Why parks are important

Parks can have hugely positive environmental effects. In a localised context, parks provide a more natural middle ground between urban and natural environments, providing natural habitat for naturally occurring flora and fauna.

Parks often include trees and vegetation, which has a positive impact on the overall air quality of the area. Trees remove pollutants, provide oxygen, and look great! Groundwater can also be displaced because of urbanised suburbs and city centres. Parks provide an opportunity for town planners to better manage groundwater and prevent flooding.

The importance of parks in terms of their potential health, economic and environmental benefits is seemingly overlooked. As town planners, green space provides a great opportunity to improve quality of life within any given cityscape. Need help elevating your park to the next level? At Urban Effects, we are experts in urban and park furniture.

We can help you to meet the needs of your community green space! Contact us today. Unpaved ground absorbs water. Trees and grass are a far more efficient—and less expensive—method of managing storm water than sewers and drainage ditches made of concrete. With extreme weather patterns on the rise, an increase in green space could save the a lot of money.

In Garland, Texas they took an active approach to encouraging private property owners to plant trees on their land. Their tree coverage reduces storm water runoff by 19 million cubic feet during a storm. The abundance of flat, dark surfaces made up of asphalt and concrete in cities creates what is known as the urban heat island effect. This makes urban neighbourhoods noticeably warmer than other nearby areas, and is a major factor in smog creation.

Luckily, even a small increase in the number of trees in the neighbourhood can reduce this effect. It can be virtually eliminated from cities through a combination of increased park space and green roofs.

Parks provide space for neighbourhood residents to interact with each other and meet new people. This allows people to develop a sense of community. Increasing the number of parks and recreational facilities in a neighbourhood also reduces crime rates, especially among youth. By giving young people a safe place to interact with one another they keep them off the streets and out of trouble. Similarly, when parks are used by many people, there are more eyes on the street, creating a safer environment for everyone.

Trees remove a wide variety of pollutants from the air. Air pollution can increase risk of certain cancers and have adverse effects on children, the elderly and anyone with underlying respiratory problems. It also reduces the distance you can see on a summer day and increases the mortality rate in highly polluted cities.

Even a small increase in the number of city parks or their size can make a big difference when it comes to air pollution. In Atlanta, a U.

After all, physical health and strong relationships are important to maintaining mental well being. Your rating. Homebuyers prefer homes close to parks, open space, and greenery.

Parks attract tourists, filling hotel rooms and bringing customers to local stores and restaurants. As community signature pieces, parks offer a marketing tool for cities to attract businesses and conventions. Parks can be used to hold festivals, concerts and athletics events, bringing additional boosts to the local economy.