LECTURE NO: 21

TOPIC: URBAN ZONING & LAND USE CONTROL

INTRODUCTION TO URBAN ZONING?

Zoning is a device of land use regulation used by local governments in most

developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted
uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from
another. Zoning may be use-based (regulating the uses to which land may be put),
or it may regulate building height, lot coverage, and similar characteristics, or some
combination of these.

According to G. K. Hiraskar the zoning is defined as process of making sections or

division of city areas in different zones, to control the incompatible land uses, &
prevent the misuse of land & buildings heights and densities of population at the
initial stages. According to W.PAUL Farmer and Julie A. Gibb, the Zoning is the
division of land according to building Design & use.

The zoning regulations are drafted & developed by the legislative authority and
enforced by the municipal action. The legislative authority permits the municipality
to apply constant and consistent pressure upon landowners to develop & use their
land through the guidance of community plan and the public interest.

OBJECTIVES OF ZONING:

There are three major objectives of zoning i.e. conserving the value of its properties,
assuring orderly community growth and safeguarding general public welfare. One
of the major objectives of zoning legislation is to Establish regulations
which provides locations for all essential uses of land & buildings and to
ensure that each use is located at most appropriate place.

PURPOSE OF ZONING:

The main concern of zoning is with, the use of land & buildings, their
height & volumes, proportions with the open spaces and density of
population in each particular zone. The zoning is also used as an instrument for
the implementation of plan on development of privately owned land & buildings
rather than public land, buildings & facilities. The zoning attempts to group together
the most compatible landuses.

SCOPE OF ZONING:

Theoretically, the primary purpose of zoning is to segregate uses that are thought to
be incompatible. In practice, zoning is used to prevent new development from
interfereing with existing residents or businesses and to preserve the "character"
of a community. Zoning is commonly controlled by local governments such as
counties or municipalities, though the nature of the zoning regime may be
determined or limited by state or national planning authorities or through enabling
legislation. In Australia, land under the control of the Commonwealth (federal)
government is not subject to state planning controls.

The United States and other federal countries are similar. Zoning and urban
planning in France and Germany are regulated by national or federal codes. In the
case of Germany this code includes contents of zoning plans as well as the legal
procedure. Zoning may include regulation of the kinds of activities which will be
acceptable on particular lots (such as open space, residential, agricultural,
commercial or industrial), the densities at which those activities can be performed
(from low-density housing such as single family homes to high-density such as high-
rise apartment buildings), the height of buildings, the amount of space structures
may occupy, the location of a building on the lot (setbacks), the proportions of the
types of space on a lot, such as how much landscaped space, impervious surface,
traffic lanes, and parking must be provided. In Germany, zoning usually includes
building design, very specific green space and compensation regulations.

The details of how individual planning systems incorporate zoning into their
regulatory regimes, varies though the intention is always similar. For example, in
the state of Victoria, Australia, land use zones are combined with a system of
planning scheme overlays to account for the multiplicity of factors that impact on
desirable urban outcomes in any location. Basically, urban zones fall into one of
five major categories: residential, mixed residential-commercial, commercial,
industrial and special (e. g. power plants, sports complexes, airports, shopping malls
etc.). Each category can have a number of sub-categories. In Germany, e. g., each
category has a designated limit for noise emissions (not part of the building code,
but federal emissions code). In the United States or Canada, for example, residential
zones can have the following sub-categories:

R-1: Residential occupancies containing sleeping units where the occupants are
primarily transient in nature, including: Boarding houses, Hotels, Motels

R-2: Residential occupancies containing sleeping units or more than two dwelling
units where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature, including: Apartment
houses, Boarding houses, Convents, Dormitories

R-3: Residential occupancies where the occupants are primarily permanent in nature
and not classified as Group R-1, R-2, R-4 or I, including: Buildings that do not contain
more than two dwelling units,

R-4: Residential occupancies shall include buildings arranged for occupancy as

residential care/assisted living facilities including more than five but not more than
16 occupants.

