Gil Penalosa
The founder of 8 80 Cities, a Canadian-based international non-profit dedicated to creating great urban natural areas, on the importance of parks
Two decades ago, Gil Penalosa led the transformation of the parks system in Bogotá, Colombia’s nearly 500-year-old capital. Today, he’s fighting for urban natural spaces worldwide. Here, Penalosa shares his insights on connecting people and parks prior to addressing April’s Canadian Parks Summit in Canmore, Alta. — the firstever meeting of all levels of the nation’s park managers. In cities across Canada and around the world, it seems easier to find the millions to build a park than the thousands to make it work. You go to a city to try to find money to do a movie in the park or tai chi or other activities and they never have it. In many cities, they think management of parks is cutting grass and picking up garbage. That is 20 per cent of park management. The other 80 per cent is about the use and activities. We need to make sure that people living in cities have a connection to nature. Nature should be everywhere. It should be near homes, in schools, workplaces and the streets. Eighty-five per cent of Canadians live in cities, and they should have a park within walking distance, within 500 metres. If something’s safe enough for an eight year old and an 80 year old, it’s going to be safe for everyone. The “8” and the “80” are great indicators, not only for the streets and the sidewalks, but also for parks. Parks should be safe and enjoyable for children, but also for older adults and the handicapped. Parks professionals need to understand that what they do is critical. It’s not just fun and games. It’s life and death, and quality of life. They need to come together and come up with solid arguments for why governments should invest in parks. The parks people need to take a leading role and create a broad alliance around parks and their benefits.