Neighborhood Parks

PARKS IN NEIGHBORHOODS have become commonplace in many villages, towns, and cities across the United States. Neighborhood parks are smaller in land area than most city parks, but offer some of the same features. The general purpose of neighborhood parks is to provide green space, and a place for play and fun activities, for the people in a specific "neighborhood." It has been found that the neighborhood park helps provide a feeling of community. Ideally, neighborhood parks are developed to serve people within an area of several blocks surrounding the park.

Often, neighborhood parks are geared especially to appeal to families with younger children. Such things as swings, slides, teeter-totters, climbing apparatus, sandboxes, picnic tables, and food preparation areas are oftentimes included. Some parks, of course, may be more elaborate and provide other special features.

The neighborhood park pictured above is located near the center of Bolivar, a small city of approximately 9,000 in southwest Missouri.