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANCE AND NEED OF ZONING?

The zoning is important aspect of town planning because without zoning regulation,
incompatible land uses occurs which causes problems of health & hygiene,
environmental pollutions congestion public safety & security etc. For example,
industrial zone is mostly away from residential zone so as the residential areas
should be secured from dangerous gases and smoke pollution, the business &
commercial zone is also made away from residential zone so as the residential areas
should be free from noise & road traffic. Simultaneously the population is also
distributed in different zones differently so as the population should not be
concentrated in one zone & situation of congestion or comity problems emerges i.e.
utilities pressure etc. in addition the building heights are also controlled by zoning
so as high-rise should not develop with low height housing because the high-rise
cutoff the sun shine, & breeze which makes the life of residents uncomfortable i.e.
in Chicago, New York, Bombay etc building cast long shadow. The zoning is
important because it secures the orderly growth of town; promote heath & safety,
increase utility, beauty and efficiency of town. Infect it is the very soul of successful
Town Planning.

LANDUSE CONTROL:

Land use is the human modification of natural environment or wilderness into built
environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. More recent significant
effects of land use include urban sprawl, soil erosion, soil degradation, salinization,
and desertification. Land-use change together with use of fossil fuels, are the major
sources of carbon dioxide, a dominant greenhouse gas.

MUNICIPAL LAND USE:

Each designation, known as a parcels zoning, comes with a list of approved uses
that can legally operate on the zoned parcel. These are found in a governments
ordinances or zoning regulations.

LAND USE AND THE ENVIRONMENT:

Land use and land management practices have a major impact on natural resources
including water, soil, nutrients, plants and animals. Land use information can be
used to develop solutions for natural resource management issues such as salinity
and water quality. For instance, water bodies in a region that has been deforested or
having erosion will have different water quality than those in areas that are
forested. According to a report by the United Nations' Food and Agriculture
Organisation, land degradation has been exacerbated where there has been an
absence of any land use planning, or of its orderly execution, or the existence of
financial or legal incentives that have led to the wrong land use decisions, or one-
sided central planning leading to over-utilization of the land resources - for instance
for immediate production at all costs.
As a consequence the result has often been misery for large segments of the local
population and destruction of valuable ecosystems..

HISTORY OF ZONING:

As far as the history of zoning is concerned, the origin /start & use of zoning took
place in late 19th century. The first modern zoning ordinance was developed in New
York City in 1916. However legally it was enforced in 1962 when US Supreme Court
considered the legality of comprehensive zoning controls. They made a landmark
decision in a case where the court discussed the need for and imposed pattern of
landuse & concept of a comprehensive or Euclidean zoning. By the year 1930,
several hundred localities has followed suit and had established their own zoning
ordinances throughout USA.

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF ZONING IN UNITED STATES:

Special laws and regulations were long made, restricting the places where particular
businesses should be carried on. In the 1860s a specific State statute prohibited all
commercial activities along Eastern Parkway (Brooklyn), setting a trend for future
decades. In 1916, New York City adopted the first zoning regulations to apply city-
wide as a reaction to construction of The Equitable Building (which still stands at
120 Broadway). The building towered over the neighboring residences, completely
covering all available land area within the property boundary, blocking windows of
neighboring buildings and diminishing the availability of sunshine for the people in
the affected area.

Zoning extended and improved on nuisance law in that it provided advance notice
that certain types of uses were incompatible with other uses in a particular district.
The second thing was that zoning was a necessary municipal-planning instrument.
By the late 1920s most of the nation had developed a set of zoning regulations that
met the needs of the locality. New York City went on to develop ever more complex
set of zoning regulations, including floor-area ratio regulations, air rights and others
according to the density-specific needs of the neighborhoods.

