Mental and Physical Health Benefits
Studies by Dr. Roger Ulrich at Texas A&M and others have shown that hospital patients who can see trees have less anxiety, recover faster and exhibit fewer complications than patients in windowless rooms or who must look at the built landscape such as parking lots. Positive effects on mood and improved worker productivity have also been documented.
Reducing Crime
The research team of Drs. Frances Kuo and William Sullivan at the University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign has found evidence that trees around apartment complexes help reduce domestic violence and child abuse, improve neighborhood relations, and decrease police calls and social service costs. In fact, buildings with high levels of greenery had 48 percent fewer property crimes and 56 percent fewer violent crimes.
(Taken from the Tree City USA Bulletin – 2007 Annual Report. Published by the National Arbor Day Foundation)
Gene Dempsey, City Forester
Environmental Services
Office - (954) 828-7704 Fax - (954) 828-7897
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