Linear Parks; a Linear Path to Greener Cities
As the world becomes increasingly urban, we find ourselves at the peril of some global crises. But there is hope. Many of today’s issues can be alleviated through green infrastructure. Specifically, linear parks serve as ecological sanctuaries amongst our polluted, health sapping urban jungles.
Why Linear Parks?
I am by no means suggesting that linear parks are the most important tools in the green infrastructure toolbox. However, I believe they have immense potential, and could be utilised more effectively in our goal of greener cities.
Let’s start with the obvious. They are linear. Though this observation seems quite self-explanatory, it is an asset worth discussing. The linearity of these spaces means they are more suited to our often-modular cities. Practically speaking, a thin line of green infrastructure that penetrates the centre of a city allows more people from more locations to reap its benefits (see figure 1). Ultimately, they could promote the benefits of the green spaces more effectively than a square or rectangular park. This is by improving the neighbourhood’s environment and encouraging more physical and recreational activities (Brown et al., 2014; Marcus and Francis, 1997).
Figure 1 – Visual representation of a linear park penetrating the centre of a city.
Let’s Talk About Climate Change
In answer to our question, ‘Why Linear Parks?’, we talked about their ability to promote both physical and mental health, and their capacity to bolster a community. However, it could be argued that their most important quality is their ability to mitigate climate change. So, what do we mean by this?
Firstly, let’s consider what comprises a linear park, or any park for that matter. Soft landscaping such as green spaces form the most part. Adding to this, you have rain gardens, street trees, green roofs, and vertical gardens (see figure 2). Among some other features, these create a wide variety of habitats for native species to thrive. Here, biophilic design is at work. Complex, contiguous green spaces, connected by green corridors, create a healthy environment for people and nature to coexist. Ultimately, these green networks cool urban heat islands and minimise flooding, whilst providing clean water and air for both human and native species (Schottland, 2019).
Figure 2 – Green infrastructure types.
The High Line
The ‘the High Line’ in New York, USA is one of the best-known examples of a linear park (see figure 3). This is an elevated freight rail line transformed into a public park on Manhattan’s West Side (New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, 2022). As a result, New Yorkers now have increased opportunities to access high quality green space in one of the most urban places on earth.
Figure 3 – The High Line, New York, USA.
The bottom line is this. Linear parks are by no means the only solution to greening cities. However, they have the potential to play a pivotal role in our global agenda to reduce climate change, improve mental health, and promote healthy, active lifestyles. To put it simply, our cities need to become greener. And linear parks might just contribute to a more linear pathway to achieving this goal.
List of Figures
Figure 1 – Visual representation of a linear park penetrating the centre of a city.
Figure 2 – Green infrastructure types.
Figure 3 – The High Line, New York, USA. From: NPR, 2011.
References
Brown, G., Weber, D. and De Bie, K., 2014. Assessing the value of public lands using public participation GIS (PPGIS) and social landscape metrics. Applied geography, 53, pp.77-89.
Marcus, C.C., & Francis, C. (1997). People Places: Design Guidelines for Urban Open Space.
New York City Department of Parks & Recreation (2022) The High Line. Available at: https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/the-high-line (Accessed: 25th April 2022).
Schottland, T. (2019) Parks as a Solution to Climate Change. Parks and Recreation, April. Available at: https://www.nrpa.org/parks-recreation-magazine/2019/april/parks-as-a-solution-to-climate-change/ (Accessed: 25th April 2022).
Urban parks can provide local residents with more convenient facilities and opportunities for recreation, thereby reducing the living pressure of residents and promoting their physical and mental health. Some studies have also explored the role of urban open space on the revitalization of local communities, among which linear parks can penetrate more urban fabrics and provide more green spaces due to their long and narrow shapes, thus becoming urban open spaces with strong potential. space. Many scholars believe that due to the presence of linear parks, both land and housing prices in the surrounding neighborhoods have increased.
Case Study: Gyeongui Line Forest Park
Gyeongui Line Forest Park in Seoul is a linear park with a total length of 6.3 kilometers. It was originally a railway built in 1996 to connect Seoul with Sinuiju (the northern border of North Korea). But until 2000, the railway was underutilized, so the local government converted the railway into a city park in three stages. The opening of the park has attracted many tourists and hastened the regeneration of the local community.
Urban parks have always been an important part of cities, especially linear parks converted from facilities built on the foundations of the industrial age. Compared with traditional parks, people can get more green space from linear parks. At the same time, we should also pay attention to the phenomenon of “green gentrification” produced by urban parks and its negative impact on society.
References:
– Park, J. , & Kim, J. . (2019). Economic impacts of a linear urban park on local businesses: the case of gyeongui line forest park in seoul. Landscape and Urban Planning, 181(8): 139-147. DOI:10.1016/j.landurbplan.2018.10.001