Past Program

Loneliness, crime, and fractured communities are frequent symbols of city life and nine of the top 10 causes of death are related to poor urban design. Many cities have a fundamentally parasitic relationship with their surrounding ecosystems and exacerbate climate change and its symptoms. How can we make these urban environments better for both their populations and the planet?

Community cohesion, taken here to mean a sense of belonging and connectedness among most people and lack of conflict or division despite differences, plays a key role in people’s wellbeing and quality of life. Parks and public spaces are important settings where community cohesion can be fostered or conversely neglected. This online discussion will begin with shared experiences from a selection of Fellows before an in-depth discussion explores questions such as: 

• What role can parks play in bringing together divided communities? 
• Which cities are innovating and leading community cohesion? 
• How can health, education or economic systems benefit from improved community cohesion and reductions in isolation? 
• What roles do data, culture, policies, enlightened leaders, organized civic actors play in driving empathy and community-promoting equitable development?

If you are interested in taking part in the Parks for the Planet Forum 2021, please send an email explaining your motivations and what you would bring to the program to Dominic Regester and Jennifer Dunn.