The World's Greatest City Parks

A respite from the stresses of city life, 'lungs' that cleanse the air and cool surrounding streets, places for connecting with other citizens, or grounds for artistic expression and commemoration; the world's best parks accomplish all of the above.

1 minute read

May 8, 2013, 12:00 PM PDT

By Jonathan Nettler @nettsj


"A well-designed park is more than green space in the midst of a concrete jungle—it makes a city lovable and livable," observes Kristin Conard. "The most beautiful combine meadows, woodlands, ponds, lakes, and streams with museums and other man-made attractions."

"For city dwellers and tourists alike, an urban park becomes a shared backyard. 'It’s a place to meet friends; it’s a place to have celebrations with families if you’re in small apartments, say in New York,' says Setha Low, director of the Public Space Research Group and author of Rethinking Urban Parks: Public Space and Cultural Diversity."

Central Park in New York, along with Vancouver's Stanley Park and Osaka's Namba Parks, are among those selected by Conard and her colleagues at Travel + Leisure as the "World's Most Beautiful City Parks".   

Wednesday, May 8, 2013 in Travel + Leisure

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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 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 Planner

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