Looking online this morning I read a piece talking about revitalizing cities, and how this can be done with landscape. The specific way mentioned revolved around the creation of parkland in urban areas and the dire need for more of this type of space. Landscape architecture can be wielded to create publicly-accessible, beautiful, and calm spaces for people to relax in and offset the troubles of the urban environment.

Since the economic downturn cities everywhere have seen a dramatic drop in new construction. This has led to areas reducing their investment in public green spaces and a rise in community support and outreach. Cities now more than ever need to reinvest in these areas to offset the impact of the built environment.

If we are to embrace a more sustainable way of living, we need to start pushing for these public areas. Cities and towns that do choose to invest will subscribe to smart growth principles, fight sprawl, and contribute to green infrastructure. This is in addition to other existing benefits such as: increased recreational space, a reduced heat island effect, general increase in resident happiness, and much more. Due to the downturn land is generally cheaper as well, making this an even better opportunity in the eyes of local politicians. The city of Detroit can serve as a great first example, and if done right can be a model other cities can refer to for centuries to come. Like Central Park in New York and Millennium Park in Chicago, the next great public space could be right around the corner. It's up to us to demand for these spaces and help green up the areas we live in to make a better built environment for us all.