THE green space is absolutely essential for the good health of citizens. It offers social, economic and psychological benefits.
In our clime, the greens and open spaces are usually associated with the Upper-Class Neighbourhoods, mostly in the Government Reservation Areas. These GRAs are located in cities like Lagos, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Ibadan, Enugu, to mention a few.
Most of these GRAs are being reclassified for economic reasons. This trend is fast catching up with all GRAs over the federation. The large reservations are sold and are divided to smaller plots. These plots are built up without the statutory provisions for greens and the minimum allowable airspace between two buildings.
With the upsurge in real estate activities all over the federation and the desire for maximum returns on investments, the attention for the provision of greens and open spaces has been neglected.
The presence of greens and open spaces mitigate against the urban heat island effect, particularly in cities and urban centres. These green spaces allow soil to absorb carbon from the air and help reduce carbon emission, which invariably helps in reducing the effects of global warming and climate change.
More green spaces and parks encourage physical activities, which help to reduce obesity, prevents associated chronic diseases and promotes equality among the residents.
It has equally been established that green spaces filter air, remove pollution and attenuate
noise. It also improves cognitive functions in children and helps a great deal to improve mental health. As Cities are regenerated and renewed, deliberate and conscious efforts should be made to preserve existing trees, whilst provisions should be made for more trees and open spaces.
These open spaces for recreation promote equality, enhance the neighbourhood, reduce crime rates and make room for better social interactions, and behavioural comportment leading to trust, mutual understanding and shared values. I recall how pristine and wooded the Ikeja GRA in Lagos was when I had my first working experience as an architect in 1983 at an architectural firm located at the GRA.
Driving through the neighbourhood, the streets were canopied with large trees lined up in front of large unfenced compounds with lush green grass and very small buildings sitting on about half an acre of land space.During the heat, the whole area was usually cool as the vegetation absorbs the heat and filters the air. The atmosphere was usually cool and heavenly!
With the gradual decline in the economy of the country, these lands were reclassified for commercial uses and investors have swooped in to make maximum returns on their investments. This trend has given rise to all manners of development that do not follow stipulated planning guidelines.
Some houses are built as high as seven floors and one could stretch out a hand from the window on the third floor to shake another hand on the window of the third floor of the adjacent building. This is not only unhealthy but equally unsafe, should there be a fire outbreak.
Considerations are hardly made for greens and open spaces. The neighbourhood skyline is usually very haphazard. Car parking spaces are grossly inadequate and the environment is all concrete and bricks. The greens and open spaces have gone into extinction.
If this rapidly growing trend is not curbed by the government, it will pave way for a city that is mindless of nature and beauty but only driven by economic gains., which will have an untold effect on the health, longevity, productivity and cognitive functioning of the residents. The provision of green spaces also reduces mortality and morbidity in urban residents by providing psychological relaxation and stress alleviation. This was very evident during the lockdown occasioned by the pandemic. The green spaces became centres of succour to residents. They played significant roles in providing relaxation and reducing stress.
Neighbourhoods without greens and open spaces were at a serious disadvantage. Residents took to walking up and down the streets and sometimes lurking around underneath of overpass to have a breath of fresh air.
In most European cities, a 3-30-300m rule is proposed for greens. At least 3 trees must be planted within 30m from every house, and a green park should be within 300m of every household. Even where there are clusters of tightly packed housing units, there is always a big relief of a meadow or a large open spaces for recreation, which is rallying point for communal activities.
A very serious and pragmatic campaign needs to be embarked upon at this time to introduce the culture of greens and open spaces in our planning models and ensure that they are not encroached upon or converted into plots for economic considerations.
Areas zoned for medium and high rise structures should be mandated to have large open surrounds to compensate for the density.
The benefits of greens and open spaces are so immense that attention needs to be given to these in order to enhance our urban spaces.
ONABANJO. GO-FORTE FOUNDATION.