ZONING TYPES IN THE UNITED STATES:

Zoning codes have evolved over the years as urban planning theory has changed,
legal constraints have fluctuated, and political priorities have shifted. The various
approaches to zoning can be divided into four broad categories: Euclidean,
Performance, Incentive, and Design-based.

EUCLIDEAN

Named for the type of zoning code adopted in the town of Euclid, Ohio, and
approved in a landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, Euclidean zoning codes
are by far the most prevalent in the United States, used extensively in small towns
and large cities alike.

STANDARD EUCLIDEAN

Also known as "Building Block" zoning, Euclidean zoning is characterized by the

segregation of land uses into specified geographic districts and dimensional
standards stipulating limitations on the magnitude of development activity that is
allowed to take place on lots within each type of district. Typical types of land-
use districts in Euclidean zoning are: residential (single-family),
residential (multi-family), commercial, and industrial. Uses within each
district are usually heavily prescribed to exclude other types of uses (residential
districts typically disallow commercial or industrial uses). Some "accessory" or
"conditional" uses may be allowed in order to accommodate the needs of the
primary uses. Dimensional standards apply to any structures built on lots
within each zoning district, and typically take the form of setbacks, height
limits, minimum lot sizes, lot coverage limits, and other limitations on the
"building envelope". Euclidean zoning is utilized by some municipalities because
of its relative effectiveness, ease of implementation (one set of explicit, prescriptive
rules), long-established legal precedent, and familiarity to planners and design
professionals. However, Euclidean zoning has received heavy criticism for its lack of
flexibility and institutionalization of now-outdated planning theory.

EUCLIDEAN II

Euclidean II Zoning uses traditional Euclidean zoning classifications (industrial,

commercial, multi-family, residential, etc.) but places them in a hierarchical
order "nesting" one zoning class within another similar to the concept of
Planned Unit Developments (PUD) mixed uses, but now for all zoning districts;
in effect, adding a third dimension to flatland Euclidean zoning. For example,
multi-family is not only permitted in "higher order" multi-family zoning
districts, but also permitted in high order commercial and industrial
zoning districts as well. Protection of land values is maintained by stratifying the
zoning districts into levels according to their location in the urban society
(neighborhood, community, municipality, and region). Euclidean II zoning also
incorporates transportation and utilities as new zoning districts in its
matrix dividing zoning into three categories: Public, Semi-Public and
Private. In addition, all Euclidean II Zoning permitted activities and definitions are
tied directly to the state's building code, Municode and the North American Industry
Classification System (NAICS) assuring statewide uniformity. Euclidean II zoning
fosters the concepts of mixed use, new urbanism and "highest and best use"; and,
simplifies all zoning classifications into a single and uniform set of activities. It is
relatively easy to transition from most existing zoning classification systems to the
Euclidean II Zoning system.

PERFORMANCE

Also known as "effects-based planning" performance zoning uses performance-

based or goal-oriented criteria to establish review parameters for proposed
development projects in any area of a municipality. Performance zoning often
utilizes a "points-based" system whereby a property developer can apply credits
toward meeting established zoning goals through selecting from a 'menu' of
compliance options (some examples include: mitigation of environmental impacts,
providing public amenities, building affordable housing units, etc.). Additional
discretionary criteria may also be established as part of the review process.

The appeal of performance zoning lies in its high level of flexibility,

rationality, transparency and accountability. Performance zoning can avoid the
sometimes arbitrary nature of the Euclidian approach, and better accommodates
market principles and private property rights with environmental protection.
However, performance zoning can be extremely difficult to implement .

INCENTIVE

First implemented in Chicago and New York City, incentive zoning is intended to
provide a reward-based system to encourage development that meets
established urban development goals. Typically, a base level of prescriptive
limitations on development will be established and an extensive list of incentive
criteria will be established for developers to adopt or not at their discretion. A
reward scale connected to the incentive criteria provides an enticement for
developers to incorporate the desired development criteria into their projects.
Common examples include FAR (floor-area-ratio) bonuses for affordable housing
provided on-site, and height limit bonuses for the inclusion of public amenities on-
site. Incentive zoning allows for a high degree of flexibility, but can be
complex to administer. The more a proposed development takes advantage of
incentive criteria, the more closely it has to be reviewed on a discretionary basis.
The initial creation of the incentive structure in order to best serve planning
priorities can also be challenging and often requires extensive ongoing revision to
maintain balance between incentive magnitude and value given to developers.

