By Jordan Rivera as part of the CSU Honors Blog

It’s been a long day with school, work, and life responsibilities. Stress, like a dark cloud above my head, follows my every move. Will I be able to turn that paper in on time? What about my biology test coming up? How much busier can work get? Should I go hang out with friends today or just stay in and recharge? The stress feels overwhelming, and I have to get out, release it all, connect with something larger than myself.

I go out for a run and take a bike path to a network of trails, winding through trees beside the Poudre River; I see turtles and birds, someone walking their dog, and the bright pop of yellow coming from the tall sunflowers to my right. The natural spaces integrated within the city of Fort Collins are a saving grace. The blending of accessible natural spaces within the urban environment is something that Fort Collins does best; it is an aspect that makes Fort Collins a happy and healthy urban space. The green spaces all throughout the city are not only aesthetically pleasing, but they serve to improve mental and physical health, enhance city sustainability, upgrade local economy, and foster meaningful community.

There have been multitudes of studies on the connection between natural spaces, often referred to as green and blue spaces (accessible land and water, respectively), within urban environments and beneficial mental and physical health outcomes. In a 2003 study on the impacts of accessible nature to children, Wells and Evans found that stress was considerably lower in children with nature nearby compared to children who did not have many opportunities to get out into nature.

When I first moved to Fort Collins, the amount of available green and blue space available to the public really drew me in. As someone who has struggled with mental health, it was crucial for me to find a place where I could feel safe going out into nature to release stress and anxiety.

Not only do these natural areas improve mental health markers, but they also have been shown to be beneficial for physical health that gives access to everyone.A connection with nature is crucial to improving the health of the nation, and with 55% of trails in the city being accessible to those using wheelchair and Motorized Mobility Devices, as well as ramps leading down to places like the Poudre River, Fort Collins has made it possible for all people to access natural space no matter their physical capabilities. This shows that Fort Collins, through the integration of inclusive and accessible public natural spaces, is improving the health of the community.

These spaces enhance the sustainability of the city and thus the health of the Earth as well. Since adopting the Open Space Plan in 1974 and acquiring the first pieces of land to be conserved, the leaders of Fort Collins have kept the conservation and health of the natural world in mind. With a goal of having “stewardships of their natural areas,” the Natural Areas Department of Fort Collins has successfully put aside 36,000 acres of land for dedicated natural space. Placing conservation as a priority not only has a direct beneficial impact on the surrounding wildlife of Fort Collins and the greater Larimer County area; it also reduces the city’s impact on global warming.

In the study of green spaces within urban areas, Lange and Rodrigues found that “Green space interventions…reduce heat island effects and reduce surface runoff.” This means that by intertwining natural space throughout the city, the surrounding carbon dioxide within the air and the water pollutant level is reduced.

The economy is also served by these green and blue spaces within the city. As shown by his study within the Journal of Environmental Protection, Shah Haq showed that urban green spaces increase property value and reduce city used energy costs. By having a more aesthetically pleasing city, property values have been shown to increase between five and fifteen percent. Additionally, since the natural areas take up space where there may have been additional buildings, and due to the atmospheric cooling effect that plants have (caused by gas exchange) the cost of cooling buildings is greatly reduced. This means that the city is both improving revenue value through property value and reducing spending through energy expenses.

Natural spaces play an important role in Fort Collins as community builders and contribute to meaningful connections throughout the city as well. One of the best ways to get connected with a supportive community is through volunteering, and Fort Collins has provided this opportunity through the Fort Collins Natural Area Adoption program, which began in 1993. There are currently forty individuals and local companies that have adopted various trails within Fort Collins. By participating in monthly clean ups and maintenance of green and blue spaces, people can help the Earth while also getting connected with a supportive community who share common goals of environmental health and sustainability. Being a “trail parent” may not be practicable to all Fort Collins citizens. So, it is great that the city puts on various community events that cater to multitudes of lifestyles and hobbies. From skygazing to history talks, yoga to community hikes, the Fort Collins Volunteer Program puts on weekly community events to bring people together in the great outdoors to foster a tighter, healthier community as well as encourage people to engage with the natural world. This example of inclusive and sustainable city events is surely one to be replicated and taken note of by cities around the nation.

Fort Collins has a multitude of natural areas, Poudre River, Spring Creek trail, Riverbed Ponds, Pineridge Natural Area are only a few.Just as Bogota’s former mayor is quoted as saying in the book Happy City, “We need to walk, just as birds need to fly. We need to be around other people. We need beauty. We need contact with nature”, these green and blue spaces improve the health of the people, Earth, economy, and community while displaying inclusivity and accessibility to all. This inclusive and health centered approach to the planning of Fort Collins is the reason why I love the city so much. I love the fact that after a long day, I can go out into nature, without the need for driving, and refill my cup through the natural beauty around me. Fort Collins is setting the example for natural space integration and accessibility, and more cities within the nation should surely replicate its approach to urban planning.