City parks can improve the quality of life as well as the physical and mental health of its citizens, and they can lead to increases in property values and hence higher property tax revenues. However, parks can also be costly to cities, especially medium-sized cities that lack the necessary access to financing to acquire and maintain city parks. In the case of Lafayette, Louisiana, the city is struggling to acquire the University of Louisiana Horse Farm and incorporate it into its park system. This professional report reviews financing strategies for cities that are seeking to acquire land or open space, and also provides specific recommendations for the Horse Farm. Through this literature review and analysis of the Lafayette case, this professional report contributes to the literature on public financing of land for green space development, a subject of particular importance considering the important role parks play in urban life. / text

The purpose of this work was to estimate metals bioaccessibility in soil samples from 15 city parks in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Total metals concentrations were analyzed to identify contaminants that exceeded the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) guidelines for residential/parkland use. Arsenic, barium, cadmium, cobalt, copper, lead, nickel and zinc were of particular interest as they have been known to have major effects on human health. Metal concentrations were below the CCME guidelines except for lead at three of the parks. Lead, copper and cadmium bioaccessibility in the soil samples as determined by an in-vitro physiologically based extraction test (PBET) were relatively high. Based on linear regression analyses there were no significant relationships between total metals and soil properties such as pH and total organic carbon (TOC). Generally there was negative correlation between metal bioaccessibility and TOC and positive correlation between bioaccessibility and soil pH.

no / The number of people visiting their local parks and countryside is increasing according to a recent survey published by Natural England [1]. An important reason given for visiting green spaces was to “relax and unwind” and these areas can be considered restorative or tranquil environments giving relief from cognitive overload and reduction of stress. Our green spaces can be a refuge from the din of city life and the green environment can provide shelter for wildlife and bird song can be heard. But are they suffi- ciently tranquil and what guidance do we have for improving such spaces if they are not?