We have an absurd view of parks in Halifax. With some few exceptions, vending is frowned upon, and alcohol is flat out illegal. Moreover, we paint all parks with the same expectation: they are green wildernesses first, and people fit in only so far as the green wilderness is maintained. This would be a much better city if we changed the way we interact with our urban green spaces, and brought people and green together.
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Mailbag January 17, 2013
These are the letters and comments from the print edition
This article appears in Jan 10-16, 2013.
HRM as a whole has an amazing network of green spaces and parks that are viewed and managed the same as buildings in the downtown. We are restricted by too much old school thinking: build more of the same according to a set of pre-defined rules, and try not to piss off as many people as possible in the final design. Where every budgetary dollar is being fought over, there are huge opportunities for private and corporate partnerships being missed.
Unfortunately the end result is a lot of our new parks end up like our old parks.
The public are uninformed.
Recreation Nova Scotia thanks The Coast for highlighting the importance of Parks (January 10, 2013). Recreation Nova Scotia is a provincial not-for profit organization with over 1000 members which advocates for quality recreation opportunities and spaces such as parks. Outdoor spaces are important settings for recreation opportunities for communities and people of all ages in that they are easy and free to use. In some instances, parks help to preserve natural habitats and landscapes.
Here are 7 reasons why public parks are vital for community well-being:
1) Health: parks provide Nova Scotians the opportunity to be physically active, reduce stress and enhance a sense of wellness
2) Economic: parks make communities livable and desirable for businesses and homeowners
3) Sustainable development: parks provide vital green space and reduce the effects of sprawl
4) Public good: parks preserve public lands for the benefit and use of all
5) Environment: parks provide critical wildlife habitat
6) Social: parks facilitate social interactions which maintain community cohesion and pride
7) Individual: parks provide enjoyable structured and unstructured activities for all ages
In sum, Recreation Nova Scotia believes Parks are vital for livable communities. We encourage innovative and sustainable parks-use and management which balance social, economic and environmental values. We also believe additional lands should be set aside as parks for future Nova Scotians. There was never a community criticised for having too much outdoor open-space; we know the opposite to be true.