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What are the challenges and opportunities of spending time outdoors during COVID-19? How can we support responsible public life? How can placemaking help us recover? How does this vary in different global and economic settings?
As the spread of SARS-CoV-2, which causes the COVID-19 disease, sweeps across the globe and establishes a “new normal”, cities and states are responding with measures to slow and stop the spread of COVID-19 through physical distancing, self-quarantine and isolation as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO). Although variations of these stay-at-home orders routinely allow exceptions for essential activities that include spending time outdoors within a safe physical distance of others, local leaders continue to feel pressure to close public parks and open spaces altogether in order to stop the spread of the virus. Taking the drastic step to close all public parks and outdoor spaces could help to alleviate one public health crisis but effectively creates another – inhibiting the substantial physical and mental health benefits of time spent outside with nature. It has never been clearer that spending time outdoors in public spaces are essential to our health and wellbeing.
Access to the outdoors and the implications of providing this amenity vary greatly by global region, and economic status. This webinar aims to paint a picture of the global challenges faced in providing equal access to outdoor space, and opportunities to turn these into resources, particularly for some of the most vulnerable populations.
Attendees were invited to ask additional questions and share their own experiences. After hearing from our panelists, we will moderate a Q&A between panelists and participants.
The panelists discussed the following:
Intro by Ethan Kent: Executive Director of PlacemakingX
Moderated by Giselle Sebag, MPH: Bloomberg Associates
Participants
