Are parks just the perk of a great neighbourhood? Or are they crucial for people to be able to interact with nature?

We all like to spend time in parks, but are they just the perk of a great neighbourhood?

Or is it crucial for people to be able to interact with nature in spaces like parks?

Many of our childhood memories happened in parks. To some extent, we’re probably aware that the parks in the neighbourhood where you grew up had an impact on who you are today.

It turns out parks are a crucial part of any community. They have a significant impact on the development of children and the happiness of everyone in the neighbourhood.

As it’s #LoveParksWeek , the annual rallying cry to love, protect, enhance, and respect our parks, I thought it would be great to share why I think parks are so important to our neighbourhoods and why we urgently need to actively improve and add to our park networks.

Parks play a vital role in promoting healthy urban living and contribute significantly to the overall well-being of city dwellers, promote biodiversity and help combat the effects of climate change. Their impact on physical, mental, and social health is substantial, making them essential components of sustainable and liveable cities.

So here are 10 key ways in which parks positively influence urban living:

1.?????Physical health: Local parks encourage physical activities and exercise, which are crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Regular physical exercise in parks helps combat sedentary lifestyles, reduces the risk of obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and other chronic health issues.

2.?????Mental well-being: Parks offer a natural escape from the bustling city environment, creating a peaceful and serene setting. Green spaces have a calming effect on the mind, reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Time spent in parks can enhance mood, improve cognitive function, and boost creativity, leading to better mental health outcomes for urban residents.

3.?????Social interaction: Parks are gathering places for communities, encouraging social interactions and a sense of belonging. These shared spaces can lead to the formation of friendships and support networks, reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness.

4.?????Environmental benefits: Parks contribute to a healthier urban environment by absorbing pollutants and carbon dioxide, thereby improving air quality. They also help regulate the urban heat island effect by providing shade and cooling the surroundings. Green spaces play a crucial role in preserving biodiversity and promoting ecological balance within urban areas.

5.?????Promoting active transportation: Well-designed parks withinclude walking and cycling paths, encourages active transportation options. As more people choose to walk or bike instead of relying on cars, it reduces traffic congestion, air pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions, positively impacting the overall urban environment and public health.

6.?????Children's development: Parks provide safe and accessible spaces for children to play, promoting physical activity and socialization. Regular play in parks enhances children's physical and cognitive development and fosters creativity and problem-solving skills.

7.?????Health equity: When in the UK 1 in 8 people have no gardens parks can help bridge the gap in health disparities by providing equal access to green spaces for all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status. Well-distributed parks in urban areas ensure that even disadvantaged communities can enjoy the health benefits of nature.

8.?????Tourism and economic benefits: Attractive and well-maintained parks can boost local tourism and stimulate economic growth. Visitors to urban parks spend money on nearby businesses, such as cafes, restaurants, and shops, creating job opportunities and supporting the local

9.?????Nature: The need for more and better parks in our cities isn’t just about us. Each park has its own ecosystem. They provide natural habitats for many different animals. As cities grow, more and more of these animals find themselves without homes. Parks provide a safe place for many of those displaced by urban sprawl. Building a healthy network of parks in our urban areas is one major way we can protect nature and preserve local ecosystems. This also makes parks great places to teach children about the environment and the importance of preserving natural ecosystems.

10.?Climate Change:?And finally, parks can play a crucial role in adapting to and mitigating the effects climate change by implementing strategies, such as carbon sequestration, mitigating the urban heat island, to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, act as sponges to regulate extreme weather events, building resilience to the impacts of climate change.

Parks are crucial to the healthy development in our city and should be a major part of any city planning going forward, they are vital infrastructure. Parks benefit everyone in the community. They benefit the economy. They play a significant role in biodiversity conservation by providing safe havens for diverse plant and animal species, preserving natural habitats, and supporting critical ecosystem functions. By protecting and promoting biodiversity within parks, we can contribute to the overall health and resilience of both local and global ecosystems.

Just a handful of reasons why we need to stand up for the parks in our communities.

#LoveParksWeek