![]() ![]() We have seen progress with inclusivity – from ADA accessibility measures to the reframing of monuments in parks. Up until recently, green spaces and public health were pretty much indivisible – with healthy outdoor spaces begetting healthy citizens, and vice versa. ![]() Many local jurisdictions are closing local park facilities, which include pavilions, restrooms, and pathways that some of our most vulnerable populations rely on for respite and recreation. ![]() Popular hikes in national and state parks across the country are increasingly closing to the public, as overflowing trailheads, beaches, and parking lots undermine social distancing measures and add potential hazards to local jurisdictions already overburdened with the pandemic. Data from 31 trails managed by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy showed that trail usage from March 16 to March 22, overlapping with the first day of spring, increased almost 200 percent in 2020 compared to the same week in 2019. With spring and COVID-19 occurring at the same time, we have seen upticks in the use of parks, hiking trails, and other public outdoor spaces for both physical and mental health – much to the dismay of public officials across the country. “Parks are lungs for the city, and they’re medicine for us.” Alex Bozikovic, Architecture Critic As our daily footprint narrows under “stay at home” measures, we must reconsider our relationship with public spaces – those parks, trails, and green spaces – that provide incredible health benefits, at a time when one could argue that we need them the most Backdrops for our social outings, phone conversations, dog walks, and commutes. Public spaces are easy to take for granted. ![]()
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