Throughout our nation, the bonds of familiarity, belief and solidarity that maintain a robust society are badly frayed. Among the best instruments we have now to strengthen these bonds is parks and inexperienced area.
The social superpowers of parks play out in a number of methods.
Social isolation: Loneliness has risen to unprecedented levels. People have many fewer close friends, and we spend far less time with associates, in comparison with a era in the past. We’re more and more socially remoted.
Parks are a part of the answer. They’re basic “third spaces” — locations for folks to meet, mingle, relax, and recreate collectively. Furthermore, nature-rich settings deliver out “prosocial behavior” — serving to, sharing and caring for others — which nurtures human connections. Parks battle loneliness.
Segregation and polarization: People reside extremely segregated lives. We’re segregated by social class — in our neighborhoods, faculties, workplaces and even on Facebook. We’re segregated by race; regardless of many years of rising variety, most People still live in racially segregated neighborhoods. We’re polarized by politics. A 2016 survey discovered that 60% of Democrats and 63% of Republicans would balk at their baby’s marrying a member of the opposite political social gathering — up from 33% and 25% in 1958. (For higher or worse, our youngsters comply; only 4% of marriages in 2020 had been between a Democrat and a Republican.) No shock that “polarization and extremism” rank amongst People’ top concerns. Amicable encounters between members of divergent teams are distressingly uncommon.
Parks are a part of the answer. They’re locations the place folks of various backgrounds can encounter each other, get acquainted, construct belief and scale back prejudice. This will occur informally — say, youngsters operating backwards and forwards between picnic tables and cultures — or by way of organized actions akin to crew sports activities. Parks overcome limitations.
Belief in establishments: People’ religion in bedrock establishments is within the basement. Simply 27% of U.S. adults say our political system is working extraordinarily, very or considerably properly. Solely two establishments — small enterprise and the army — command a “nice deal” or “rather a lot” of confidence from a majority of People. Confidence in different establishments is much decrease — 34% for the medical system, 32% for organized faith, 26% for public faculties, 18% for newspapers, 14% for large enterprise. (Congress charges a pathetic 8%.) We’re struggling a disaster of confidence in establishments.
Parks are a part of the answer. They assist construct belief in public establishments. Individuals who reside close to parks, relative to individuals who don’t, are substantially more likely to be glad with their native authorities, in response to The Meeting civic engagement survey — not simply the parks division, but in addition the mayor and even the police (particularly when parks are well-maintained and simply accessible). Parks construct belief.
Civic engagement: This has additionally been falling nationally. Charges of volunteering, organizational membership and charitable giving have plummeted. In a 2023 national survey of nonprofit CEOs, 47% reported that recruiting sufficient volunteers was an enormous drawback for his or her group — up from 29% in 2003. People have more and more withdrawn from civic life.
Parks are a part of the answer. They propel civic life, not solely as alternatives for park stewardship and volunteering, however as settings for conferences, rallies, and different political and civic gatherings. Parks interact folks.
In fact, parks and inexperienced area aren’t a panacea. Alone, they will’t mend our social cloth. However proof reveals that they will make substantial contributions — in methods which might be reasonably priced, sensible and acceptable throughout the political spectrum.
Sadly, parkland is simply too scarce, and unequally distributed. In accordance with research by Trust for Public Land, roughly 100 million People, together with 28 million youngsters, lack entry to a park inside a 10-minute stroll of dwelling — with communities of colour and low-income communities being the least well-served.
We want extra parks, particularly in park-deprived neighborhoods. Meaning supporting bond points and related measures to create parks.
We want our parks to be nature-rich, well-maintained, secure and welcoming, and to have programming that serves our communities. Meaning ample park budgets and staffing, and group engagement and oversight.
We have to use the parks we have now — to take pleasure in not solely the pure magnificence, the recreation, and the relief they provide, but in addition the corporate of our fellow People. Meaning getting exterior!
These are lonely, mistrustful, polarized instances. Most of us wish to decrease the temperature on nationwide squabbling, discover frequent floor and work towards options. Parks and inexperienced area are an outstanding means to assist mend the nation’s social cloth.
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