Corona Heights Park, San Francisco - Photo:William Poole
Over on City Parks Blog, Ben Welle of TPL’s Center for City Park Excellence is highlighting the role of city parks in addressing climate change. Of the several ways conservation can help slow climate change, the creation of city parks is perhaps the least intuitive. But it makes all kinds of sense once you understand that residents of compact cities produce fewer greenhouse gasses per capita than those living in outlying areas, and that close-to-home parks and greenways are essential in creating the kinds of cities where people really want to live.
Several studies have shown that living in more compact settings can reduce emissions from transportation, with one indicating that vehicle miles traveled could be reduced per capita by up to 40 percent through better urban design. Researchers have also found that if 60 percent of new development were compact rather than sprawling, the reduction in U.S. carbon production would be around 10 percent.
Assuming this smarter growth pattern, there will be more apartments and townhouses and fewer, smaller private yards. The desire for more trees in the public realm will rise. Residents of yardless dwellings will be anxious to have green spaces and public places to relax, recreate and socialize outdoors. Transit facilities and use will increase, and pedestrian and bikers will want safe routes. For these and many other reasons there will be much more pressure for park systems that are beautiful, well-managed, nearby and accessible.
Tags: carbon, Center for City Park Excellence, City Parks, climate
