Building Communities
Parks and nature play a vital role in the development of strong, cohesive communities. Check here for articles and research on the many ways contact with nature can help to build strong social and cultural connections around the world.
Building Communities Articles
The High Line: Turning wasteland into parkland
The reclamation of disused industrial land has added a welcome green space to the heart of New York.
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Environmental volunteering
Australian academic Matt Ebden researches the benefits of connecting communities with nature.
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Gil Penalosa - Creating 8-80 Cities
In this Tedx talk, 8-80 Cities Executive Director Gil Penalosa urges us to move from thinking about better cities - to creating them.
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Marco Castro Cosio — Life in Transit
New York has always been known as a colourful city. Now, thanks to Marco Antonio Castro Cosio and his Bus Roots project, the city's streets just got a little bit greener.
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Blue Sky Green Space
GreenLINK has released a report about the importance of retaining good quality parks and green spaces, and the contribution they make to improving people’s lives.
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Building Communities Research
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Building sustainability principles into urban community landscapes
By Sheryn PitmanUrban landscapes are environments where we can make an impact on resource use and ecological sustainability.
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Creating a Community in the Park – The Evolution of the National Park Idea
By Tia Lombardi and Michael BolandThis paper illustrates the changing relationship of people to place and the evolution of the national park idea.
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Social Interactions in Chinese Parks: A Walk in Lu Xun Park
By Gill Lawson and Binyi LiuWhat can we learn from Chinese parks and Chinese people? This paper finds that the most successful spaces for social interaction and inclusiveness are not just coded for ‘doing’ activities, but also for ‘showing’ those activities.
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Transforming A Nineteenth-Century Reservoir Into An Urban Park
By C J ZahradnikThis paper outlines the process and the lessons learned in modernising a city’s water system and building an urban oasis for a healthier community.
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