Think green

When is a park a park, and what makes it a park? Is it the presence of playground equipment like swings and teeter-totters? Is it just green space, without evidence of construction or human interference?
While one open space in town has been eyed for residential development, a playground across town has been stripped of its trappings and is left empty. While there are valid explanations for both situations, it makes you think about what parks are for, and what we would do without them.
Parks with playground equipment give children a place to play outdoors, get some exercise, and socialize with friends. Open spaces give everyone a place to play sports like soccer, football, or frisbee without having to worry about traffic and other hindrances. In general, both contribute to our quality of life, and are an indispensable part of any community.
Naturally, a town goes through times of financial strain and looks for ways to compensate for lost revenue elsewhere. But open, green spaces should not be taken for granted. What we do with the ones we have is important.
As one Fort Frances citizen said in a front page story today, “Once you lose green space, you don’t get it back.”