Human settlements on earth have been divided into various categories—cities, towns, suburbs and far-off villages. As a human settlement continues to grow in size, open spaces start to become dearer. Does it mean that living in a city should necessarily be equal to living without sufficient open public spaces? Do we children and the generation ahead have to accept silently that we are destined to live with all the disadvantages that a bad urbanization brings along? Who is responsible for the ugliness and the mess in a badly planned city? 

We children are not responsible for that, are we? Yet, we are the ones who are affected the most. That is why it is important that we must seize every opportunity to raise awareness. Discussions about the value of open public places, such as city squares, parks, playgrounds, and stadiums, are essential. These days, children in cities are criticized for staying indoors. But hardly anybody bothers to ask if there are any dedicated playgrounds for children in their neighborhoods.

I used to wonder why open spaces were important—until my mother told me about the 2015 earthquake. That was the time when people realized the critical need for open spaces in cities. Kathmandu Valley cannot undo the mistakes it made in the process of urbanization, but cities like Tulsipur have a chane to learn from them.

Open spaces in cities offer us many benefits. They help maintain groundwater level through the seepage of rainwater. They provide children with a safe space to play. Parks and their greenery can promote internal tourism and help clean the air. Open spaces can also serve as venues for various cultural shows and social gatherings. 

In conclusion, while planning and developing a city, the government should not ignore any aspect of urbanization that contributes to livability. 

Saanvi Dhital

Grade VI 

Sanskar Pathshala, Dang