Lazy Bay Commons provides an "essential health service"

by Luci Cipera, resident of Mechanicsville neighbourhood in Kitchissippi Ward

On Labour Day, I happened to listen to the “Back to Nature” episode on CBC Radio about the health benefits of nature, I was struck by how relevant the perspectives discussed there are to the green and open space my neighbours and I call Lazy Bay Commons. It's a natural area with trees, grasses, milkweed--and people, squirrels, owls and rabbits. It's a space under threat that I am fighting for under auspices of the Mechanicsville Community Association.

Photo shows Luci Cipera and her daughter on a path in Lazy Bay Commons. Photo by Luci Cipera. The doctor interviewed stated that governments need to make quality urban greenspaces a priority as an essential health service. This means sizable greenspaces with many trees and a variety of plans and wildlife are crucial. They say that small, grassy parks without trees do not have the same effects. Other things I picked up from the radio interview include:

• Our busy, noisy urban lives are stressful and can lead to serious health consequences (higher cortisol levels, etc.)

• There is clear evidence that the greener your living environment, the better your health and wellbeing – even looking out onto a greenspace or a tree can improve your physical and mental health.

• Walking from a busy street into an urban forest can reduce your stress levels almost immediately. I actually experienced this last week when my daughter and I walked from Parkdale with all the noise and construction, and we entered Lazy Bay Commons. We both felt the sense of relief of the noise “disappearing” and our heads feeling clearer.

• Medical studies show that spending time in quality urban spaces significantly reduce stress, anxiety, and helps people focus, etc.

• Health professionals in both B.C. and Ontario are starting to prescribe "nature prescriptions" for those living with mental illnesses and physical health conditions, such as heart disease and diabetes. A standard prescription is two hours of nature per week, at 20 minute or longer intervals.

• However, the doctor stressed that this type of treatment only works if urban forests are accessible – not far away so people either do not bother to get there or if getting there adds stress to your life, meaning, If you only have 30 minutes' time you cannot use 20 of those minutes getting to the greenspace.

There are so many well-documented reasons why all levels of governments must work together to improve and increase quality urban green spaces. That's one of the important reasons why I belong a working group opposed to the Embassy Row project being proposed by the National Capital Commission. We have been active since early this year, and we know that our petitions, letters and fundraising efforts are having SOME impact on city of Ottawa planners. They have delayed a decision on this matter for months while they looked into the climate, security and health aspects set out by our community, and by our supporters, such as the Greenspace Alliance of Canada's Capital and BIG TREES of Kitchissippi. We have also garnered support from many community associations in Kitchissippi Ward. Our city councillor, Jeff Leiper, opposes the rezoning application that would make way for embassies to be built and would decimate our natural greenspace overlooking Lazy Bay on the Ottawa River.

In the coming weeks, the city's planning committee will be deciding whether to approve the NCC's proposal for embassies, not trees. I will be speaking out to let members of that committee know why and how there can be a better use of this precious greenspace.