The Value and Access of Urban Greenspace: A Comparison Study of User Perceptions of the Naval Cemetery Landscape, New York

In studying greenspace and people’s health and wellbeing, the self-report health perception survey method is broadly used. There is a consensus that people’s health and wellbeing are positively associated with greenspace exposure. Meanwhile, different conclusions on details related to greenspace exposure have also been reported, e.g., the frequency and the stay time. Few studies have investigated and compared on-site greenspace exposure and off-site reflections with perspectives on greenspace (i.e., afterward greenspace exposure). Some self-report health perception surveys have been conducted on-site, especially for experimental studies. There are also surveys that have been conducted off-site, e.g., general association studies on greenspace and public health. On-site and off-site settings indicate different time dimensions of greenspace experiences (i.e., real time vs. afterward). To what extent do these survey settings impact the conclusions on greenspace exposure? This study compares visitors’ self-reported health and landscape perceptions of the Naval Cemetery Landscape, a contemplative greenspace for passive recreation activities in Brooklyn, New York. The results show that the on-site survey reached a broader audience, and the perception and valuing of the space captured by the on-site survey were more positive than those of the off-site survey. In addition, the on-site survey captured more details on the associations between greenspace access, perception, and values than the off-site survey did.