| dc.description.abstract | An increasing sedentary lifestyle in recent years has resulted in more and more people not meeting
the recommended physical activity guidelines. Physical inactivity has various negative physical and
mental health effects. Therefore, it is important to promote physical activity and active lifestyles. An
inviting green living environment can help in this regard. Thus, it is relevant to investigate how green
streetscapes can influence the physical activity of residents. Through a case study in the Northeast
and Northwest neighbourhoods of Utrecht, six residents and four municipal employees were
interviewed using qualitative research about both residents' experiences, perceptions, and
behaviours and municipal visions, ambitions, and objectives related to street greenery and physical
activity. The findings indicate that street greening can positively influence residents' physical activity
levels by creating an appealing, inviting, enjoyable, and accessible living environment. Furthermore,
this research shows that the municipality has an ambition to look at space differently, for example,
regarding mobility aspects. The municipality is working on a pedestrian approach that should take
shape through the implementation of green walking routes, giving every resident of Utrecht the
opportunity to use these green structures close to home. Municipalities can use the insights gained
for future greening projects. Further research could focus on the management and maintenance of
the greenery, as this is a bottleneck for the implementation of street greenery. | |
