When it comes to building cities, how to get the most out of a relatively small amount of space is a constant challenge. Developers and urban planners are tasked with striking a balance between the needs of businesses, homeowners, and the city at large. But too much development can create problems. Urban planners have long known that successful cities provide residents and visitors not just with shops, homes, and services, but also with ample open space, now known as “green space.” Gardens, parks, and other lush, green attractions make humans happier, especially amidst the constant bustle of city-life. They provide refuge from rampant development and industry, and create space for leisure and relaxation. Green spaces also serve to remind urbanites about the importance of environmental preservation. If we lived in a world without grass, tress, flowers, and open, undeveloped space, our daily lives would be much bleaker. The aesthetic beauty of a green space—in addition to the psychological, emotional, and physical benefits it provides—make cities more livable, enjoyable, and cherished by their residents.
A park in Malmö, Sweden. Photo Maria Eklind.
How Green Spaces Make Better Cities
Parks, gardens, walking/biking trails, and other green spaces provide a number of psychological benefits. Access to green space has been credited with reducing stress levels/depression and improving general health among city populaces. People who regularly utilize green space exercise more frequently than the average adult, which, in turn, can improve both their physical and mental health. Exercising outside is thought to be a therapeutic and calming activity, and it can especially benefit people who work sedentary jobs and spend most of their days inside at a desk. Desk jobs are increasingly becoming the norm for most white-collar Americans. If this trend continues, green spaces are going to become more essential in the daily lives of urbanites, who will need to seek exercise outside of work during their leisure time. Green spaces create room for both leisure and exercise, and help normalize exercise as a leisure activity.
Recently, green spaces have gained popularity as environmental conservancy sites. Many cities are using their green spaces to educate the public on the importance of environmental conservation and activism. Green spaces can sometimes double as ecological reserves, in which an ecosystem is shielded from development or certain species of plants/animal are protected from poaching. To city planners, building green spaces into cities highlights the importance of sustainable development. Cities can grow and transform without necessarily undercutting the natural environment; in fact, green spaces show that cities and ecosystems can coexist alongside one another. Keeping this in mind is vital to the future of urban development.
The Future of Sustainable Cities
In the modern world, “sustainability” is on the mind of most urbanites. Urban planners and residents alike are wondering how they can live their life to the fullest without depleting the planet’s finite resources past the point of repair. Thus, urban planners are looking towards green spaces and sustainable city building as the key to an ethical future. Increasingly, city residents want green spaces to be better integrated into the city grid, allowing more space for eco-friendly transit options, like biking and walking. Cities must now be “walkable” and “breathable.” Developers are planting more trees alongside roads and sidewalks to counter the deleterious effects of smog, and bike shares are popping up everywhere (even here in Roanoke!) Additionally, some city planners are looking for ways to incorporate farming into urban life, now that more and more families are expressing concerns about where their food is coming from. People want food that is local, clean, and ethical, but truly “local eats” can be hard to come by in densely populated cities. To correct this, many grocery stores and restaurants are now adding rooftop gardens to their design plans, and green space developers are considering ways to allot open space for food production within urban centers. Once farms become a kind of “green space,” what’s next? Some urban planners have suggested creating green space for solar panels, wind turbines, and other kinds of renewable energy generators. Ultimately, as the earth’s population continues to grow, all these innovative solutions and more will be necessary to combat the shift. Thankfully, green spaces are here to stay.
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