ONE of the most fundamental kinds of love that human beings possess is a love of place. As we try to shape the very place we live in, more often than not, the place we live in shapes us, and we find ourselves falling in love with a locale as we peer into the beauty reflected by its structures and inhabitants.
Our love of place is often associated not only with our diverse concepts of beauty, but also with the different things that we feel whenever we are there.
For instance, who doesn’t love an awe-inspiring view of skyscrapers gloriously dotting the city skyline? Not only does a skyscraper-laden cityscape create an impression of prosperity and progress, it also creates a beautiful sense of achievement, order and stability—things that people need to feel in their lives every now and then.
The Metro Manila skyline has its share of tall high rises that regally stand beside each other, making us feel prosperous and proud. Every so often, however, metropolitan residents get to feel the need to escape the city once in a while and be closer to nature.
Weekend trips to recharge away from the hustle and bustle are actually a big deal for us city dwellers, but do we really have to hop in a bus or board a plane all the time to destress? Are malls, in their obvious plenitude, really our only convenient refuge for a much-needed breather?
In many major cities across the globe, urban planners insert spacious parks and open spaces within concrete jungles, serving as oases that make city life less stressful, healthier and more well-rounded. Interestingly, there seems to be a good reason many notably progressive cities are surrounded by parks and greenery.
Growing evidence suggests that residential properties become more valuable with proximity to parks and open spaces. The creation and conservation of such venues can also be seen as investments, because they produce significant economic benefits by way of increased tax revenues for communities, for one thing.
Parks as additional amenities
People are generally willing to pay more for residential properties near parks, because the proximity translates to ease of access to a space for relaxation. Therefore, it almost seems like selling an additional amenity whenever residential developers mention that their project is just a few healthy steps away from a park.
A condominium or apartment complex within the vicinity of the Salcedo and Legazpi parks, for example, may not have a penthouse, roof deck, or clubhouse where residents can read a book or hang out with friends and family, but the presence of nearby parks more than makes up for it.
Accessible, income-generating venues for events and tourism
Because our urban sprawl has become so congested with buildings, crowded streets and tightly packed residential areas, it’s understandable that people constantly feel the need to look for a calming patch of green.
Likewise, when people don’t have the luxury of time for a quick getaway, they want to at least be able to still spend a relaxing time outdoors. This is why people flock to weekend markets and art fairs set in parks and open spaces, such as the Legazpi Sunday Market in Legazpi and Rufino Streets, Salcedo Community Market in Jaime C. Velasquez Park, and the Mandala Park Weekend Market on Shaw Boulevard, to name just a few.
These events do not only serve as attractions that enrich community life and entice potential residents; they also create additional income for the city itself.
Greener way to health and wellness
Despite the prevalence of gyms and fitness centers around Metro Manila, where people can easily go and work out, nothing compares to taking a walk or going on a run in parks and open spaces. Research has found that parks play a critical role in encouraging adults and children to be more active through sports and various outdoor activities. This is why developments, like Ayala Land’s Nuvali Evoliving in Laguna, are particularly inviting for those who are looking into a more relaxed and healthy suburban living.
We definitely need more parks in the metropolis, and it inspires me to see that it’s the young people who are making a loud call for it. Alongside the preservation of our cultural heritage, there’s now a clamour for more parks and open spaces in our cities, which can enhance our love of place by providing venues where we can all indulge in the simple joys of sitting under the shade of trees, destressing in the comfort of fresh air and feeling the grass under our feet.
There’s still a very long way to go before Metro Manila can have its own Central Park, but as the age-old adage says, Rome was not built in a day.
Image credits: Makati Best Condo (www.makatibestcondo.weebly.com/paseo-heights), ManilaMommy.com