Many of us in recent years in towns and cities across the world have experienced the hottest ‘insert season’ in recorded history.
Issues of urban heat have severe consequences, including on multiple dimensions of human health
Every now and then, I see some variation of the ‘Green cities – but for whom?’ question
It’s essential to ask this question, to confront and mitigate urban planning and development that prioritizes the existence and access to amenities like parks and water features for so-called ‘privileged’ communities.
All communities deserve access to basic features like neighborhood parks, which, like walkability, I consider a foundational building block for healthy, vibrant, and multigenerational urbanism and have advocated as such since the inception of Pedestrian Space.
I’m really grateful to have lived in multiple communities where I observed and directly experienced what prioritizing that access looks like
Local, well-maintained neighbourhood parks are a public good and are often a lifeline for physical, emotional, and mental health, as well as social connectivity, especially for older residents and those with young children.
I recorded this clip below in a neighborhood in Warsaw in May 2025. To an unconcerned passerby, it might just look like an inconsequential little slice of green between buildings. And it basically is.
Video Clip Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/
But upon closer look (and I wanted to maintain their privacy so didn’t zoom in or record too close) there’s a bench and you could see multiple older (likely retired) individuals~ no doubt also likely residents of the adjacent buildings~ relaxing on the bench, milling around in the shade and socializing. This little slice of green is quite obviously a cool refuge on warmer days and also a space for social connecting.
Of course, it’s not just enough with one slice of green space- it’s about the network of such spaces across a town or city, ensuring that people across different neighborhoods have walkable access to such areas. It’s about enjoyment and nature, but also, in light of the dangers of urban heat, also very connected to public health.
-Annika
