Essays from West of 98: The Meaning of Parks
Why do parks matter? Have you ever thought about that? We all see city parks in our hometowns and in places that we visit. Perhaps they blend in as a natural part of each community and we do not pay all that much attention to them. But why do cities build parks? Just because it is something to do, or because of a deeper purpose?
Frederick Law Olmsted is considered the father of landscape architecture in America. Born in 1822 in Hartford, Connecticut, his landscape career began with a project in New York known as “Central Park.” This project set the standard for urban parks in America and Olmsted would later build famed parks in Chicago, Boston, and numerous other cities, to say nothing of the parks built by his protégés. I’m not here to give you Olmsted’s full biography (although it is a fascinating read and you should check it out). However, his park-building career was a transformative era in American city planning and it is deeply meaningful to modern cities and towns of every size.
In the mid-19th century, cities were growing rapidly. Green space had been plentiful in and around those cities, but farms and wilderness were rapidly being swallowed by new houses. City dwellers had to travel farther afield to reach fresh air, quiet countryside, and unspoiled landscapes. Consequently, leaders of those cities began to see the importance of preserving landscapes within the cities. The American city park (in many ways descended from the estate gardens of old-world Europe) arose as a quiet respite within these loud, bustling, booming cities. A city dweller might live in a multistory building and spend most of life on concrete, but a pleasant green space was only a few blocks away in a new city park. This was particularly important for city dwellers who lacked the means or resources to travel out to the countryside. City parks unquestionably improved the quality of life for citizens of all ages and demographics.
As a rural leader, it can be easy to take for granted the importance of parks to quality of life. We’ve got all the green space we need, right? Farms, ranches, and wilderness are all around us. Why do we need city parks when we can be in the “country” in a two minute drive from the city center?
There was a time when I had that view as well. But my opinions began to change when I thought about the context of all the “country” around us. Who owns that property outside of town? Is it publicly accessible? What would happen if a group of children started playing out in the middle of a cotton field? Or what if a group of adults started fishing in someone’s pond? For those in rural communities who own land or otherwise have access to it, that land is readily accessible. For all the many citizens in a rural town who neither own land nor have access to land, then that land around the community might as well be a million miles away. It is no more accessible to them then it is to a stranger from out of state.
We in Texas value our heritage as a private property state, but this creates a very different scenario from other Western states. My friends in places like Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico can step out their door and be minutes away from a national forest, national park, or other publicly accessible land. That is not the case in Texas, where well over 90% of land is owned by private citizens.
I am going to start a few essays on the importance of parks, playgrounds, and recreational areas within our communities. It is a critically important topic. If we seek to attract young people to our communities (whether they have children or not), we need to be cognizant that parks matter. They make our communities more beautiful and pleasant, but they also improve the quality of life in a tangible manner.
Whether you live in New York, New York, or Stamford, Texas, city parks improve your community. They make life better for citizens. And if you want to attract new citizens, you better be ready to invest in your parks.
James Decker is the Mayor of Stamford, Texas and the creator of the West of 98 website and podcast. Contact James and subscribe to these essays at westof98.substack.com and subscribe to West of 98 wherever podcasts are found.