Local authorities in England have a statutory duty to provide a range of services to their communities. These include: education services; children’s safeguarding and social care; adult social care; waste collection; planning and housing services; road maintenance; and library services. Urban parks contribute equally powerfully to the wellbeing of urban dwellers. Therefore by Act of Parliament there should now be added a new local authority statutory duty to provide and maintain in good condition not less than 9m2 per person* of urban parkland, accessible during daylight hours for free public access. The minimum facilities should include an area of vegetation, usually mainly trees, to evoke wellbeing through contact with nature, an area of grassland on which to relax and play, pathways, and a public toilet in each park.
[* 9m2 per person is the World Health Organisation’s recommended provision]
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