'Urban Green Spaces': A Book for Planners and Laypeople

"Urban Green Spaces" is informative, even for practitioners, and a good read, according to a book review by L.A. County park planner Clement Lau.

1 minute read

July 22, 2019, 11:00 AM PDT

By wadams92101


MacArthur Park

Wurzeller / Wikimedia Commons

Urban Green Spaces: Public Health and Sustainability in the United States, a new book by Viniece Jennings, Matthew H. E. M. Browning, and Alessandro Rigolonis, covers topics like environmental gentrification, intersectional approaches to planning parks, environmental justice, and health equity. The book doesn’t target the general public so much as researchers, planners, and academics. Nevertheless, it's very readable and thus suitable for anyone who has an interest in its subject matter, according to a review by L.A. County planner Clement Lau. Among other things, Lau likes the book’s explanation of the difference between equality and equity in park planning:

While equality 'assumes that the same level of provision can support these individuals in the same way… equity acknowledges the inherent differences between the three individuals and customizes the level of support based on those needs.'

For more information about the book, please read the source review.

Sunday, July 21, 2019 in UrbDeZine

Young Professional

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

October 28, 2026 - Zachary Whalen

A car drives through a puddle, making a large splash. Rain pours down.

California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour

If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.

October 28, 2026 - Grist

A pencil rendering of Foundry Park, which shows skyscrapers and public green spaces.

Chicago breaks ground on $3 billion megadevelopment

The new neighborhood, titled Foundry Park, will one day host 3,700 residences.

October 23, 2026 - Chicago Sun Times

A rendering of a high speed rain station in California, with wide platforms and a sleep train with yellow highlights.

California High-Speed Rail Authority CEO resigns after $600,000 scandal

Under Ian Choudri, the authority used taxpayer dollars to fund first class flights and trips to nightclubs.

October 30 - Cal Matters

 A bridge stretches across the Missouri River at Chamberlain, South Dakota.

Want to study the Missouri River? Soon, you may need unanimous approval from 10 states

Legislation would require 10 governors’ permission to study or build projects moving water outside the basin.

October 30 - South Dakota Searchlight

Lake Powell with much of the water evaporated.

Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River

Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.

October 30 - Yale Environment 360