

by Kyle Jeter, astronomy teacher at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School

Marjory’s Garden at Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, FL / image: Brightview

This post was first published in ASLA’s The Field. Amy Wagenfeld, Affil. ASLA, Children’s Outdoor Environments Professional Practice Network Co-Communications Director, and Naomi A. Sachs, PhD, ASLA, EDAC, are humbled and grateful to share Kyle Jeter’s story with you.

It was January, 2016. As the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Principal and I watched the heavy machinery level the last of the dilapidated portable classrooms, an idea flitted across my mind. On a whim, I asked if a portion of the land being cleared might be set aside for science/STEM purposes—perhaps a garden? After considering the proposal for a few days, Mr. Thompson generously offered the Science Department an elongated strip of land adjacent to the tennis courts. Not expecting to receive such a large tract (~ 9,000 sq. ft.), I began to sketch out the basic layout of what would become “Marjory’s Garden.”

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Happy 2019!

Wishing you a happy, healthy, and flower-filled New Year.

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Prescribing nature for improved health

An opinion piece by pediatrician Robert Zarr and TLN Founding Director Naomi Sachs was published yesterday in The Hill, titled “Prescribing nature for improved health makes an economic case for the Land and Water Conservation Fund.” Here are a couple of snippets, and you can read the full piece here.

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‘The Salutogenic City’ – Design for Health on a Large Scale

Clare Cooper Marcus and I wrote this article, The Salutogenic City a couple of years ago. It was first published in World Health Design. Clare was, of course, also my co-author for the book Therapeutic Landscapes.

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“From Memory to Memorial” – Book review by Lisa Horne

In memory of the lives that were lost, saved, and changed forever in the attacks on September 11, 2001, here is a review of Bill Thompson’s recently published book, From Memory to Memorial: Shanksville, America, and Flight 93. Thank you, Lisa Horne, for this review

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Remembering Stephen Kellert

Stephen R. Kellert, “biophilia” scholar and lifelong champion of the natural world, died on Sunday, November 27, 2016 of multiple myeloma. I learned of his death yesterday from a lovely post by Richard Louv and The Children and Nature Network.

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What is a Healing Garden?

My colleague, Dak Kopec, asked me to write a piece on healing gardens for his forthcoming book,  Environmental Psychology for Design, and he has graciously given permission to share it with you here on the TLN Blog. Dak is Director of Design for Human Health at Boston Architectural College and has written many books and other publications on the role of the environment in human health. Thank you, Dak!

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‘Therapeutic Gardens’ – Book review by Lisa Horne

Collaborative and Compassionate Design – Guest post & book review by Lisa Horne of Therapeutic Gardens: Design for Healing Spaces

Photo by Lisa Horne
Therapeutic gardens come in many different forms… Image Source: Lisa Horne
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Happy 100th Birthday, National Park Service!

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The National Park Service turns 100 today!

To celebrate, you can visit one (or more!) of the NPS’s 412 parks for FREE from 8/25 – 8/28. Check out the terrific Find Your Park website to help you locate the nearest park and to see lots of great photos and stories. And why not leave a comment here about your favorite national park, or a story about a memorable NP experience? I’m sure you’ve got some great stories to share…

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