The Benefits of Urban Parks

Parks are increasingly being touted as a necessary component of sound
urban planning and policy. The advantages of green space are numerous,
but can be generalized into the following categories:

Recreational Benefits
Social Benefits
Crime Reduction Benefits
Environmental Benefits
Educational Benefits
Health Benefits
Economic Benefits

Click here for a detailed description of all these benefits

These benefits can be considered individually, but to truly understand the impact of parks on community life, they should be looked at holistically. Each type of benefit is intricately intertwined with all of the others, and this synergistic effect makes a strong case for urban open space.

A primary example of this synergism is the emerging role of parks in urban revitalization and community development efforts. As a Trust for Public Land report aptly states, "American cities large and small are creating parks as focal points for economic development and neighborhood renewal." Parks can quickly improve the quality of life in an area due to the unique and significant combination of benefits they offer. In some cases, the creation or renovation of a neighborhood park can serve as the starting point for other community development measures; the tangible success of a physical improvement in the neighborhood, as well as the establishment of a gathering place for the community can bolster the enthusiasm and cooperative spirit needed to realize other achievements. In this vein, parks are being dubbed 'catalysts' for community revival.

Trust for Public Land Report:
http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cdl.cfm?content_item_id=1145&folder_id=727