EQUITY
Small green spaces offer nearby connections to nature and possess an important history.
Rethinking and More Broadly Defining Access to Green Spaces By Jameelah Muhammad
W
hen thinking about national parks, the first thing that might come to mind is a picturesque mountainscape or endless rows of lush green pine trees. Those images might include people hiking, camping and enjoying nature in what appears to be the most remote locations. These places are treasured and beautiful parts of the public lands system, but right now, millions of people don’t have access to nature, whether it’s a sweeping vista or a local park. The 30x30 initiative seeks to protect these landscapes to protect the green infrastructure we need to take on climate change, and to ensure future generations have access to nature for recreation and enjoyment. It is true that some of the most beautiful and aweinspiring landscapes can be found in many places that have been protected for such purposes, but we should not think that 30x30 is
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Parks & Recreation
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limited to the most iconic public lands. Smaller green spaces also deserve our attention, care and protection. These green spaces offer nearby connections to nature and possess an important history, often memorializing untold stories of the communities and people who did so much to shape and cultivate the land. One example is the Ancient African and Indigenous Burial Grounds (tinyurl.
com/2za7ewrr). In my hometown of Hartford, Connecticut, an Ancient African Burial Ground is an important community resource and significant piece of history. Preserving these spaces and providing space for the community to reflect and engage with them help us remember these people and their stories, in addition to providing critical green space. In addition to these larger protected landscapes, there are many pocket parks (tinyurl. com/3aaax3d8) and similar unprotected green spaces in cities. These spaces not only are a source of natural beauty and healing, but also they have cultural significance worth preserving and protecting. Many places that do not
