EXPOS 20: Green Spaces, Urban Places

From Boston Common to the Charles River Basin, Boston boasts many beautiful green spaces. Closer to home, the leafy lawns of Harvard Yard provide a respite in a busy urban environment. With over half of the world’s population living in cities, urban green space is more important than ever. The value of public parks to those fortunate enough to live near them is considerable, whether the reduction of the negative effects of climate change, improved public health, or ample opportunities for residents to connect with and appreciate the power of the natural world. But as cities boom and prices skyrocket, access to spaces like parks is increasingly expensive and exclusionary. This course considers a series of related questions: What exactly are the benefits of resources like public parks and rivers? Should urban green space be considered a right of every citizen? Has access to green space in cities become a privilege of the elite? We explore these questions, thinking about why access to green space matters in an increasingly urbanized world.