Journal 15: Central Park in New York

 Today, I read a paper about the relationship between architecture and politics. It details why New York City decided last year to set aside a lot of downtown land for Central Park. I admire the vision of the New York government at the time, this is because, for thousands of years, squares have appeared in cities as commercial Spaces, not parks. Because nature, which is considered dangerous, is kept out of the city. Until the 19th century, the rapid development of urbanization led to the deterioration of the inner living environment of the city, which made people realize that the city needed a bigger park rather than some grass and flowers. As a result, the Central Park project is part of a campaign to make the city greener and cleaner.

Now, Central Park has been helping to make New York more sustainable and healthier for its residents since its completion. It's estimated that there are 18,000 trees in New York City's Central Park, and one mature tree will absorb more than 48 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, converting it into oxygen. In total, Central Park's trees remove about 1 million pounds of carbon dioxide from the city's air each year. Waste and fallen leaves from these trees are also used to compost the park landscape, enabling a pollution-free recycling process.

In addition, the park's trees not only reduce carbon dioxide but also help keep New York City cool during the sweltering summer heat. Metropolitan areas such as New York City often constitute "urban heat islands," which are hotter than surrounding rural areas because of heat-trapping materials such as concrete and glass. Trees act as natural air conditioners, not only providing shade for people sitting under them but also cooling the whole city. The trees also absorb water that evaporates in the heat, which cools the air around them.