One example of an equity-minded economic model is the Business out of the Box program, led by Toronto’s Scadding Court Community Centre. Adiv said, pointing out that a large beer festival in a downtown signature park is not the same as a small market in a local park where community members can sell their handmade wares. “Economic development is not one thing, just like public space is not one thing,” Dr. Adiv argued that we shouldn’t dismiss or restrict economic activities in parks altogether. “Pandemic patios have not only privatized many public spaces, but they have also … displac specifically vulnerable users including disabled people and unhoused residents,” they wrote.ĭespite the potential to exacerbate inequities, Dr. Similarly, planners Amina Yasin and Daniella Fergusson draw attention to the ways COVID-inspired economic initiatives in public space have come at the cost of access for some. This disparity could be addressed by ensuring new permitting opportunities that allow restaurateurs to operate outdoors are extended to street food vendors, too. Adiv pointed out that while restaurant owners have been permitted to expand their patios onto sidewalks during the pandemic, street food vendors-many of whom lack the start-up capital to open a storefront-remain heavily regulated or prohibited in many cities. Moving forward, park projects have potential to help address economic inequities that have deepened during the pandemic-but they also have potential to do the opposite, unless designed thoughtfully.įor example, Dr. Projects like these have provided an economic lifeline during a period of hardship for many, and offer inspiration on how parks can be part of COVID-19 recovery. Halifax got a boost to their 2021 parks and recreation budget to help fund outdoor community events to draw in residents and tourists to support local businesses that have taken a hit during COVID-19. Kingston’s Love Kingston Marketplace saw Springer Market Square transformed with vendor stalls, a night market, musical performances, and Indigenous programming-highlighting how outdoor arts and culture programming can complement economic initiatives.
The city also used the parklets to keep in touch with the public, by posting information about engagement opportunities for upcoming park projects. North Vancouver created parklets on the busy commercial strip of Lonsdale Avenue, providing a space for people to eat takeout from local restaurants. North Vancouver supported this during the pandemic by allowing private businesses to offer yoga, fitness, and art classes in parks-as did Mississauga by expanding rentals for outdoor facilities like tennis courts and picnic areas for groups that faced restrictions indoors, like dance classes. In our public survey, 52% of Canadians said they would like to see more recreational and fitness classes permanently moved from indoors to outdoors. In response, Mississauga added food trucks and farmers markets to its downtown Celebration Square, while Kelowna, too, plans to expand its food truck program in parks this summer. In our survey of the Canadian public, 32% of Canadians said they tried eating in parks for the first time during the pandemic, highlighting a surge in interest in park-based dining. In the past year, cities have worked to support local businesses through creative new initiatives that bring retail and services outdoors. The opportunity then is in finding ways to harness the economic development potential of parks, particularly given the impacts of COVID-19, to support local neighbourhood economies beyond the measuring stick of property values. For example, a park-induced boost to property values often further enriches homeowners and can contribute to the displacement of lower income residents from rising rents and development pressure-a process often called green gentrification. Naomi Adiv, a professor of political science at the University of Toronto. “Historically, parks have often been leveraged for the economic development of people who already have money,” said Dr. Studies on the economic benefits of parks often quantify the return on investment of green spaces by highlighting increased property values, tax and tourism revenues, and cost savings related to improving public health and reducing urban pollution.Ĭritics point out, however, that these benefits often only extend to the already privileged.
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With reduced opportunities for businesses to operate safely indoors, parks have filled in as dining spaces, gyms, offices, markets, and more.īut as the pandemic has deepened existing economic divides, it has also raised questions about the role of commerce in outdoor spaces and how to ensure the benefits are distributed equitably. COVID-19 has highlighted the potential for parks to contribute to local economic resilience.
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