• ARCHITECT NED CARLOS
As an architect in Dumaguete City, I believe we need to rethink how we design green spaces in our dense urban areas, especially in a post-COVID world.
Instead of traditional parks, let’s transform everyday spaces, like roads, into “city lungs” – urban gardens that weave through our communities. Imagine greenbelts of indigenous trees lining major roads, actively combating pollution and heat.
Prioritizing safe, convenient, and well-maintained streets will encourage Filipinos to embrace walking. The 21st century city should be designed for pedestrians, not cars, a concept already seen in many parts of the world but lacking in the Philippines. Our streets must prioritize the safety and accessibility of pedestrians, particularly the elderly and disabled, empowering them to live more independent lives.
We must address the hazards that discourage walking: speeding vehicles, damaged pavements, motorcycles on sidewalks, poorly managed crossings, inadequate lighting, insufficient signage, and missing street names. Instead, we should create walkable neighborhoods with one-stop shops, dedicated cycling paths, jogging trails, thoughtful zoning, and urban gardens featuring canopy trees and landscaping.
Trees are not just aesthetic additions; they are vital infrastructure. To encourage walking and cycling, we need cooler environments, and trees provide the necessary shade. Just like roads and bridges, trees require dedicated budgets for planting, replanting, and maintenance.
This requires collaboration. The private sector is ready, but the government, which controls our roads, must also step up. City and provincial leaders should create a dedicated forestry department focused solely on trees as infrastructure. This department should work with foresters and landscape architects to select endemic species suited to specific climates and microclimates, ensuring the long-term health and survival of our urban forests. Trees are a legacy, connecting places and memories, much like the acacia trees in Dumaguete remind me of my childhood home. We need to shift our thinking and see trees not as a luxury but as a necessity.
Access to green spaces is crucial for health and productivity. In the wake of the pandemic, we understand the importance of personal space, and trees act as natural buffers, mitigating the risk of contagion. Let’s prioritize tree-lined highways, reforested roads, and even the closure of some streets for al fresco dining. Future parks should incorporate elevated walkways that intertwine with the trees.
Sustainability demands closer, long-term collaboration between architecture, engineering, and all levels of planning – town, city, urban, and transportation. Cities that breathe are cities that function. Redesigning green spaces benefits communities, businesses, tourism, and the environment. It is a heritage we pass down through generations.*