FORM-BASED

Form-based codes offer considerably more flexibility in building uses than do

Euclidean codes. Form based zoning regulates not the type of land use, but
the form that that land use may take. For instance, form based zoning in a
dense area may insist on low setbacks, high density, and pedestrian accessibility
among other things. As another example, in a largely suburban single family
residential area, uses such as offices, retail, or even light industrial could be
permitted so long as they conformed (setback, building size, lot coverage, height,
and other factors) to other existing development in the area. Form-based zoning
relies on rules applied to development sites according to both prescriptive and
potentially discretionary criteria. These criteria are typically dependent on lot size,
location, proximity, and other various site- and use-specific characteristics.

Form based zoning also may specify desirable design features, however when form-
based codes do not contain appropriate illustrations and diagrams, they have been
criticized as being difficult to interpret. This zoning code creates "form districts" for
Louisville Metro. Each form district intends to recognize that some areas of the city
are more sub-urban in nature, while others are more urban. Building setbacks,
heights, and design features vary according to the form district. As an example, in a
"traditional neighborhood" form district, a maximum setback might be 15 feet (4.6
m) from the property line, while in a suburban "neighborhood" there may be no
maximum setback. Since the concept of form based codes is relatively new, this
type of zoning may be more challenging to enact.

ZONING ORDINANCES IN UNITED KINGDOM:

The zoning ordinances subdivide the city or town in Districts, each district then
authorized with some specified uses, with building heights, bulk/volume, & set back
requirements. In British planning no regulatory provision in made for zoning
ordinance. They dont have any general rules of zoning for potential application.
However in the absence of any rules the local planning authority studies each
zoning application on its merits with respect development plan. Development
control or planning control is the element of the United Kingdom's system
of town and country planning through which local government regulates
land use and new building. It relies on the "plan-led system" whereby
development plans are formed and the public consulted. Subsequent
development requires planning permission, which will be granted or refused with
reference to the development plan as a material consideration. There are 421
Local Planning Authorities (LPAs) in the United Kingdom. Generally they are
the local borough or district council or a unitary authority. Development involving
mining, minerals or waste disposal matters is dealt with by county councils in non-
metropolitan areas. Within national parks, it is the National Park Authority that
determines planning applications.

ZONING IN AUSTRALIA:

Statutory planning otherwise known as town planning, development control or

development management, refers to the part of the planning process that is
concerned with the regulation and management of changes to land use and
development.

LAND USE CONTROL REGULATION IN JAPAN:

In Japan, the zoning system is considered as the most important element in urban
planning. Urban city planning area is divided into two areas: urban promotion
area (UPA) and urban control area (UCA). UPA is the area in which the local
government is to promote urbanization, and the rest are areas in which urbanization
is controlled as UCA. There are a number of areas where zoning is not carried out,
depending on the location. The development of such area requires permission from
the government. In the UCA, development is basically prohibited, except for special
cases such as agriculture and forestry. Japan has twelve different types of
zones for commercial, industrial, and residential uses. Basically, Japan has
regulations on the types of facilities that can be built in specific areas or specific
zones. There are also regulations on floor to area ratio or building to land ratio.

CITY PLANNING AREA

City planning area is designated in the area to be planned and developed as a

comprehensive unit. Approximately 100,000 Km 2 or one quarter of the nations land
(380,000 Km2) is designated as city planning area, which includes about 2,000
cities, towns, and villages.

