4 Reasons the Built Environment is Important to Our Health in the Winter

1. Lighting and walkability in our neighborhoods

Being able to exercise outdoors by walking or biking day or night can not only improve physical health but also improve brain function. Lighting and walkability improvements can invite the presence of cyclists and pedestrians.

2. Access to well-designed green space

Poorly designed spaces can cause us to feel isolated or lonely, which can have a negative impact on our mental health. Equitable access to parks promotes social connection and outdoor play.

3. Visibility to green spaces can relieve stress

Greening vacant lots or planting street trees can induce a sense of calm in neighborhoods, lowering our stress levels and anxiety. 

4. Inviting spaces designed for maximum light

Exposure to sunlight and fresh air can boost your mood and energy levels. Equitable access to safe outdoor spaces provides opportunities to cope with cabin fever and even avoid social isolation.

Public health is impacted by the way a community is designed. While the winter season is inevitable, there are changes that can be made to the built environment to positively impact residents’ mental and physical health during this time of year.

How people think and feel about their local environments will determine how active, healthy, and engaged individuals and their neighbors will be.

Our Signal Station North Lighting Plan and Guide is a great example of how this plays out during the winter. The plan envisions a nighttime environment with uniform street
lighting, gentle light spills from storefronts and residences, and a warmer color temperature punctuated by inventive, colorful lighting installations. Together, these lighting elements invite the presence of pedestrians, public transportation riders, and cyclists, open access to neighborhood spaces at night, and emphasize the artistic character of Station North.

The built environment impacts physical activity, moods, and mental health; therefore it is important that the way we design our cities takes this relationship into consideration in order to create sustainable living spaces with improved quality of life overall.

If your neighborhood is lacking in any of these four areas, reach out to the Neighborhood Design Center for help making changes.