Understanding the Early Years - Results of the Community Mapping Study for Children in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan - April 2002
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4. The Physical Environment
Current research exploring community affects on children's development places little emphasis on the physical characteristics of neighbourhoods. However, the quality of the physical environment in a community can affect the health and well-being of families and children.
This chapter focuses on the quality of the physical environment, collected through neighbourhood observations.
The neighbourhood observations component of the Community Mapping Study was designed to assess the physical and infrastructure aspects of the community. It looks at factors that may affect the development and behaviour of children, such as the quality of homes, street lighting conditions, traffic volume, and the presence and amount of parks and green space.
The Prince Albert UEY Project surveyed portions of 55 urban and 28 rural Enumeration Areas in the study area. The survey data indicated that the physical environment of Prince Albert and surrounding area did not pose a significant risk to children, youth and their families. Public spaces in urban and rural areas received a reasonable amount of care from municipal governments. There was a similarly high level of demonstrated care for private and corporate lands and buildings. Physical environment indicators such as high volumes of traffic, antisocial behaviour, excess litter or extensive noise were rarely observed.
Map 12: What was the general condition of buildings in Prince Albert?
- This map was typical of the data derived from the Neighbourhood Observation Instrument in that it shows that neighbourhoods in Prince Albert had a good physical environment.
- The amount of green space in urban areas is illustrated in the Map 15 series found in Chapter 5 of this report.
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