Urban planning and design can address issues of park and green space access in several ways:
1. Expanding and upgrading existing parks and green spaces: Urban planners and designers can work to expand and improve parks and green spaces, making them more accessible to people in all parts of the city. This can include adding new facilities such as playgrounds, restrooms, and picnic areas, as well as improving access roads and trails.
2. Identifying and addressing underserved areas: Urban planners can use data and mapped analysis to identify areas of the city that are underserved when it comes to parks and green space access. They can then work to establish new parks and green spaces in these areas or redesign existing spaces to make them more accessible and attractive to residents.
3. Emphasizing equitable access: Urban planners and designers need to consider equitable access when designing parks and green spaces. This means ensuring that parks are located in areas that are accessible to all residents, regardless of their socioeconomic status, race, or ethnicity.
4. Introducing collective green infrastructure: Urban planners can design public spaces like streets, sidewalks, and parking lots to include green infrastructure, like rain gardens, green roofs, and street trees, which can provide green space where there is a lack of parks or other green spaces.
5. Promoting active transportation: Urban planners can design streets and transportation networks that prioritize active transportation, such as walking, biking, and public transit, which are often used to get to parks and green spaces.
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