LOCAL

GREENSPACES AND WELLBEING

Richard leBrasseur, PhD
The Green Infrastructure Performance Lab
Dalhousie University

Research Purpose
The goal of this research was to increase the understanding of greenspaces and their
effects upon human quality of life benefits such as wellbeing, reduced stress, sociability,
sense of community, safety, and happiness in a small community of primarily African-
Canadians in and around North Preston, Nova Scotia.

Green spaces are an important part of our everyday life. Whether parks or natural
areas, gardens or playgrounds, forests or paths, people use green spaces differently for
many benefits. There are many definitions of both quality of life and wellbeing. Human
wellbeing is connected to one’s quality of life. Well-being is understood as a state of
health, happiness and prosperity. As noted by the Economic and Social Research
Council (ESRC): “Wellbeing is a state of being with others, where human needs are
met, where one can act meaningfully to pursue one’s goals, and where one enjoys a
satisfactory quality of life”.

What is Human Wellbeing and Quality of Life?

There are many definitions of both quality of life and wellbeing.
Human wellbeing is connected to one’s quality of life.

This research focussed on the following 3 types of wellbeing:

Emotional Wellbeing (happiness, enjoyment, and free from stress)
Physical Wellbeing (leisure, safety, and relaxing outdoor activities)
Social Wellbeing (community interaction, support, sense of appreciation)

LOCAL GREEN SPACE

AND WELL BEING

10 Minute On-Line Anonymous Survey You can also win a $50 VISA Gift Card
The goal of this survey is to increase the Your participation will help policy makers
understanding of greenspaces and their and Councils make decisions which support
effects upon human quality of life benefits human wellbeing and the design and
Background
This is a unique area of unique people, and how this community interacts with their local
green spaces provides insight into not only how they physically shape their community
and spaces, but offer insight into other rapidly developing communities as well. Though
the community blocked rapid urbanisation in the 80’s, there is still fear of Dartmouth
urbanization spreading into Preston area.

The Blacks who settled in the hinterland of Preston Township in the eighteenth century
created three inter-related communities, commonly known as North Preston, East
Preston, and Cherry Brook. The black families who settled in these towns were the
descendants of Afro-American and Afro-Carribean families. Despite political and
economic weakness of these communities, a cultural identity has emerged which
separates them from other communities in the neighbouring areas.

Geographical isolation has continued into the twentieth century, and still remains,
although interaction between communities and the rest of Nova Scotia is more frequent
now than in the past due to the improvements in communication, inter-marriage, and job
dependency on the urban economy.

Based on personal and demographic study information from household research and
the BLAC Report (1994) the percentage of population who are Black in the Preston
Area is 97%. As Bullard and Johnson state, “a growing body of evidence reveals that
people of color and low-income persons have borne greater environmental and health
risks than the society at large in their neighborhoods, workplace, and playgrounds
(2000: 554). For the residents of North Preston and its sister communities, history
indicates that the issue of environmental racism has a profound effect on the
development of the area.”

In considering the definition given by the researcher that “Environmental justice is

defined as the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of
race, color, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation,
and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies” (Bullard and Johnson
2000: 558), the respondents stated that the Nova Scotian government had committed
an injustice to the people of the Preston Area especially since a Black community had
already suffered a landfill in 1960’s and had to be relocated because of urbanization.
Most residents began to remember the experience of Africville and recount what had
happened. “The residents felt that no group of people should have to bear the negative
development of municipal planning for the sake of others,” as stated one of the
interviewees.” (Hudson, pg. 69-70)

Overall, there is a distinct concern that this community will change. “Soon our
community will be like Beechville, all the houses, stores and undeveloped land will be
owned by white people who are not from our community and will not appreciate the
struggles of Black people.” – Elder from East Preston
REFERENCES
CBC. 2018. The resilience of North Preston, Nova Sco;a. December 7. h@ps://www.cbc.ca/
radio/nowornever/the-resilience-of-north-preston-nova-sco;a-1.4932179.

Abucar, Mohamed. 1988. Struggle for Development: The Black Communi;es of North & East
Preston and Cherry Brook, Nova Sco;a 1784-1987. Halifax, Nova Scoita: McCurdy Prin;ng &
TypeseTng Limited.

Hudson, Karen Darcell. 2002. A ques;on of environmental racism in the Preston Area, Nova
Sco;a. Masters Disserta;on, Dalhousie University , Halifax, NS: ProQuest Disserta;ons
Publishing.

Simmonds, Angela. 2014. "This Land is Our Land: African Nova Sco;an Voices from the Preston
Area Speak Up." August 19. h@ps://nsbs.org/sites/def

“We managed to put the brakes on Dartmouth’s expansion for a while…but we

can’t sit back on our laurels now. Dartmouth is going to keep looking at Preston,
and if they think we aren’t doing anything to develop the land ourselves, they’ll
come aAer us again.” - Unknown


“ The enFre community has impacted me in some way. North Preston has taught
me, fed me, pulled me in and protected me but most importantly showed me what
it means to love. It's uncondiFonal. It's consistent. There's a certain level of love
we feel for our neighbour that is not reciprocated anywhere else in the world.”
- Kardeisha Provo

“What does it look like? It looks like a small town in the woods. But what it is? It’s
the greatest place in the world.” – Corvell Beals: father of 3, family history dates
back to 1800s in Preston, president of North Preston Bulls Basketball team, talks
to kids in the community hoping they can learn from his experiences, runs his own
construc;on company.
Research Results
An interactive, on-line survey was conducted during the Summer of 2019. Results show
that this community’s residents most often visit your nearby greenspaces to:

1. Be with friends, family, hang out or socialize.

2. Sit and relax, read, be peaceful and enjoy nature.
3. Play sports and games or ride the bike.
Community cohesion and social networking was the most o`en documented
benefit from visi;ng these green spaces and offer insights into the planning,
design and management of these and future spaces.
The heat map below shows the most o`en visited greenspaces for these ac;vi;es
(in the red hot-spots).