As I made it to France and England on my trip, I noticed that parks and other areas of green space have a more prominent role throughout the cities. I think this is a result of more development in the nineteenth century. Cities started getting bigger and were seen as unhealthy places to be when the industrial revolution started. Parks were developed as a response at the edges of cities. What we think of when we think of city parks started as a designed “rural” area that gave people a break from the built urban environment.
Today, they still perform this function. Although now, they are in the center of urban areas instead of at the edges. Throughout all the walking that I did, it was always nice to come to a park. I was always assured that there would be somewhere to sit and rest. In so many ways it gave a break away from the density and pace of the rest of the urban area.
There is a duality to parks. They are a destination, but within the destination they are made up of many paths and smaller places and destinations. They are planned, but need to be flexible. They are meant to bring nature to the city, but are “tamed” areas.
In Paris, after so much walking, I needed a place to wait until it was time to start another tour. As I wandered through the Tuileries garden, I found a variety of places to sit. I watched an elementary age group of kids and teacher playing a game. There were tourists and locals. But everyone was taking a minute to have a break from the busy pace of the rest of the city.
In London, I wandered into Kensington Park. It was rainy and cool, but there were people walking home from school, feeding ducks and geese, and sitting and visiting with coffee. The weather also didn’t stop others from running, biking or soccer practices. In dense areas, having a place where people can go to get outside – alone or in a group – is important to support culture and the mental and physical well-being of the citizens.
Great urban areas are about balance. Having parks to balance out the built environment and density. And the parks need a balance as well – destination and pathways; events and quiet, planning but flexibility. The pairing of planned green space with a city creates a vibrant and healthy community. Why do you love a city park? Is there one in your town that you love to visit?