URBANIZED AREA AND URBAN CONTROLLED AREA

City Planning Area is divided into the two areas: 1) Urbanized Area, which
includes existing urbanized areas and areas to be developed within next
ten years; and 2) Urban Controlled Area, where urbanization is
restricted. The urbanized and urban controlled areas are designated within the city
planning area, which include three major metropolitan areas and the cities with a
population of more than 100,000 persons. The urbanized areas amount to
approximately 1.4 million ha in total, which occupies about 4% of the nations land
area. Approximately 82 million people or 66% of the nations population live in the
urbanized areas.

DEVELOPMENT PERMISSION

Any development with change of building/land form or use is required to obtain

development permission. Technical standard of development permission is
regulated in the City Planning Law. Under the Law, most of development actions are
generally prohibited in urban controlled areas, with some exceptions. Demarcation
of urbanized and urban controlled areas is occasionally reviewed.

LAND USE ZONING ORDINANCE

Land use zoning is designated on the basis of existing land use pattern and its
future orientation. The zoning is classified into the three major categories:
residential, commercial and industrial uses. There are twelve types of land use
zoning. The type of building allowed to be developed is regulated by the zoning
ordinance. The floor area ratio and building coverage ratio are also designated by
the zoning ordinance. Land use zoning is designated in urbanized area, not in urban
controlled area.

ZONING CLASSIFICATION:

The zoning is classified in three categories i.e. Use Zoning, Height Zoning and
Density Zoning.

USE ZONING:

In use zoning city is divided into different sections/zones for various specific
purposes. The use zoning is classified in six broad categories or sections i.e.
Residential Zone, Institutional Zone, Industrial Zone, Civic Zone, Institutional Zone
and Recreational Zone.

RESIDENTIAL ZONE:

It is the zone for housing of large number of people. The buildings developed in this
zone are, detached single family houses, semidetached houses or duplexes, group
housing, low, medium and high-rise flats or apartments and residential sky scrapers.
This zone covers the area 40 to 50% of total away from business or Industrial zones.
It needs privacy & use of green belt parks & fast communication facilities.

COMMERCIAL ZONE:

This covers area of 2% to 5%, having market, warehousing, storage spaces, go-
downs, business offices, banks & residential spaces for employees. They should be
located near traffic, transport & roadside.

INDUSTRIAL ZONE:

This covers area of 0% to 20%. This is most important zone after residential zone.
This is located outward of the town so that dangerous gases should not affect town
population. This zone further divided in four categories i.e. Minor Industries, Light
Industries, Medium Industries and Heavy Industries.

MINOR INDUSTRIES:

These are small industries, such as, bakeries, dairies & laundries these can be
located near residential zone for the benefit of people.

LIGHT INDUSTRIES:

These are small factories such as glass, porcelain or Ice which only use electric
power not solid fuel its not much real nuisance, so they can be located at the
periphery of town.

MEDIUM INDUSTRIES:
These are large factories or industrial units such as cotton mills, oil mills, sugar mills
which produce noisy environment & residential & commercial zone.

HEAVY INDUSTRIES:

These are large manufacturing industries or large heavy duty industrial units such
as cement factory, steel factories and fertilizer plants that produce fumes & gases.
Therefore these should be located in outskirts away forms town in leeward position.

CIVIC ZONE:

This zone covers area of 2% to 3%. It contains all public building i.e. town hall,
courts, libraries, post office museum, auditoriums, banks etc. & housing for
employees working there. These should be located at strategy locations where
public access should be easier.

INSTITUTIONAL ZONE:

This is again located in a quite zone, having an area of 1% to 2%. It contains

schools, college, university, & other research institutes etc.

RECREATIONAL ZONE:

This zone is located / planned with natural elements. This covers 15% to 20%. This
provides healthy environment. It includes parks, play grounds, auditoriums,
cinemas, theaters etc.

