Page 53 - 2015WellBeing
P. 53
Our Environments 53
Our Natural Environment
Green space Chart 47: P ercent of total area of a municipality which is park land
compared with other Ontario cities, 2010-2012, Windsor,
Green space refers to any municipally-owned natural London, Hamilton.
open space such as ravines and nature reserves as
well as parkland. One measure relevant to green Windsor London Hamilton
space is the percentage of parkland available in
municipalities. Having accessible green space plays 7 2011 2012 2013
an important role in a city’s overall livability for 6
residents, as well as providing a connection to the 5
natural environment. 4
3
Data from the Ontario Municipalities Benchmarking 2
Initiative shows that since 2010 the percentage of 1
parkland in Windsor has remained unchanged at 6.5%. 0 2010
London is comparable at 6.0% and is significantly
better than 2.3% for Hamilton. With the completion of Source: O ntario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative. (2013).
the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway expected in 2015 it is (Accessed on 2015-03-21)
anticipated that the percentage of parkland and green
space in Windsor will be increase in the coming years.lxvii number of smog days per year is less valuable than
comparing between locations. Windsor’s southerly
Air quality location, proximity to the United States (where much of
the smog originates) and traditionally warmer climate
The quality of a region’s air plays an important role compared to the rest of Ontario, places our region at
in how a local environment is perceived and how greater risk for smog days than other parts of Ontario.
citizens interact with it. Poor air quality and smog can
have a dramatic impact on the health and wellbeing The data supports this trend. Windsor-Essex-
of residents from increasing to risk of health Chatham-Kent (Ontario Ministry of Environment and
complications to mortality rates.lxviii One of the most Climate Change groups Windsor-Essex and Chatham-
commonly used measures of air quality in a region is Kent as one region) has had a higher occurrence of
by counting the number of days when smog advisory smog days than London or Waterloo. Exceptions to
is issued. The Ontario Ministry of Environment and this were in 2013 and 2014 when the regions were
Climate Change is the responsible for the declaration devoid of smog days and Ontario as a whole only had
and tracking of the number of smog advisories issued two days with smog advisories over two years.
each year.lxix
As with all weather related phenomena there are
wide annual fluctuations based on weather patterns
and local climate. This means comparing the actual
Windsor - Essex - Chatham - Kent London - Middlesex Waterloo - Wellington
Chart 48: N umber of smog advisory days 30
issued in Windsor and Ontario, 25
2008-2014 20
Source: O ntario Ministry of the 15
Environment and Climate
Change. (Accessed 2015-04-07) 10
5
0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Our Natural Environment
Green space Chart 47: P ercent of total area of a municipality which is park land
compared with other Ontario cities, 2010-2012, Windsor,
Green space refers to any municipally-owned natural London, Hamilton.
open space such as ravines and nature reserves as
well as parkland. One measure relevant to green Windsor London Hamilton
space is the percentage of parkland available in
municipalities. Having accessible green space plays 7 2011 2012 2013
an important role in a city’s overall livability for 6
residents, as well as providing a connection to the 5
natural environment. 4
3
Data from the Ontario Municipalities Benchmarking 2
Initiative shows that since 2010 the percentage of 1
parkland in Windsor has remained unchanged at 6.5%. 0 2010
London is comparable at 6.0% and is significantly
better than 2.3% for Hamilton. With the completion of Source: O ntario Municipal Benchmarking Initiative. (2013).
the Rt. Hon. Herb Gray Parkway expected in 2015 it is (Accessed on 2015-03-21)
anticipated that the percentage of parkland and green
space in Windsor will be increase in the coming years.lxvii number of smog days per year is less valuable than
comparing between locations. Windsor’s southerly
Air quality location, proximity to the United States (where much of
the smog originates) and traditionally warmer climate
The quality of a region’s air plays an important role compared to the rest of Ontario, places our region at
in how a local environment is perceived and how greater risk for smog days than other parts of Ontario.
citizens interact with it. Poor air quality and smog can
have a dramatic impact on the health and wellbeing The data supports this trend. Windsor-Essex-
of residents from increasing to risk of health Chatham-Kent (Ontario Ministry of Environment and
complications to mortality rates.lxviii One of the most Climate Change groups Windsor-Essex and Chatham-
commonly used measures of air quality in a region is Kent as one region) has had a higher occurrence of
by counting the number of days when smog advisory smog days than London or Waterloo. Exceptions to
is issued. The Ontario Ministry of Environment and this were in 2013 and 2014 when the regions were
Climate Change is the responsible for the declaration devoid of smog days and Ontario as a whole only had
and tracking of the number of smog advisories issued two days with smog advisories over two years.
each year.lxix
As with all weather related phenomena there are
wide annual fluctuations based on weather patterns
and local climate. This means comparing the actual
Windsor - Essex - Chatham - Kent London - Middlesex Waterloo - Wellington
Chart 48: N umber of smog advisory days 30
issued in Windsor and Ontario, 25
2008-2014 20
Source: O ntario Ministry of the 15
Environment and Climate
Change. (Accessed 2015-04-07) 10
5
0 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
