RECREATION AND SPORT 3 PARKS AND GARDENS Answer these questions. a. Do you usually go walking or jogging in a park? Is there a park or garden near your home? b. Do you like swimming? Do you go to a swimming pool regularly? c. Is football your favourite sport? Have you ever been to a large stadium to watch a Serie A football match or other events? A park can be defined as an area of natural or man-made vegetation reserved for people s enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife and natural habitats. It usually consists of meadows, rocks, trees, plants and flowers, small lakes or ponds, Map of Hyde Park, London but may also contain buildings, monuments, fountains or playgrounds or even fields for playing sports. The main types of green areas are: historical parks, equipped green areas, green belts and national parks. Historical parks. Usually linked to historical periods or events, these are parks and gardens of great aesthetic value, such as Hyde Park in London, the Boboli Gardens in Florence, or Villa Borghese in Rome. These areas are generally managed with museum-like criteria and ecological considerations. Equipped green areas. These are green areas dedicated to social life such as public parks, gardens, squares and playgrounds. Planning these areas is complex and requires knowledge of urban ecosystems, soil characteristics and climatic factors. Facilities are necessary to satisfy all the requirements of the users. Green belts. These are large areas of wild or agricultural land surrounding urban areas. Green belts have clear objectives: to protect natural environments and to improve air quality within urban areas. Land-planning of green belts is common in many cities in Northern Europe, but almost unknown in Italy. National parks. These are vast natural areas of thousands of square kilometres, rich in wildlife and natural features such as mountains, valleys and rivers. They are officially recognized by national or local governments. In some countries (e.g. United Kingdom) national parks may contain private land used for agriculture and even small towns and public roads. Most national parks offer a refuge for wildlife and are popular tourist destinations at the same time. Map of green belts around British main cities equipped: attrezzato land-planning: pianificazione del territorio meadow: prato moreover: inoltre owned: posseduto pond: laghetto unknown: sconosciuto Until the 17th century, parks in Europe were privately owned and intended for the enjoyment of their owners. In London, Charles I opened part of Hyde Park to the general public in 1637. In Paris the Tuileries Gardens became a public park after the French Revolution. After that, public gardens began to increase in number in many cities and were included in master plans for urban development. In cities, parks and gardens have long been recognized as major contributors to the aesthetic quality of urban districts. They are among the most important factors considered when selecting a home. Moreover, several studies conducted during the past 30 years have shown a direct correlation between proximity to parks and increased house property values. 172 Module 5 FOUNDATIONS