City parks and open space improve our physical and mental health, strengthen our communities, and make our cities and neighbourhoods more attractive places to live and work..
In Boulder, Colorado, a greenbel t added $5.4 million to the total property values of one neighbourhood. Other things being equal, there was a $4.20 decrease in the price of property for every foot one moved away from the greenbelt, and the average value of homes next to the greenbelt was 32% percent higher than those 3,200 feet away.
Parks attract tourists. As community landmarks, parks offer a marketing tool for cities to attract businesses and conferences. Parks can be used to hold festivals, concerts and athletics events, bringing additional boosts to the local economy.
Green space provides rich ecosystem services. The U. S. Forest Service found that over a 50-year lifetime, one tree produces $31,250 worth of oxygen, provides $62,000worth of air pollution control, recycles $37,500 worth of water, and controls $31,250worth of soil erosion(流失).
A park's trees store water, reducing the rate at which it flows into a city's stormwater treatment facilities. Parks increase the amount of a city's pervious surfaces, which allow rainwater to pass slowly into the ground. .
A. Your local city park may improve your health.
B. Homebuyers prefer homes close to parks and open space.
C. It makes a great contribution to the improvement of our living environment.
D. They help fill hotel rooms and bring customers to local stores and restaurants.
E. Building facilities to deal with that amount of stormwa ter would cost $38 million.
F. Lots of studies have shown all kinds of benefits parks bring to a city and its people.
G. Having trees and parks can decrease the necessary size of the city's stormwater management system.
