A green reprieve

Few, if any, towns in Namibia can boast of welcoming and safe public parks and playgrounds offering local residents and visitors a reprieve from the boiling sun and drudge of everyday demands and stresses.

While the widespread lack of such facilities might not seem a priority right now, there are important reasons why major global countries, responsible for millions more citizens than tiny Namibia, place great emphasis on providing their residents with well-maintained green spaces.

In many countries around the world, parks are situated a mere stroll away from residents, equipped with green grass, trees, flowers, playgrounds, benches, tables and recreational facilities.

Parks can revitalise and boost a vital sense of community, simply by bringing neighbours together in a stress-free, visually appealing place, where easy chats lead to a holistic sense of partnerships and empathy for others.

These suburban relationships in turn can boost public participation and interest in local and national social and political issues, a crucial ingredient for a healthy democracy.

Parks remove the barriers of fences and walls, turning strangers into familiars, who we care for.

Of course, parks are great for the kids, the dogs, a game of football between friends, a picnic, concert, a weekend farmers market.

On a personal and physical level, parks can make a big impact on the physical and mental health of communities.

A study by Finnish researchers found that even ten minutes in a park or urban woodland area, that provides contact with a natural environment away from the imposing brick and concrete of a city, can tangibly benefit on mental health, reduce stress and increase happiness.

Its green allure motivates tired caregivers and their offspring to leave the comfort of their couches to get out into nature, to walk the dogs, offering a healthier and cheaper alternative to video games and malls.

Playgrounds can act as a helpful way to reduce the bubbling energy of toddlers and their older siblings, leading to less temper tantrums, for both the kids and their parents.

While the more complex issues will take time and patience to resolve, communities and their elected officials would be off to a great start to ensure communities have access to green spaces that could greatly, and quickly, benefit everyone's mood and health and happiness and sense of belonging.