Tiny urban parks provide Sydney residents with much-needed green space

In Sydney, tiny urban parks provide local residents with much-needed green space
amidst the hustle and bustle of city life. These tiny inner-city parks are called “pocket
parks” which are both great for the environment and the mental well-being of residents.
The City of Sydney says there are approximately 400 parks of various sizes, from
pocket to parklands, within its urban area.
With dwellings encroaching more and more on nature, it can sometimes be hard for city
residents to find a space where they can relax, have fun, or socialize outdoors. Pocket
parks offer a solution to that issue.
“Essentially the real value of pocket parks is that because they’re small, they can be
distributed across an area of the city to give a public space to much greater proximity
to many more people. So, you know, the activities that they cater to are, in some ways,
very simple. But also very important when it comes to what the public domain is there
for and that’s really socializing,” explains Mike Harris, a University of New South Wales
Landscape Architecture and Urban Design lecturer.
Historically, urban planners didn’t factor in space for such smaller parks but with
locations for bigger green stretches both rare and costly, cities are now turning more
and more to this solution.
However, while pocket parks are important, urban areas still need larger green spaces
like traditional parks.
“Our cities are increasingly getting hotter and these larger tracts of green open spaces,
are the things that are going to take that heat away from our cities. That can’t be done
by just pocket parks,” says University of Sydney Urban and Regional Planning
researcher Jennifer Kent. But like larger parks, pocket parks can have environmental
advantages too.
Research shows that for urban communities to be connected and healthy, cities need to
have at least 30 percent green open spaces.
For local communities, the advantage of pocket parks is that they are easily accessible,
and because they are literally down the street, enjoying them doesn’t necessitate any
planning or a car trip which, incidentally, also helps with limiting the amount of carbon
dioxide released in the atmosphere.
Ultimately, experts agree that having access to a diversity of parks, big or small,
contributes greatly to a happy and healthy society.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
Some advantages of having pocket parks are its accessibility and environmental
benefits. In your opinion, could pocket parks adequately fulfill the need for outdoor
relaxation, fun, and socialization for your city’s residents? Why or why not? Discuss.
Which would you prefer going to: a pocket park or a large park? Why? Discuss.
As dwellings encroach more and more on nature, residents can sometimes find it hard
to look for a space where they can relax, have fun, or socialize outdoors. Do you have
the same problem? Why or why not? Where do you go or what activity do you do to
relax, have fun, or socialize? Why? Discuss.
According to the article, experts agree that having access to a diversity of parks, big or
small, contributes greatly to a happy and healthy society. Do you think you belong to a
happy and healthy society? Why do you think so? What aspect do you think your
community should improve on (ex. providing more parks, organizing social events)?
Discuss.