Environmental health diagnosis in a park as a sustainability initiative in cities

Abstract

Environmental health diagnosis was made in a sport and recreational park in the city of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. The objective of this research was to perform an environmental diagnosis in Tucson Park; it concentrated on air quality (fine and coarse particulate matter, carbon dioxide), environmental noise, water quality of springs and a pond according to national standards, and macroinvertebrates as biological indicators of water condition, as well as phytosanitary state of wooded area. Additionally, a survey was conducted to study environmental perception. Results of the study highlighted significant statistical differences concerning the amount and size of particles for the winter and spring seasons. Noise levels within the park premises exceeded the Mexican standard. Water quality measured through general criteria of integrated water quality index (WQI) qualified the park's analyzed springs as acceptable but to abstain its use and human consumption. Finally, the perception survey identified insecurity as the major problem, followed by the lack of lighting and effective communication of courses and workshops for the community to attend. It is one of the first environmental diagnoses in sport parks in Mexico's Metropolitan Areas as an integrated approach of ecosystem health and wellbeing of city inhabitants.