In urban areas, parks would make a huge difference in the balance of people's lives. So many live in apartments, condos, or high-rise buildings with little to no opportunities to connect with nature. Parks provide recreation and peace of mind. I recently moved to a less-populated area so nature is more accessible, but a place to go and sit or walk outside would be nice.
One would think “Put people first” an easy concept to grasp, but it gets perverted in capitalist societies, doesn’t it? Old cynic that I am, I love parks and trails in and near urban areas and use them almost daily. I’m encouraged by the development plans for the city of Huntsville AL. Check it out at:
I’m so glad you have a great trail system where you are. It does make a big difference.
And I too think the argument for putting people and the environment first would be a no brainer in public parks, but we have very active forces working against that in our government systems. We have to keep working to make them beneficial to everyone.
Natural areas, open space, parks are invaluable, period. You can't put a price on sanity, piece of mind, a place to contemplate. We are too far removed from nature this makes us fear it. Money can't buy what you lose without them. They are a necessity not a luxury. They are as essential as the air we breathe. We need more, not less. You are right absolutely worth the read.
You hit on some big points there. The fact that we separate ourselves from “the environment” and “nature” is a loaded concept. It was a deliberate division that wove its way through philosophy, religion, and science as a way to assert that one could understand, overcome, and control complexities in life. The idea is so pervasive that it’s hard to think of the outdoor world in any other way. Neil Smith was a master at describing this and its implications. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2132043.Uneven_Development
The more we get back to understanding that we’re inextricably connected to the rest of the world, the better off we’ll be. Thanks for reading!
I grew up in Skokie, Il., just north of Chicago & west of Evanston. The park district is phenomenal & the services it provides are amazing. I didn’t realize how lucky we were until we moved.
I sometimes think that if parks departments were allowed a more leading role in government, our communities would be in great shape. Keep looking for those wonderful places and advocate for more. Thanks for reading!
That would be a courageous move forward.
In urban areas, parks would make a huge difference in the balance of people's lives. So many live in apartments, condos, or high-rise buildings with little to no opportunities to connect with nature. Parks provide recreation and peace of mind. I recently moved to a less-populated area so nature is more accessible, but a place to go and sit or walk outside would be nice.
Gentrification by parks
Happens all too often, Sam. Thanks for reading!
One would think “Put people first” an easy concept to grasp, but it gets perverted in capitalist societies, doesn’t it? Old cynic that I am, I love parks and trails in and near urban areas and use them almost daily. I’m encouraged by the development plans for the city of Huntsville AL. Check it out at:
https://www.huntsvilleal.gov/development/building-construction/planning/long-range-planning/greenways/
and see why Huntsville is rapidly becoming one of the fastest growing cities in this country (and consequently, one of the most expensive 🫤).
Thank you for what you do.
I’m so glad you have a great trail system where you are. It does make a big difference.
And I too think the argument for putting people and the environment first would be a no brainer in public parks, but we have very active forces working against that in our government systems. We have to keep working to make them beneficial to everyone.
Thank you for reading!
Natural areas, open space, parks are invaluable, period. You can't put a price on sanity, piece of mind, a place to contemplate. We are too far removed from nature this makes us fear it. Money can't buy what you lose without them. They are a necessity not a luxury. They are as essential as the air we breathe. We need more, not less. You are right absolutely worth the read.
You hit on some big points there. The fact that we separate ourselves from “the environment” and “nature” is a loaded concept. It was a deliberate division that wove its way through philosophy, religion, and science as a way to assert that one could understand, overcome, and control complexities in life. The idea is so pervasive that it’s hard to think of the outdoor world in any other way. Neil Smith was a master at describing this and its implications. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2132043.Uneven_Development
The more we get back to understanding that we’re inextricably connected to the rest of the world, the better off we’ll be. Thanks for reading!
I grew up in Skokie, Il., just north of Chicago & west of Evanston. The park district is phenomenal & the services it provides are amazing. I didn’t realize how lucky we were until we moved.
I sometimes think that if parks departments were allowed a more leading role in government, our communities would be in great shape. Keep looking for those wonderful places and advocate for more. Thanks for reading!
Yes! It’s absolutely possible to have a symbiotic balance between green spaces and their communities. Thanks for reading!