Published in Cities: The International Journal of Urban Policy and Planning, the research paper titled, "Urban green space access, social cohesion, and mental health outcomes before and during Covid-19" asks three major questions about physical activity and mental and social wellbeing benefits during the pandemic. The first point is how access to different types of urban green space varies by race and income, secondly how green space changed during this time, and lastly how greenspace impacted mental health specifically during the early phases of the pandemic.

 

The research tested the questions by analyzing how social distancing and quarantine during the pandemic and various disparities limited access to outdoor activities like recreational hiking, running, or walking since physical exercise is known to offer significant health and mental benefits.
This paper was written by Associate Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia, Bev Wilson, DeShong Professor of Design and Health at the University of Virginia, Jenny Roe, and Centre for Cognition and Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, University of Huddersfield, Chris Neale. The trio conducted the research study in Richmond, Virginia.
Through survey data and GPS information, the team explored the questions within Richmond. This information showed that visits to greenspace declines regionally but increased for low-income groups. The research concluded that further research and planning should happen to help better understand how " race, ethnicity, and other factors influence who feels welcome and safe in parks and UGS so that these public resources can be made more inclusive and benefit a wider segment of society."