3 ms·

They (ought to) unpave the parking lot and put up a paradise! More green spaces are good for cities.

bluGill 3y ago
Not really. Some parks/green areas are good. However it is easy to put in more than are needed and make the city less dense which is not good for the city or your ability to do some of the things that make a city great.
- davidw 3y ago
  Figuring out where parks go is the kind of things urban planners should be doing, rather than obsessing over overspecific zoning rules and parking regulations. Cities are best when they are allowed to gradually adapt, rather than trying to plan everything out 'just so' from the outset and being rigid about changes. But parks are tougher to put in once the land has been used up.
- UtopiaPunk 3y ago
  I mean, sure, there can be healthy debate around what is the best use for a specific piece of land. But surely anything is better than a free parking lot, right?
  - bluGill 3y ago
    No, too many parks is just as bad as too many parking lots, for the same reason: they force the city to sprawl. A few parks are good - and the exact amount is debatable, but the proposal to turn all parking lots into parks will create too many parks. Everyone should have a park close to where they live. A place where kids can play and families can picnic is important to a good family life. A park is a good place for art, but it only needs to be accessible by transit as most people won't make regular visits. Many people enjoy playing volleyball, softball, or other sports, but they tend to want to play different teams so while a city should have this it should be accessible by transit but not close to everyone. There are a few variations on the above theme that I didn't mention. Once those uses are covered a city should not build more parks, instead the city needs more of the other things that make a city: places to live, work, shop, and be entertained.
- specialist 3y ago
  Which cities have too many parks?
quesera 3y ago
I'm reading this thread for only one purpose, which is to find the Joni Mitchell reference. Thank you.

Not really. Some parks/green areas are good. However it is easy to put in more than are needed and make the city less dense which is not good for the city or your ability to do some of the things that make a city great.

davidw 3y ago
Figuring out where parks go is the kind of things urban planners should be doing, rather than obsessing over overspecific zoning rules and parking regulations. Cities are best when they are allowed to gradually adapt, rather than trying to plan everything out 'just so' from the outset and being rigid about changes. But parks are tougher to put in once the land has been used up.
UtopiaPunk 3y ago
I mean, sure, there can be healthy debate around what is the best use for a specific piece of land. But surely anything is better than a free parking lot, right?
- bluGill 3y ago
  No, too many parks is just as bad as too many parking lots, for the same reason: they force the city to sprawl. A few parks are good - and the exact amount is debatable, but the proposal to turn all parking lots into parks will create too many parks. Everyone should have a park close to where they live. A place where kids can play and families can picnic is important to a good family life. A park is a good place for art, but it only needs to be accessible by transit as most people won't make regular visits. Many people enjoy playing volleyball, softball, or other sports, but they tend to want to play different teams so while a city should have this it should be accessible by transit but not close to everyone. There are a few variations on the above theme that I didn't mention. Once those uses are covered a city should not build more parks, instead the city needs more of the other things that make a city: places to live, work, shop, and be entertained.
specialist 3y ago
Which cities have too many parks?

quesera 3y ago

I'm reading this thread for only one purpose, which is to find the Joni Mitchell reference. Thank you.