Giving Compass' Take:

• As urban populations grow, more cities are trying to create more space for urban parks and encourage nature exploration among young people. 

• Research shows playing in nature has an impact on how children learn. What can you do to help spur more green space projects in urban areas?

• Read more about why city planners should incorporate green space. 

According to the United Nations, over half of the world’s population now lives in urban areas, and by 2030 this number will swell to 5 billion people. With so many children and families living in cities, urban parks and nature centers are more important than ever. What exactly is an urban park or nature center? Although various definitions exist, we generally refer to any large natural spaces that occur in or nearby major metropolitan areas as falling into this category.

More and more cities are expanding their efforts to provide areas for parks and nature-based exploration. The city of Austin, Texas, for example, has pursued aggressive plans over the past decade to connect more area children with the outdoors.

The reason? Research has shown that children who learn and play in nature are happier, healthier, and perform better in school.

The concrete jungles of modern cities is known to cause increased stress, and some researchers even ponder whether it leads to a lack of appreciation for environmental causes — thus, they claim, not only might urban parks and nature centers lead to less stress, but also to an increased awareness of and activism for environmental issues.

For these and many other reasons, urban parks and nature centers are becoming more important and more prominent.

Read the full article about cities creating more space for parks and nature exploration by Chris Brusatte at Children & Nature Network.