HEIGHT ZONING:

As discussed earlier, the height zoning is quite important for the purpose of good
livable environment with appropriate sun light & Air movement. Simultaneously the
control over height & volume of the buildings is also necessary for prevention from
social evils and aesthetic beauty of the town that includes the cohesiveness among
small & large buildings & to satisfy air / ground traffic rules. Because high-rises need
specific considerations regarding movement of aero planes and to avoid narrow
streets & traffic congestion.

Now there are various methods to control building volume & heights. Such as road
widths / Air plane rules, bulk method rules etc.

ACCORDING TO MR. G. K. HIRASKAR:

The first major method to control building heights is through road widths / Air plain
rule. Generally it should be 45.0 to 63.50 from the center of road to roof top edge of
the building.
The other major method to control Building heights is bulk volume method in which
building volume is controlled by making it equal to the volume of prism; where
plinth area is considered as base & height equal to width of road.

=> 1/3 x AREA x HEIGHT

The third important method which is currently applied in most developed &
underdeveloped countries are floor space index or (FSI). In this method the total
floor area of building is controlled by relating it with the open space in the total plot
area

The thumb rule in this regard is that As much as the plot area as less is the covered
area and as less is the plot area as much as the covered area. It means that the
covered area is inversely proportionate to plot area.

DENSITY ZONING:

The density zoning is mainly related to population density, Gross density & net
density; where the population density is population / unit area or acres of land,
gross density is average density of population / unit area of residential zone
including open spaces, schools, shops & institutions; Net density is average
density / unit area of housing & roads.

The objective of density zoning is to control the overcrowding & concentration of

population in some particular Area. In density zoning a town planner fix certain
standards of gross & net densities for various areas which prohibit the collection of
population in any particular zone. Now this control of population is achieved in three
ways.

i) Fixing minimum size of plot for each house.

ii) Specifying nos. of houses per unit area.

iii) Fixing the ratio of total plot area v/s total buildup area.

ZONING POWERS:

The zoning power is mainly lying with local development authority, which enforces
rules & regulations of zoning & makes changes in it from time to time. The zoning
powers are mainly made at a liberal scale & they are not so rigid considering the
benefits for the people living in a locality. For instance the existing industries which
are not harmful for the health of people they are allowed as Non-confirming use
even if they are undesirable.

However these industries are not allowed to expand in any case. In addition the
policy will be to remove this industry by passage of time subject to provision of
facilities in any industrial zone as an alternative. Sometimes it is necessary to have
school, library, community hall, & shopping units in a residential zone. For which
special permission is obtained form the local authority. However those factories /
industries which produce noise & bad odors or smoke are strictly prohibited.
Therefore conclusively the zoning powers are divided in three categories.

i) Uses permitted under Non-conforming Types.

ii) Uses which are permitted under special approval by local authority.

iii) Uses which are strictly prohibited.

Finally the competent zoning authority should enforce zoning powers from time to
time otherwise chaos will result in city which is evident in cities now a day. Zoning
power is an effective tool available with a town planner to make his town-planning
scheme successful.

LECTURE NO: 21

TOPIC: PARKS AND RECREATION FACILITIES

INTRODUCTION:

The theme of current lecture on is Parks and Recreational facilities. In order to

understand this theme it is important to know about the terms; park and recreation.
The term park means a piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area or it
is a large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property; then there
are laws that protect the wildlife in this park. The term recreation means activities
which are relaxing to humans or provide diversions from their normal routine. In
town planning provision of parks and recreational facilities is a part of an overall
urban planning scheme whether a new city is made or improved an existing one.
However the provision of parks and recreational facilities is not an easy task and
before understanding the process of its provision it is also significant to have clear
understanding of both the concepts of Parks and Recreation. In the following these
are described in details.

WHAT IS A PARK?

