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

Urban growth creates challenges recognized by the global community. Sustainable development is a widely accepted strategic framework in city planning and urban parks play an important role in it. Nonetheless, it is argued, that urban parks and other open green spaces are important for the quality of life of an increasingly urbanized society. Following the industrial revolution with its massive urbanisation in the 19th century and the explosive growth of urban areas and nature degradation throughout the 20th century, the alienation between people and nature was increased. The urban park movement had objective to increase life quality in the modern city. Sustainability and city regeneration strategies focus mainly on man-made and built components of the urban environment, although, in the last years is noticed an increasing interest for development of nature in cities. In order to exemplify the importance of urban parks for sustainability and the future of the city this paper analyses some emblematic projects that marked the urban park movement in their construction period the Central Park, the Park Amsterdamse Bos, the Park André-Citröen and the City Park of Porto. The role that urban green space play in ecological, social and economic sustainability will be discussed and the case study of the new City Park of Portimão will address the importance of urban green spaces for life quality and sustainable city development.