Concerns about the COVID-19 outbreak continue to grip our world, World Urban Parks recognises that many in the community wish to ensure that we globally Build Back Better and thus wish to support this effort especially about ensuring that parks and nature are an important part of the solution.  History has shown that our response following a major system disruption defines the way we live for generations.
 
Our understanding of resilience and the consequence of the shock is deep, thoughtful and evidence based, however it is easy for society to go back to the norms of the past. 
 
During this global pandemic, from the WHO to USA Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is now widely recognised that safe access to the great outdoors – our parks - are crucial to maintain a healthy immunity system, our physical and our mental health. We must get our “nature” fix.  A concept with detailed scientific evidence of its importance. 
 
We now talk of the new normal and of building back better. There is no time in our history that we need to create this vital response.

We are at a time when more than 50% of the world lives in urban areas, projected to grow to 70% by 2050, and the world urban population will double from 3.5 billion to over 7.0 billion in the next 40 years. This represents a magnificent opportunity and challenge as over half the cities in the world have yet to be built and will be built in the next 40 years. It represents the only opportunity to not only build back better, but build better for the first time, for 3.5 billion individuals during the next 40 years.  It is also an unprecedented moment to reimagine existing cities to address the issues of inequality.

To meet this critically important opportunity and challenge regarding the future of our cities, World Urban Parks is advocating for different approaches.  We have strongly expressed this thru our key actions:

• The Melbourne and Kazan Statements
• Supporting emerging concepts like National Park Cities
• Encouraging young and emerging leaders

• Foster new and innovative approaches to parks, nature and cities, through the provision of grants and peer to peer programs.
• Develop key resources for emerging cities to plan and design cities of the future
• Support emerging leaders with scholarships
• Ensure that the role of parks as a key fabric of our society is better understood
• Furthering the upstream health benefits of parks, to reduce the chronic health burden
• Developing parks at the centre of sustainable communities and 20 minute neighbourhoods
• Develop the “Pathway to recovery and a better future”…….

As an organization, World Urban Parks advocates and supports the power of parks, open spaces, and nature as essential resources for health and wellness.

Let us all do our part to create the parks and cities of the future that build upon the exceptional wealth of knowledge and expertise regarding the healthy benefits of parks and nature and the exceptional innovations that have been enacted during this crisis.
 
World Urban Parks is excited to enable all members of the global communities as either individuals or organisations to support the great work undertaken by the city-building profession and World Urban Parks.