July is National Parks and Recreation Month and, according to Project EverGreen, it’s time to appreciate the hidden values of our favorite places to relax and play. “Parks provide a wonderful refuge from all types of stress, but their benefits don’t stop there,” says Den Gardner, executive director of Project EverGreen. “That’s because the green space - trees, turf and shrubs - they provide is equally valuable in helping to protect and regulate our environment.”
July’s heat makes this particularly evident, Gardner says, because a park in any cityscape acts as nature’s air conditioner. The shade from its trees and the evapotranspiration of water from leaves and turf have a significant cooling effect. In fact, studies have shown that large areas of green space, such as provided by a park, are typically five to seven degrees cooler than a residential area and seven to 15 degrees cooler than an urban downtown setting.
In addition, Gardner says, the green space provided by parks also helps to trap urban pollutants. For example, studies show that in a year’s time, an acre of trees can absorb enough carbon dioxide to equal the amount produced by driving a car 26,000 miles. At the same time, trees and turf in a park also return significant amounts of oxygen to the atmosphere. In fact, it has been estimated that a turf area of only 50 square feet produces enough oxygen to meet the needs of a family of four. For more information on the environmental values of green spaces, access www.projectevergreen.com.
