Some research is showing exercise to be as effective as antidepressants in raising serotonin levels. Human beings need to walk in safe and refreshing environments. Olmsted knew this. He spent two trips to Europe studying landscapes that attracted and revitalized people. Tasks that in other cultures were refreshing, socializing and enjoyable have become burdensome and stressful in America.
Children miss the unsupervised but essential socializing with peers on the way to school.
They also miss their parents. Because of parents' long commutes to work, many young parents of preschoolers never see their children during daylight hours on workdays. These demands, combined with long commutes, lack of reliable mass transit and inevitable traffic tie-ups, are a recipe for stress. Mental stress, with outcomes ranging from sleeplessness to outright violence, is a serious health hazard. Urban design that offers the benefits of more walking, more social contact and surroundings that include water and vegetation, can also offer healthful physical exercise and psychic respite.