National park city: Salutogenic city?

Abstract

In 2017 the London Mayor's Office launched plans to make London the world's first National Park City, one of the greenest cities on earth. What appears to be allied to the long standing “All London Green Grid” includes plans to increase physical greenspace for exercise, socialisation and relaxation, as well as reduce waste and tackle issues like air pollution. In parallel an initiative to exploit National Parks for national health has also been launched in England. Thus far the discourse about these two initiatives has been separate. Moreover, while the hype around them sounds enticing, there is little robust information on how they will be realised, nor what substantive benefits may be delivered. This paper takes a step back. In particular it explores the foundations on which National Park Cities might be built - including examining another contemporary and pertinent concept, that of National Urban Parks i.e. combining well-established concepts of National Parks, yet within urban settings. It will question what health and well-being benefits might accrue to any future Urban National Park, as well as exploring what might be the best basis on which cities might be selected for this accolade and by whom. Based on these explorations it will further seek to answer whether or not National/Urban Park Cities will bring closer the realisation of the salutogenic city concept.