20 Why urban parks matter in creating healthy <strong>and</strong> liveable cities – Part 1 Cities are growing rapidly. Increasing urban populations are a massive challenge but present a great opportunity. How do urban parks help in creating healthy <strong>and</strong> liveable cities? Case studies from Australia, New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, United States, Mexico, Singapore <strong>and</strong> Switzerl<strong>and</strong> were examined <strong>and</strong> an expert panel discussed how changes <strong>to</strong> public policy could lay <strong>the</strong> groundwork for creating better parks <strong>and</strong> more liveable cities in <strong>the</strong> future. Summary of session <strong>and</strong> discussion Urban parks <strong>and</strong> open spaces are important for <strong>the</strong> health <strong>and</strong> well-being of people. All neighbourhoods should have an urban park. There needs <strong>to</strong> be a focus on connecting children with nature, as <strong>the</strong>y can help educate parents <strong>and</strong> those around <strong>the</strong>m about <strong>the</strong> environment, <strong>the</strong> benefits of parks, <strong>and</strong> healthy lifestyles in urban settings. By 2050, 70 per cent of people will be living in urban environments. Many cities do not currently focus enough on wild nature <strong>and</strong> do not fully underst<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> city’s role in <strong>the</strong> health of <strong>the</strong> natural l<strong>and</strong>scape <strong>and</strong> seascape of which it is a part. In New Zeal<strong>and</strong>, Biophilic Cities are cities that contain abundant nature; <strong>the</strong>y are cities that care about, seek <strong>to</strong> protect, res<strong>to</strong>re <strong>and</strong> grow nature, <strong>and</strong> strive <strong>to</strong> foster deep connections <strong>and</strong> daily contact with <strong>the</strong> natural world. The WILD Cities Project in <strong>the</strong> United States prioritises <strong>the</strong> benefits <strong>to</strong> urban dwellers of wild nature’s irreplaceable, life supporting services – such as fresh air, clean water, biodiversity, <strong>and</strong> resilience <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> effects of climate change. The strategy involves facilitating a growing network of city leaders, opinion-makers, <strong>and</strong> partners from <strong>the</strong> arts, private sec<strong>to</strong>r, <strong>and</strong> civil society who are developing state-of-<strong>the</strong>-art criteria <strong>and</strong> best practice guidelines for <strong>the</strong> awareness <strong>and</strong> protection of wild nature in urban areas worldwide. Session manager Gil Penalosa, 8-80 Cities, Canada Session contribu<strong>to</strong>rs – Emily Munroe, 8-80 Cities, Canada – Tobias Volbert, Playscape Creations, Australia - Inclusive design beyond accessibility <strong>to</strong> improving health <strong>and</strong> well-being – Amber Bill, Welling<strong>to</strong>n City Council, New Zeal<strong>and</strong> - Biophilic Cities – Ms Lee Yi Ling Manager, 3P Networks Regional Health & Community Outreach Division Health Promotion Board of Singapore – The role of parks in health – Vance Martin, The WILD Foundation, USA - WILD cities: Generating a new concept of urbanism <strong>to</strong> promote <strong>the</strong> conservation <strong>and</strong> res<strong>to</strong>ration of nature in urban areas worldwide – Frances Horsley, <strong>Parks</strong> Vic<strong>to</strong>ria, Australia - Nature based parks: breathing life in<strong>to</strong> urban spaces 52
Nature is not optional, it is absolutely essential <strong>to</strong> living a happy, healthy <strong>and</strong> meaningful life. Amber Bill, Welling<strong>to</strong>n City Council, New Zeal<strong>and</strong> 53
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