Urban Parks and Sustainable Development - The Case Study of Portimão City, Portugal

Abstract

Following the industrial revolution with its massive urbanisation in the 19th century and the continued explosive growth of urban areas and the decline of nature throughout the 20th century, the alienation between people and the nature was increased. The urban park movement had objective to increase life quality in the modern city. The last years we have seen an increasing interest across Europe in the development of nature in cities. The case study of the City Park of Portimao will be presented and examined with emblematic similar projects that marked the urban park movement in the last decades. The Cental Park of New York, the Amsterdamse Bos, Parc, the Andre-Citroen and the City Park of Porto are discussed with objective to study how the Urban green space contributes to ecological, social and economic sustainability.