The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) An Assessment Guide: Measuring the Potential for Mental Restoration in Urban Green Spaces

Mental health is a growing national priority, and green space has been proven to benefit mental health. There is a massive amount of recent research studying the influence of green space characteristics on mental health improvement and restoration. However, professional landscape architects, designers, and planners involved in creating physical spaces have not been able to assess and therefore prioritize mental health in their designs due to the sheer quantity of information that has not yet been synthesized and applied efficiently. The Restorative Design Scale (RDS) Assessment condenses this material into a scientifically inspired resource for professionals to easily understand and apply. This tool enables professionals to assess the strengths and weaknesses of existing public green spaces in providing mental health benefits. This tool also empowers professionals to improve mental health aspects of design in the public realm by guiding upgrades and new designs, communicating scientifically supported priorities, focusing funding, and thus providing a better quality of life for green space users.