Are public parks needed and how do they help society?
I believe that having somewhere you can go in the hustle and bustle of life is very important; if even for a few minutes walking on the way to your destination or for longer during a lunch break or in your free time. As far cities are concerned, in order for this to work I think that they have to be in a convenient location and work around if not with peoples working lives; there is no point in having one good place if you can only spend enough time there to catch your breath before having to get back to work. There is something about being able to spend some time surrounded by nature that allows you to relax, and forget about any worries that may be concerning you and just simply take in the surroundings; or converse with other people, whether friends or complete strangers in an environment that is visually and mentaly secluded from the idea of work, even if it is physically a road away from that exact place.
Parks enable people on all walks of life a place to come and socialise and interact with one another and can create a place that errodes any issues with racial, religious or social differences.
An example of this was during the summer months in Hyde Park where a complete mixture of people were out enjoying the sun. This particular area was packed with people sitting on the lawns having lunch, queing to get ice creams, pedaling in water boats, walking their dogs, cycling, jogging, and even a large crowd of people watching a group of roller skaters skating to the rhythm of a guy who set up his decks and speakers. On a biological view, the trees help to remove pollutants from the air, thus creating a cleaner environment to inhabit.
