Building healthy, functional, and productive cities are perhaps the greatest challenge facing humanity today. A key part of these cities is the public spaces. I disagree with the given statement, which says that parks and sports facilities are better than shopping centres as public spaces. I firmly believe that shopping centres are as important as parks and sports facilities, so when designing new towns, all these public spaces should be given equal importance.
To begin with, public parks if developed as “places” and planned around major public destinations, build social connection and human happiness — both precious commodities in an increasingly congested urban landscape. A great urban park is a safety valve for the city, where people living in high density can find breathing room. Public parks are places where all people feel safe to play and relax, and can relieve stress. Another benefit is that crime rates and gang activities go down when more people are out on the street and know their neighbors. These places also have substantial environmental benefits. Trees reduce air and water pollution and thus they help to keep cities cooler.
Furthermore, sports facilities need to be designed and constructed so as to be functional as well as attractive in a way that encourages people to do sports and boost their feeling of wellbeing. Modern lifestyle is very sedentary, and such public spaces such as stadia and playgrounds would definitely promote active living and provide important physical, psychological and social health benefits for individuals and the community.
Visiting a shopping centre is one of most desirable activities of people everywhere in the world. Today, it is observed that shopping centers are used as public spaces by many urban inhabitants. Shopping centers have become places where social life is experienced and leisure time is spent through a wide range of activities offered besides shopping. For example, some shopping malls have skating rinks, where parents and children can spend good time together and have fun. The elderly come there for sitting and relaxing on the sofas and couches placed at regular intervals.
To sum up, public parks, sports facilities and shopping centres are all equally important public spaces. They are different, but have a common role of improving the life of urban residents in their own specific way.
Building healthy, functional, and productive
cities
are perhaps the greatest challenge facing humanity
today
. A key part of these
cities
is the
public
spaces
. I disagree with the
given
statement, which says that
parks
and
sports
facilities are better than
shopping
centres
as
public
spaces
. I
firmly
believe that
shopping
centres
are as
important
as
parks
and
sports
facilities,
so
when designing new towns, all these
public
spaces
should be
given
equal importance.
To
begin
with,
public
parks
if developed as
“places”
and planned around major
public
destinations, build social connection and human happiness — both precious commodities in an
increasingly
congested
urban
landscape. A great
urban
park
is a safety valve for the city, where
people
living in high density can find breathing room.
Public
parks
are
places
where all
people
feel safe to play and relax, and can relieve
stress
. Another benefit is that crime rates and gang activities go down when more
people
are out on the street and know their neighbors. These
places
also
have substantial environmental benefits. Trees
reduce
air and water pollution and
thus
they
help
to
keep
cities
cooler.
Furthermore
,
sports
facilities need to
be designed
and constructed
so as to
be functional
as well
as attractive in a way that encourages
people
to do
sports
and boost their feeling of
wellbeing
. Modern lifestyle is
very
sedentary, and such
public
spaces
such as
stadia
and playgrounds would definitely promote active living and provide
important
physical, psychological and social health benefits for individuals and the community.
Visiting a
shopping
centre
is one of most desirable activities of
people
everywhere in the world.
Today
, it
is observed
that
shopping
centers are
used
as
public
spaces
by
many
urban
inhabitants.
Shopping
centers have become
places
where social life
is experienced
and leisure time
is spent
through a wide range of activities offered
besides
shopping
.
For example
,
some
shopping
malls have skating rinks, where parents and children can spend
good
time together and have fun. The elderly
come
there for sitting and relaxing on the sofas and couches placed at regular intervals.
To sum up,
public
parks
,
sports
facilities and
shopping
centres
are all
equally
important
public
spaces
. They are
different
,
but
have a common role of improving the life of
urban
residents in their
own
specific way.