In 1634, the first public park in the United States was created for things like livestock grazing, training soldiers, public punishments and even executions, showcasing some early uses of urban green space. Today, Boston Common is home to softball fields, swan boats and public gardens. Obviously, our ideas about parks have changed and so has our understanding of their benefits. Green space provides abundant advantages to urbanites, from decreasing stress and pollution to increasing physical activity. They also combat the rising urban temperatures, reduce flooding and provide space for plants and animals.

Urban green space has increased globally since 2000, and the way we manage and design it has changed a lot. Here are a few ways green space sprouted and flowered over the last two decades.

Urban Green Spaces Are Public Climate Refuges

Heat-absorbing pavement and buildings and heat-generating cars and industries can make cities up to 7 degrees Fahrenheit hotter than surrounding areas. Called the urban heat island effect, the phenomenon can exacerbate heat waves and increase the risk of illness and even death, demonstrating the vital importance of urban green space.

Trees, vegetation and bodies of water are a natural antidote to sizzling cities by providing shade and moisture. Urban forests can be up to 3 degrees Fahrenheit cooler on average than areas without greenery, and parks and gardens are shown to have a cooling effect over three-quarters of a mile away. Urban green spaces also play a critical role in helping absorb floodwater from extreme rainfall events, which have become more frequent and severe under climate change.

Cities are wising up to these benefits, transforming green spaces into climate refuges that shield residents, infrastructure and ecosystems from extreme weather. A 2022 survey of the 100 most populous U.S. cities found that 85 percent of them are adapting parks and recreation facilities for climate change. This includes improving park surfaces to reduce flooding and runoff, while adding water-retention basins and small rain gardens that temporarily hold and soak up rainwater.

Cities are also planting trees to absorb carbon and managing woodlands to mitigate the risk of wildfires in urban green space. In coastal areas, communities like St. Petersburg, Florida, are restoring wetlands, installing oyster reefs and planting native shoreline grasses to combaterosion, reduce storm surges and improve water quality.

Read the full article about urban green space by Ruscena Wiederholt at TriplePundit.