City Parks Cooler, Lack Facilities: Study

Time of India

3 days ago

New Delhi: An audit of 50 parks across Delhi found that the shaded green areas were up to 20 degrees Celsius cooler in some parks than nearby unshaded concrete spaces outside. However, the report also highlighted issues such as limited access to the parks and the lack of basic amenities in many of them.
The audit by green and social organisations found that the average temperature difference between shaded areas of parks and unshaded concrete right across their boundaries was 10 degrees Celsius. In one instance, even the concrete zones peaked at 53.3 degrees Celsius while tree-covered spots within the same park remained at 35 degrees, underscoring the critical cooling power of urban forests.
However, despite this natural relief, eight out of 10 parks lacked drinking water facilities and none had official provisions for nests or birdhouses to protect urban birdlife from soaring temperatures.
The report also stressed that parks are a necessity and not a luxury, advocating for their round-the-clock access to the public, especially in the densely packed residential areas with high heat stress.
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The audit, held by Greenpeace India in collaboration with COHAS and Youth For Climate Justice, South Asia, aimed to show how the city's green spaces serve as vital buffers against extreme heat and meet the needs of residents and fauna during peak summer months.
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The report found that while Delhi is said to have green cover across 25% of its geographical area, most parks are concentrated in just five districts, leaving large swathes of the city, particularly low-income, congested areas, with minimal access to green relief. This inequity, combined with the concretisation of urban forests, further enhances heat vulnerability in the capital. It stated that the nests or birdhouses installed were by local public and authorities.
According to the report, the average surface temperature was 39.2 degrees Celsius in unshaded concrete spaces and 28.9 degrees under tree cover. About 78% of the parks lacked public drinking water, 73% lacked provisions for wildlife like water bowls, and only 28% had waterbodies, many of which were dirty or drying up. Additionally, 74% were closed at some time of the day, with 64% shut during night hours, limiting respite for residents in heat-stressed areas.
"In many low-income neighbourhoods, the heat lingers late into the night, yet most parks are locked. It made us realise that parks aren't luxuries; they're life-saving infrastructure. Parks should be open 24/7, with water facilities and shade, as these are basic, life-saving necessities," said Priyanka, a member of the audit team from COHAS. "We also noticed how tree roots were choked with concrete, green patches were disappearing under paving and drinking water was missing," she added.
"This audit clearly shows that green cover lowers temperatures dramatically, yet our policies prioritise concrete over canopies. The forest cover in Delhi is still under threat of being converted into big infrastructural projects," said Aakiz Farooq, climate & energy campaigner at Greenpeace India.