Date of Award
Fall 12-2016
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Program
Urban Studies
Department
School of Urban Planning and Regional Studies
Major Professor
David Gladstone, Ph.D.
Second Advisor
Jeffery Ehrenreich, Ph.D.
Third Advisor
William Sullivan, Ph.D.
Fourth Advisor
John Renne, Ph.D.
Abstract
Landscape development[1] can provide many benefits, including the reduction of stormwater runoff and the creation of habitats for wildlife. It can also provide health benefits. Researchers, such as Roger Ulrich and Rita Berto have demonstrated that views of trees and other vegetation are associated with lower blood pressure and reduced recovery times in hospitals and that environments with more natural elements may lessen mental fatigue (R. Ulrich 1984) and (Berto 2005).
As rebuilding in New Orleans continues 11 years after Hurricane Katrina, landscape development has been limited or lacking, especially in the redevelopment of commercial properties. Two prominent reasons for this deficiency are a lack of funding and, until August of 2015, the absence of a comprehensive landscape ordinance.
The purpose of the research presented here is to determine the degree to which community residents express a preference for healthier commercial environments. As part of my research, I measured community perceptions of four potential redevelopment concepts for a blighted strip shopping center utilizing attention restoration theory (ART), which postulates that certain environmental qualities contribute to reductions in mental fatigue. I found that commercial environments with the most quality landscaping[2] are those that neighborhood residents most prefer and are most conducive to better health.
Keywords: mental fatigue, attention restoration theory, perceived restoration scale, commercial landscape quantity, public health, healthy urban environment
[1] Refer to operational definitions (pages 4-6).
[2] Refer to operational definitions (pages 4-6).
Recommended Citation
Leibe, Mary, "Creating Healthy Urban Environments: Commercial Landscaping, Preference and Public Health" (2016). University of New Orleans Theses and Dissertations. 2262.
https://scholarworks.uno.edu/td/2262
Included in
Landscape Architecture Commons, Other Public Health Commons, Urban, Community and Regional Planning Commons
Rights
The University of New Orleans and its agents retain the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible this dissertation or thesis in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. The author retains all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis or dissertation.