Punching above their weight: the ecological and social benefits of pop‐up parks

Mata, Luis; Garrard, Georgia E; Fidler, Fiona; Ives, Christopher D; Maller, Cecily; Wilson, Joab; Thomas, Freya; Bekessy, Sarah A

Abstract

Current global enthusiasm for urban greening and bringing nature back into cities is unprecedented. Evidence of the socioecological benefits of large, permanent greenspaces is mounting, but the collective potential for pop‐up parks (PUPs) – small, temporary greenspaces – to augment urban ecosystem services is unknown. To showcase the potential of PUPs, we first highlight a case study demonstrating how PUPs may enhance biodiversity in a densely urbanized area; we then review evidence linking the design of small greenspaces with positive social outcomes, including benefits to human well‐being. Finally, we emphasize how PUPs can function as socioecological laboratories to help inform urban design, and then propose a research agenda to better understand how PUPs may be optimally designed to provide benefits to humans and other species.

Citation

Mata, L., Garrard, G. E., Fidler, F., Ives, C. D., Maller, C., Wilson, J., Thomas, F., & Bekessy, S. A. (2019). Punching above their weight: the ecological and social benefits of pop‐up parks. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 17(6), 341-347. https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2060

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 30, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Jun 3, 2019
• Publication Date: Aug 21, 2019
• Deposit Date: Aug 21, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 29, 2019
• Journal: Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment
• Print ISSN: 1540-9295
• Electronic ISSN: 1540-9309
• Publisher: Ecological Society of America
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 341-347
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.2060
• Keywords: Ecology; Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2454168
• Publisher URL: https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fee.2060
• Additional Information: Copyright by the Ecological Society of America
• Contract Date: Aug 29, 2019