Here
in the 21st century, it can seem nearly impossible to escape the
crazy bustle of cities. With pavement and buildings covering every block, the
idea of nature can begin to feel foreign. For this reason we need urban
greenspaces. People need a place to walk, run, sit, or simply escape into
nature. Copenhagen has done a wonderful job transforming their greenspaces and
keeping them relevant and beneficial for the 21st century urban
citizens.
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| Ørstedsparken |
The
first park we visited was Ørstedsparken. This park still maintains elements of
the old fortifications. For instance, part of the old moat now serves as the
lake that runs through the park. The park itself is very effortless and
pleasant. The meandering paths, simple foliage, and statues scattered
throughout are very pleasing to the eye. Citizens use the park for leisure
activities. There is a stage where people can put on performances, picnic
tables and benches to sit at, and a café for people eat or drink. The park is
very inviting and on sunny days is full of people.
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| Botanisk Have |
Our
next stop was Botanisk Have. I have visited the botanical garden multiple
times, and I always enjoy going back. I remember my first time to the garden I
was shocked that it was free. This made me think the garden really is a
greenspace open to the public and encourages citizens to use the space. People
can still go to walk around, sit in the grass and relax by the lake, as they
could at most parks. However, they can also observe the different exotic plants
or go inside the green houses. This gives people a way to experience plants
that they would not get to see in any other park in Denmark.
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| Østre Anlæg |
Our
third stop, Østre Anlæg, was one of my favorites. There were
multiple viewpoints and all sorts of things to do. The first two parks we
visited were very open and could pretty much be seen from one viewpoint. Østre Anlæg, on the other hand, had many different paths and areas. This park
had play equipment for children, places to play sports, and a flower garden to
sit or explore. These are all appealing aspects for people of all different
ages, which is a very important element for an urban greenspace.
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| Kastellet |
We
ended our trip at Kastellet. It’s Europe’s oldest military base that is still
in operation. This park did not seem quite as inviting as the other parks did.
Most of the people there were running and using the space as a workout
location. Some people would walk through on their way to the Little Mermaid,
but there were not as many attractions that invited people to stay or explore
the park. Since it’s still a military base it makes sense that the greenspace
encourages people to pass through but not linger. Overall, all of these
different greenspaces have important roles and are still being used in the 21st
century. Copenhagen has done a fabulous job of keeping these parks and gardens
relevant and useful for all of its citizens.
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