A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state or planted, and set
aside for human recreation and enjoyment. It may consist of, rocks, soil, water, flora
and fauna and grass areas. Wilderness parks are intact and undeveloped areas used
mainly by wild species. Many parks are legally protected by law. Protected
wilderness zones are required for some wild species to survive. Some protected
parks focus mainly on the survival of a few threatened species, such as gorillas or
chimpanzees. The term Park is also used for many other meanings for instance the
term park is also used in reference to industrial areas, often termed as industrial
parks. Some technology research areas are also called research parks. Small
environmental areas, often part of urban renewal plans, are called pocket parks. The
word park may also be used in community names, such as Oak Park or College Park.
Sometimes the active recreational aspect may be expressed in the extreme of
naming as an amusement park, usually privately owned. A car park is an area of
land or a building in which cars are parked. An amusement park, or theme park is a
generic term for a collection of rides and other entertainment attractions assembled
for the purpose of entertainment. Thus; the term park has various uses and
meanings however the parks can be divided mainly in two categories i.e.
Government owned or operated parks and private parks.

GOVERNMENT-OWNED OR OPERATED PARKS:

There are three main types of Government owned or operated parks i.e. National
Park, Sub National Parks and Urban Parks.

NATIONAL PARK:

A national park is a reserve of land, usually, but not always declared and owned by
a national government, protected from most human development and pollution.
National parks are protected areas as established by International Union
for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The largest national park in the world is the
Northeast Greenland National Park, which was established in 1974. In the United
States the concept of preserving landscapes for the pleasure of the people was
established on June 30, 1864.

SUB-NATIONAL PARKS:

In Federal systems, many parks are managed by the local levels of government,
rather than by the central government. In the United States these are called state
parks and in Canada provincial or territorial parks, except in Quebec where they are
known as National Parks.

URBAN PARKS:

A park is an area of open space provided for recreational use, usually owned and
maintained by a local government. Parks commonly resemble savannas or open
woodlands, the types of landscape that human beings find most relaxing. Grass is
typically kept short to discourage insect pests and to allow for the enjoyment of
picnics and sporting activities. Trees are chosen for their beauty and to provide
shade. The world's first public park is claimed to be Peel Park, Salford, England
opened on 22 August 1846. Park can be divided into active and passive recreation.
Active recreation is that which require intensive development and often involves
cooperative or team activity, including playgrounds, ball fields and skate parks.
Passive recreation is that which emphasizes the open-space aspect of a park and
which involves a low level of development, including picnic areas and trails.
Organized football matches take place in parks. Many smaller neighborhood parks
are receiving increased attention and valuation as significant community assets and
places of refuge in heavily populated urban areas. Neighborhood groups around the
world are joining together to support local parks that have suffered from urban
decay and government neglect. A linear park is a park that has a much greater
length than width. Parks are sometimes made out of oddly shaped areas of land,
much like the vacant lots that often become city neighborhood parks.

An urban park, also known as a municipal park or a public park or open

space (United Kingdom), is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer
recreation and green space to residents of and visitors to the municipality. The
design, operation and maintenance is usually done by government, typically on the
city level, but may occasionally be contracted out to a private sector company. The
oldest Urban Park in the world, Phillips Park, is located in the English city of
Manchester. Common features of municipal parks include playgrounds, hiking,
running and mixed use trails or paths, bridle paths, sports field and courts, public
restrooms, boat ramps and/or picnic facilities depending on the budget and natural
features available.

PRIVATE PARKS:

Private parks are owned by individuals or businesses and are used at the discretion
of the owner. There are a few types of private parks, and some which once were
privately maintained and used have now been made open to the public. The most
prominent of them may be Hunting Parks. Hunting parks originally referred to an
area maintained as open space where residences, industry and farming were not
allowed, often originally so that nobility might have a place to hunt such as
medieval deer parks.

These were known for instance, as deer parks (deer being originally a term meaning
any wild animal). Many country houses in Great Britain and Ireland still have parks
of this sort, which since the 18th century have often been landscaped for aesthetic
effect. They are usually a mixture of open grassland with scattered trees and
sections of woodland, and are often enclosed by a high wall.

WHAT IS RECREATION?

