Park

Parks may consist of grassy areas, rocks, soil and trees, but may also contain buildings and other artifacts such as monuments, fountains or playground structures.

Many natural parks are protected by law, and users may have to follow restrictions (e.g. rules against open fires or bringing in glass bottles).

Early opportunities for the creation of urban parks in both Europe and the United States grew out of medieval practice to secure pasture lands within the safe confines of villages and towns.

[2] Parks are part of the urban infrastructure: for physical activity, for families and communities to gather and socialize, or for a simple respite.

Research shows that perception of safety can be more significant in influencing human behavior than actual crime statistics.

Elements in the physical design of a park, such as an open and welcoming entry, good visibility (sight lines), and appropriate lighting and signage can all make a difference.

It often involves cooperative or team activity, including playgrounds, ball fields, swimming pools, gymnasiums, and skateparks.

Active recreation such as team sports, due to the need to provide substantial space to congregate, typically involves intensive management, maintenance, and high costs.

Many smaller neighborhood parks are receiving increased attention and valuation as significant community assets and places of refuge in heavily populated urban areas.

Neighborhood groups around the world are joining to support local parks that have suffered from urban decay and government neglect.

The general principle of how parks and greenspaces assist in the conservation of biodiversity is by creating natural environments for animals in urban areas.

Around half of the greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere get absorbed by the floral components of the biodiversity, providing nature-based aid in the fight against the climate change and habitat for the fauna.

[15] When processes such as the decay of wood, winter dieback or succession are allowed to happen the natural cycle helps with biodiversity conservation.

The amount of habitat can be increased more vegetation to parks – wildflowers, long grass areas, shrubs, and trees.

Having all the animals co-existing together in a regulated environment generates a natural cycle of life where decaying bodies assist in the fertilization of the ground.

[1] Alongside the preservation of native species parks with exotic fauna and flora drive diversity in natural ecosystems, aiding in the adaptation to urban environment.

Vegetation in parks can indirectly reduce air temperature and directly reduce levels of carbon dioxide by storing it as a biomass and due to the trees’ ability to absorb over 95% of ultraviolet radiation the aid in the reduction of skin cancer is a factor that is largely considered[clarification needed] when new greenspaces are built.

This implies that they are wilderness areas, but unlike pure nature reserves, they are established with the expectation of a certain degree of human visitation and supporting infrastructure.

Parks commonly resemble savannas or open woodlands, the types of landscape that human beings find most relaxing.

An early purpose built public park was Derby Arboretum which was opened in 1840 by Joseph Strutt for the mill workers and people of the city.

This was closely followed by Princes Park in the Liverpool suburb of Toxteth, laid out to the designs of Joseph Paxton from 1842 and opened in 1843.

First and foremost was the provision of open space for the benefit of townspeople and local residents within an area that was being rapidly built up.

Secondly it took the concept of the designed landscape as a setting for the suburban domicile, an idea pioneered by John Nash at Regent's Park, and re-fashioned it for the provincial town in a most original way.

With the establishment of Princes Park in 1842, Joseph Paxton did something similar for the benefit of a provincial town, albeit one of international stature by virtue of its flourishing mercantile contingent.

Liverpool had a burgeoning presence on the scene of global maritime trade before 1800 and during the Victorian era its wealth rivaled that of London itself.

The form and layout of Paxton's ornamental grounds, structured about an informal lake within the confines of a serpentine carriageway, put in place the essential elements of his much imitated design for Birkenhead Park.

[30] Armenia's ombudsman called it a "clear manifestation of fascism", saying that it is a "proof of Azerbaijani genocidal policy and state supported Armenophobia".