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The Benefit of Urban Parks

FCWC has completed the initial phase of its examination of urban environmental issues with the publication of its November-December edition of Westchester Environment. Following this is an excerpt from that edition.

For more information on urban environmental issues, please check our website for the April-May, July-August and November-December 2001 issues of Westchester Environment. Subjects covered include community gardens, environmental education, revitalization of down towns, affordable housing, brownfields, indoor environments, clean ups, environmental justice, parks, new urbanism, survey results and more.

Our survey showed that “fixing up parks and more trees” was the third most important planning issue. Urban parks provide not only needed recreation but a host of ancillary benefits. The environmental benefits of our “greenfrastructure” (parks, trees and other green spaces) in urban settings are well documented and agreed upon:

  • trees filter air pollution removing exhaust and fine particulates
  • parks and trees reduce storm water run off by slowing the flow
  • parks and trees reduce noise pollution by acting as green sound baffles and dampers
  • parks provide habitat for urban animals and wildlife

Studies have also demonstrated greenfrastructure provides economic and social benefits:

  • healthy parks attract residents and businesses
  • values of real estate increase dramatically if there is a nearby park with trees
  • tax dollars increase with the increase in property values
  • a well maintained park reduces crime in the neighborhood
  • a park creates a sense of community
  • academic performance improves in teens involved in their parks
  • hospital emergency visits are reduced when children have safe places to play
  • urban parks and trees lower temperatures and reduce summer electricity demand
  • parks provide exercise opportunities necessary to avoid the health consequences that result from inactivity

Beyond the economic, social and health benefits of parks, the spiritual benefits must be recognized as paramount. As eloquently stated at last year’s Urban Parks Institute conference by Enrique Penalosa, the mayor of Bogota:

"The importance of pedestrian public spaces cannot be measured. We cannot prove mathematically that wider sidewalks, pedestrian streets, more or better parks make people happier, much less measure how much happier. However if we reflect, most things that are important in life cannot be measured either: Friendship, beauty, love and loyalty are examples. Parks and other pedestrian places are essential to a city’s happiness.”

“... it has to do with the reality that over the last 80 years we have been building cities for cars much more than for people. If only children had as much public space as cars, most cities in the world would become marvelous.”

Extracted from the November-December 2001 Westchester Environment
 
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