Recreation is one (not the only) kind of stress management. Recreation or fun is the
expenditure of time in a manner designed for therapeutic refreshment of one's body
or mind. While leisure is more likely a form of entertainment or rest, recreation is
active for the participant but in a refreshing and diverting manner. As people in the
world's wealthier regions lead increasingly sedentary life styles, the need for
recreation has increased. The rise of so called active vacations exemplifies this..
Excessive recreation is not considered healthy, and may be labeled as escapism.
However, research has shown that recreation contributes to satisfaction, and that
the stress management aspects of it contribute to quality of life, health and
wellness, happiness, and that the use of recreation as a diversion may have clinical
applications to individuals with chronic pain and other health impairments.

TYPES OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES:

There are various types of recreational activities such as art, computer games,
cycling, dancing, Drawing, Eating and drinking, Hobbies, Hunting and fishing, Kite
flying Music, Martial arts, Partying, Pet ownership, Reading a book, Recreational
drug use, Sexuality and Dating, Sledding, Shopping, Singing, Sports and exercise,
Travel and tourism Texting, Using the internet, Video games, Visiting an amusement
park, Watching movies, Yoga, Painting. In recent years, more exciting forms of
recreation have received more attention, such as skiing, snowboarding, bungee
jumping, sky diving, hang gliding, paintball, rock climbing, backpacking, canyoning,
caving, BASE jumping, adventure tourism and motor sport.

PROVISION OF PARKS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES IN TOWN PLANNING:

One of the most critical components in maintaining and enhancing a community's

quality of life is its system of parks, recreation, and open space. The careful location
of parks and open space areas and preservation of the Town's natural resources as a
complement to existing development can be a useful tool in guiding the Town's
development into a logical, orderly and environmentally sensitive pattern. In
addition to recreational and aesthetic benefits, open spaces provide a framework for
various land uses. Properly located, they become boundaries and buffers between
conflicting uses of land and a nucleus for building neighborhood areas. Natural
features can be preserved as valuable scenic and environmental attributes of the
Town.

FUTURE PARKS:

One area, in which it is crucial for the City Government to work hard, is the planning
for future park sites. There must be a visioning committee to make several
recommendations in this area. There must be a detailed map of Lahore with its
complete boundaries, maps of towns and maps of union councils where parks are
graphically depicted. These maps shall be publicly available for the citizens as the
locations reserved for parks so as they may create a check and balance system and
cry for parks and recreational facilities if required. The following recommendations
for future parks are highlighted for the reference.

GOAL:

To provide a coordinated system of parks that meet the recreational needs of all of
city's residents.

OBJECTIVES:
Create/preserve public access and recreational opportunities in every town and
union council. Increase funding for the operation of Parks and Recreational Facilities.
Identify a site or sites for regional parks in future for annexation areas of city.
Develop city's parks as a coordinated system in order to insure that all areas of City
are equitably served with parks and that a variety of recreational opportunities are
provided. Work with all town and union council administration to coordinate Town
and Union Council Park Planning and eliminate unnecessary duplication of services.
Examine and refine, if necessary, the policy of requiring usable park/open space
during development review and approval. Provide for the contribution of fees in lieu
of parks in subdivisions where such land is not available or is not needed due to the
lack of appropriate lands or the proximity of other suitable parks or open spaces.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES:

The city government should increase funding to Parks and Recreational facilities of
approximately 2% of the budget. The Planning and Zoning Commission shall be
made and it should work with the D.G Parks to determine which of city's existing
parks should be improved and what types of improvements are needed therein as
well as to develop a plan for future park sites. The city government should meet and
coordinate planning efforts with Towns up until Union Council level in order to
enhance/increase recreational opportunities available to city residents and in return
to provide Karachi's fair share of Parks and Recreational Facilities. All the towns
should utilize monies collected as fees-in-lieu of providing parks and open space for
the acquisition of new parks and the improvement and/or maintenance of existing
undeveloped or underdeveloped parks.