The Importance of Parks in Our Cities
By Jake Preston
Parks are the lungs of our cities, providing a place to breathe and think, amidst the concrete chaos. Yet, their value goes far beyond just a space to relax—they are vital to our physical and mental health, social connections, and environmental sustainability. To understand their significance today, we can look back to the creation of the first publicly funded park, Birkenhead Park, on the outskirts of Liverpool.
The Creation of Public Parks
Birkenhead Park, established in 1847, marked a pivotal moment in urban planning. Unlike previous parks, which were either private estates or fee-charging venues like Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens, only for the rich and smartly dressed. Birkenhead Park was designed for everyone. A Private Act of Parliament allowed the Birkenhead Local Authority for the first time to use public funds to create a park accessible to everyone, regardless of class or wealth. The park was designed by Joseph Paxton, who envisioned it as a place where visitors could experience the tranquillity of the countryside within an urban environment. His design included various architectural elements that allowed people to imagine they were travelling through the sights of Western Europe. A “Grand Tour” for the people who couldn’t afford one.
This innovative idea caught the attention of Frederick Law Olmsted, an American landscape architect who visited Birkenhead Park in 1850. He was struck by how “the poorest British peasant is as free to enjoy it in all its parts as the British queen.” Inspired by what he saw, Olmsted’s guiding principle became ‘Parks for all people‘. He took this philosophy back across the pond, where he designed Central Park in New York City and many other parks across America.
Our Work in this Playing Field
At Neighbourly Lab, we constantly encounter the importance of parks in our work. Whenever we ask residents about the most significant places in their communities, parks are frequently mentioned. Our work for the Royal Borough of Kingston, which explores how to make green spaces and parks more accessible to everyone, has further emphasised their value. This work has revealed how parks serve as essential spaces for various aspects of life, from physical health to social interaction, mental well-being, and environmental sustainability. The insights we’ve gained reinforce the need to preserve and enhance these vital urban sanctuaries.
Parks as Spaces for Fitness
One of the most immediate benefits of parks is their role in promoting physical fitness. Parks encourage people to stay active, whether through walking, running, or having a kick about. Unlike indoor gyms, park facilities are free, ensuring that no one is excluded from maintaining their health. An inspiring example of this is the work by Steel Warriors, an anti-knife crime charity that melts down knives taken off the streets and recycles the steel into outdoor gyms. These gyms not only promote fitness but also transform the lives of young people affected by crime and social exclusion, offering them a positive outlet and fostering stronger communities.
Parks as a Place to Think and Breathe
Parks are also essential for mental health, providing a natural environment that promotes relaxation, mindfulness, and has been shown to help with anxiety and depression. At Neighbourly Lab, our work with the Defence Garden Scheme has highlighted the profound impact that nature-based therapy can have on individuals’ well-being. This programme, which we’ve been evaluating, demonstrates the power of the outdoors as a space for managing stress, anxiety, and depression. This is why ensuring that the mental health benefits of parks and green spaces are recognised and utilised to their full potential is crucial. Cities can often be gruelling places to live, meaning at points we all need a little break and rest bite from the constant grind.
Social Hubs in the Heart of the City
Parks are often the social hubs of cities, providing a space where people can meet, socialise, and build connections. Whether it’s through festivals, picnics, fairs, or a simple leisurely stroll, parks are where communities come together. Research from the University of Sheffield highlights the importance of park infrastructure, such as toilets and cafes, in making these spaces accessible to everyone. Without such facilities, many older people, parents with young children, or those with disabilities might feel excluded. Parks need to be maintained and equipped to ensure they continue to serve as inclusive spaces for people to meet and socialise.
Environmental Benefits: Parks as Urban Green Lungs
In addition to their social and physical benefits, parks play a crucial role in environmental sustainability. Urban areas often suffer from the “urban heat island” effect, where cities are significantly warmer than surrounding rural areas due to human activity and infrastructure. This increased temperature leads to higher energy consumption, which in turn intensifies air pollution. Parks and green spaces help combat this by absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing temperatures, and improving air quality.
Parks are also vital in balancing the carbon footprint of our cities. The plants and trees in parks absorb carbon dioxide, a leading greenhouse gas, and provide a cooling effect that mitigates the urban heat island effect. This makes parks and green spaces an essential component of urban sustainability.
The Legacy of Birkenhead Park and the Future of Urban Green Spaces
The influence of Birkenhead Park extends far beyond its borders. As Doug Blonsky, President and CEO of Central Park in New York, noted during a visit to Birkenhead Park, “without Birkenhead Park, there would be no Central Park, and without Central Park, there would be no New York City.” This is a powerful reminder of the impact that well-designed public parks can have, making cities what they are.
As urban areas continue to grow, the need for green spaces becomes even more critical. Parks provide a space for physical activity, social interaction, mental health support, and environmental balance, all of which are essential for healthy, thriving cities. It’s hugely important that we continue to protect and invest in our parks, ensuring that they remain accessible and beneficial to all, while also creating new green spaces as new housing developments inevitably occur.
In a world where urban areas are becoming increasingly crowded and fast-paced, parks offer a much-needed escape from bustling city life. They are a testament to the foresight of urban planners like Joseph Paxton, whose vision for Birkenhead Park continues to shape the way we think about public spaces today. As we look to the future, it’s clear that parks will continue to play a vital role in the health and happiness of city dwellers.