Overview:

Summary: Converting vacant, non-vegetated land into parks and open spaces is a heat mitigation strategy that cools the surrounding temperature and also provides social co-benefits.

Implementation: Develop and adopt parks plans and capital plans to fund park networks.

Considerations for Use: Parks can be capitally-intensive to design and construct; but offer many opportunities for funding through increased property values and financing solutions. Parks require ongoing maintenance.

• Policy Levers:
  
  
  CommitmentGovernments set ambitious goals or targets to guide prioritization and investment.
• Trigger Points:
  
  
  City planning processesIncludes city initiatives such as the development of climate action plan, pathway to zero-energy, master plan, transit plan, energy mapping etc.
  Evaluating or initiating major city infrastructure projectsIncludes projects such as city transit, street or utilities construction / re-construction etc.
• Intervention Type:
  Green/natural Infrastructure
• Sectors:
  Informal Settlements, Parks

Impact:

• Target Beneficiaries:
  Heat-vulnerable communities, Property owners, Residents
• Phase of Impact:
  Risk reduction and mitigation
• Metrics:
  Area of green space or parks

Case Studies:

• London National Park City (C40 Urban Cooling)
• Montreal Network of Large Parks (C40 Urban Cooling)

Implementation:

• Intervention Scale:
  City, District
• Authority and Governance:
  City government
• Implementation Timeline:
  Long-term (10+ Years)
• Implementation Stakeholders:
  City government
• Funding Sources:
  Grants and philanthropy, private investment, Public investment
• Capacity to Act:
  High

Benefits:

• Cost-Benefit:
  Medium
• Public Good:
  High
• GHG Reduction:
  Medium
• Co-benefits (Climate/Environmental):
  Improve stormwater management, Preserve biodiversity, Provide flood protection, Reduce air and water pollution
• Co-benefits (Social):
  Build social cohesion, Improve human health, Improve the public realm, Increase property values