Where the Sidewalk Ends – Visitor Use of Natural and Landscaped Areas in Urban Parks
The scientists in this study wanted to know three things:
(1) Do visitors’ activities and reasons for using urban parks vary between landscaped and natural areas of New York City parks?
(2) Why do park visitors choose to visit to not visit urban natural areas?
(3) Are there differences between men and women in how they used landscaped and natural areas in parks and in their reasons for visiting these places?
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The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How does a park in your area offer visitors (1) refuge or stress relief, (2) inspiration or a spark to the...FACTivity – Where the Sidewalk Ends
The questions you will answer in this FACTivity are: How does a park in your area offer visitors (1) refuge or stress relief, (2) inspiration or a spark to the...
Glossary
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Nancy Falxa Sonti
My favorite science experience was learning about the history of urban forests and the growth of urban trees through tree rings and then getting to share that information with community...View Profile -
Lindsay Campbell
“My favorite science experience is any time I get to conduct semi-structured interviews. I enjoy having in-depth conversations with individuals about their involvement with the urban environment. I’ve interviewed public...View Profile -
Michelle Johnson
My favorite science experience is sitting down with data in hand to explore what you have found. Does your data support your hypothesis, or is something else going on you...View Profile -
Novem Auyeung
My favorite science experience is working with natural resources managers, community members, and other researchers to use our combined knowledge to protect, manage, and restore natural areas in New York...View Profile
Standards addressed in this Article:
Social Studies Standards
- People, Places, and Environments
- Science, Technology, and Society
- Time, Continuity, and Change
Note To Educators
The Forest Service's Mission
The Forest Service’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. For more than 100 years, our motto has been “caring for the land and serving people.” The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), recognizes its responsibility to be engaged in efforts to connect youth to nature and to promote the development of science-based conservation education programs and materials nationwide.
What Is the Natural Inquirer?
Natural Inquirer is a science education resource journal to be used by students in grade 6 and up. Natural Inquirer contains articles describing environmental and natural resource research conducted by Forest Service scientists and their cooperators. These scientific journal articles have been reformatted to meet the needs of middle school students. The articles are easy to understand, are aesthetically pleasing to the eye, contain glossaries, and include hands-on activities. The goal of Natural Inquirer is to stimulate critical reading and thinking about scientific inquiry and investigation while teaching about ecology, the natural environment, and natural resources.
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Meet the Scientists
Introduces students to the scientists who did the research. This section may be used in a discussion about careers in science.
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What Kinds of Scientist Did This Research?
Introduces students to the scientific disciplines of the scientists who conducted the research.
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Thinking About Science
Introduces something new about the scientific process, such as a scientific habit of mind or procedures used in scientific studies.
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Thinking About the Environment
Introduces the environmental topic being addressed in the research.
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Introduction
Introduces the problem or question that the research addresses.
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Method
Describes the method the scientists used to collect and analyze their data.
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Findings & Discussion
Describes the results of the analysis. Addresses the findings and places them into the context of the original problem or question.
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Reflection Section
Presents questions aimed at stimulating critical thinking about what has been read or predicting what might be presented in the next section. These questions are placed at the end of each of the main article sections.
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Number Crunches
Presents an easy math problem related to the research.
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Glossary
Defines potentially new scientific or other terms to students. The first occurrence of a glossary word is bold in the text.
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Citation
Gives the original article citation with an internet link to the original article.
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FACTivity
Presents a hands-on activity that emphasizes something presented in the article.
Science Education Standards
You will find a listing of education standards which are addressed by each article at the back of each publication and on our website.
We Welcome Feedback
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Contact
Jessica Nickelsen
Director, Natural Inquirer program -
Email
Education Files
Project Learning Tree
If you are a trained Project Learning Tree educator, you may use “I’d Like to Visit a Place Where . . .” as an additional resource.
Related Resources from the Natural Inquirer
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National forests, parks, and other wildland areas are provided by state and federal governments for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. Not all people, however, use these areas for outdoor recreation. When...Lions and Tigers and Bears–Oh My! Understanding Wildland Visitation
National forests, parks, and other wildland areas are provided by state and federal governments for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. Not all people, however, use these areas for outdoor recreation. When... -
Denali National Park in Alaska has one of the largest reported golden eagle nesting populations. Golden eagles are legally protected to help the population survive. Park managers were not sure...The Golden Egg: Using Adaptive Management To Regulate Hiking Near Golden Eagle Nests in Denali National Park
Denali National Park in Alaska has one of the largest reported golden eagle nesting populations. Golden eagles are legally protected to help the population survive. Park managers were not sure... -
This monograph looks at how much time kids spend outdoors based on data from the National Kids Survey. The monograph also examines the outdoor activities kids participate in.Time Out – Vol. 1 No. 5
This monograph looks at how much time kids spend outdoors based on data from the National Kids Survey. The monograph also examines the outdoor activities kids participate in. -
This monograph is one of two Wilderness 50 monographs. These two monographs were created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This act established the U.S....Pack to Back (Wilderness 50 Monograph Series) – Vol. 1 No. 9
This monograph is one of two Wilderness 50 monographs. These two monographs were created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This act established the U.S.... -
This monograph is one of two Wilderness 50 monographs. These two monographs were created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This act established the U.S....Wilderness 2.0 (Wilderness 50 Monograph Series) – Vol. 1 No. 10
This monograph is one of two Wilderness 50 monographs. These two monographs were created to honor the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This act established the U.S....
Additional Resources
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USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station: New York City Urban Field Station
Visit WebsiteThe New York City Urban Field Station’s mission is to improve quality of life in urban areas by conducting and supporting research about social-ecological systems and natural resource management.
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New York City Department of Parks & Recreation
Visit WebsiteBrowse the NYC Parks Department website to learn more about their parks (including the ones in the article), learning opportunities, and more.
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Natural Areas Conservancy
Visit WebsiteThe Natural Areas Conservancy strives to deepen the connection between people and nature in NYC by increasing access, providing education, and building the environmental workforce. Through research, partnerships, and advocacy, we ensure that urban natural areas are healthy and thriving and that their benefits reach all New Yorkers.
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Discover the Forest
Visit WebsiteDiscover the Forest began as a public service campaign created by the Ad Council in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, encouraging parents of tweens to experience the outdoors with their family to strengthen their connection with nature and each other. The North American Association for Environmental Education is now partnering with the Forest Service to build an education-focused program aimed at providing more robust, inclusive, and culturally relevant educational materials and resources to involve diverse audiences to support the conservation mission of the agency.
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USDA Forest Service: Visitor Map
Visit WebsiteExplore this interactive visitor map for national forests and grasslands.
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USDA Forest Service: Urban Forests
Visit WebsiteLearn more about urban forests, why they’re important, and the Forest Service’s work in urban areas.
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USDA Forest Service: Urban and Community Forestry Program
Visit WebsiteBy working with state partners and community tree groups, the Urban and Community Forestry Program invests from the ground up in communities, improving more than 140 million acres of urban and community forest across the United States.