Urban park design concepts and key elements

Urban green spaces provide residents the opportunity to connect with nature, considering that green areas are a reflection in urban spaces of the natural areas surrounding cities. In this context, successful urban park design requires a full understanding of the technical analysis tools together with adequate expertise in the fields of environmental, urban, social and architectural planning.

The aim of this short guide is to provide some basic but useful insights for designing an urban park. Starting off with some historical considerations, we’ll be taking a look at the evolution of open green spaces and a brief focus on the different types of urban green areas.

We also added a practical example of an urban open space project ready for you to download.

Urban park project | Parking area | Image generated with usBIM.codesign AI

Historical Evolution of Urban Green Spaces

From Public Gardens to Contemporary Urban Parks

The evolution of urban green spaces reflects the social, cultural, and environmental changes in cities. The first European public gardens, dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries, were often designed as places for representation or strolling, influenced by the aesthetics of formal and romantic gardens. Their primary function was to provide a pleasant environment for the urban elite, rather than to address widespread ecological or social needs.

With the industrial revolution, rapid urban growth and deteriorating sanitary conditions led to a rethinking of the role of public green spaces. This gave rise to the first modern urban parks, such as Hyde Park in London and Bois de Boulogne in Paris, designed as “green lungs” to ensure well-being and health for the population. In the 20th century, the modernist movement introduced a functionalist view of green space, integrating parks, tree-lined avenues, and recreational areas within urban planning.

Today, contemporary parks are multifunctional green infrastructures that respond to ecological, social, and climatic needs. They incorporate elements of biodiversity, sustainable drainage systems (SuDS), areas for psychophysical well-being, and social functions, transforming into true ecosystemic devices for the city.

Urban Green and Its Role in the Microclimate

Urban green plays a crucial role in regulating the urban microclimate, helping to mitigate the effects of the urban heat island. Trees, shrubs, and vegetated surfaces improve air quality, reduce solar radiation through shading, and promote evapotranspiration, a natural process capable of lowering temperatures in densely built areas.

Moreover, the presence of green spaces increases soil permeability, reducing the risk of flooding during intense weather events, which are becoming more frequent due to climate change. Contemporary urban parks often integrate stormwater management systems, such as retention basins, depressed draining areas, and green roofs, thus contributing to urban climate resilience.

The strategic placement of vegetation near roads, squares, and buildings enhances thermal comfort, reduces noise pollution, and promotes livability in cities, especially during the summer months. For this reason, green design is now a fundamental part of sustainable planning strategies.

References to the European Landscape Convention

The European Landscape Convention, signed in Florence in 2000 and entered into force in 2004, represents a fundamental reference point for the protection, management, and planning of landscapes, including urban ones. For the first time, the landscape is recognized as an essential component of quality of life and as a heritage to be safeguarded at all levels: urban, peri-urban, rural, and natural.

The Convention introduces several key principles that also profoundly influence urban green space design:

• Enhancement of landscape diversity: urban green spaces are considered cultural and environmental expressions to be protected;
• Involvement of local communities: citizens and local stakeholders must participate in decision-making processes related to the transformation of public spaces;
• Sustainable development: green design must integrate ecological, economic, and social aspects;
• Recognition of everyday landscapes: not only iconic parks, but also small neighborhood green spaces assume strategic value.

In practice, the Convention has led many European countries to develop guidelines and urban planning aimed at creating urban ecological networks, revitalizing existing green spaces, and designing resilient, inclusive, and sustainable landscapes.

The Boboli Gardens – Florence (16th – 19th century)

Urban Greenery in Italy: Issues, Trends, and Planning

Distribution and Design Shortcomings

In Italy, the distribution of urban greenery shows significant disparities between the northern and southern cities, as well as between large metropolises and smaller centers. According to data from ISTAT and CNR, the average provision of public green space per inhabitant is around 20–25 m², but with significant differences: some cities exceed 30 m² per inhabitant, while in densely built urban contexts, the available green space drops below 10 m², well below the parameters recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).

The main issues include:

• design shortcomings: many urban green spaces are not functional, inaccessible, or poorly maintained;
• fragmentation and isolation: parks and gardens are not always connected, reducing ecological continuity;
• lack of multifunctionality: often, greenery is considered only as an aesthetic or recreational area, without considering climate resilience, biodiversity, or stormwater management.

These gaps highlight the need for a strategic rethink of urban greenery, integrating environmental, social, and cultural aspects into the design.

Planning Tools for Greenery (Overview)

In Italy, urban green planning develops through various regulatory and planning tools at local and national levels:

• general urban plans (PUC/PRG): define the distribution of public and private green spaces, expansion areas, and ecological connections;
• urban green plans (PVU): specific tools that detail development, maintenance, and enhancement strategies for green spaces;
• regional and national guidelines: direct design interventions, introducing criteria for environmental sustainability, biodiversity, and urban resilience;
• European regulations and international conventions: the European Landscape Convention and EU directives on urban greenery guide the integration of the ecological component into urban planning.

The adoption of these tools allows for a coordinated approach to existing issues, promoting a connected, multifunctional green network capable of improving urban quality of life.

Identity Role and Urban Quality

Urban greenery in Italy serves not only an ecological or recreational function but also significantly contributes to the cultural and landscape identity of cities. Historical parks, villas, Italian gardens, and contemporary green areas constitute recognizable elements that define the urban character and the perception of the city by citizens and visitors.

The main benefits related to the identity role of urban greenery include:

• enhancement of cultural heritage: many Italian cities integrate greenery with monuments, historic buildings, and tourist routes;
• urban quality and well-being: the presence of well-designed green spaces improves accessibility, social usability, and the perception of safety;
• environmental sustainability: parks and gardens contribute to strengthening urban biodiversity and mitigating climate effects, integrating into the sustainable design of the city.

Valentino Park – Turin (17th – 19th century)

Different types of urban green spaces

Public open spaces are usually categorised into a hierarchy of neighbourhood, district and regional open spaces. The main types of green areas, present in urban and suburban contexts are described below.

Historic gardens

They are generally old green areas that witnessed different historical periods and culturally related with the development of the city. For these reasons, historic gardens play a unique role in the urban environment. One of the main aims of managing these gardens, is the conservation of their original genetic material and at the same time the preservation from a degrading condition.

The occasional presence of secular trees requires careful evaluations of the phytosanitary conditions and the stability conditions of the specimen present, to guarantee users safety and garden integrity. Architectural and artistic furniture elements are frequent to be found, such as – statues, fountains, benches, small buildings – as well as artefacts of historical interest.

Neighborhood green spaces

Found in different urban areas, neighborhood green spaces are mainly used by local residents for recreational, leisure and encounters purposes. Considering the modest extension of these green spaces, design criteria need to be simple: trees, shrubs, and lawn areas should be located in such a way as to alternate shaded and sunny spaces; paved areas must also be provided, equipped for playing and sitting areas.

Urban parks

These are more or less extensive areas of green open space that are present in urban contexts or their outskirts and that play important recreational, environmental and cultural function, contributing to a better quality of life.

Urban parks can serve different needs and functions (rest, play, sporting activities, facilities, cultural and recreational centres) and, generally, are designed using native species, with a considerable use of grass and acclimated shrub and tree species for that area.

In areas of peri-urban expansion, parks can also assume a role of integration and replacement of the agricultural and forestry system, and if properly managed, can make important contributions to urban climate mitigation (reducing the “heat islands” effect).

Public and private green spaces

Private domestic garden and public green space are an integral part of the dwelling and residential environment.

The consequences of urban sprawl are raising a series of problems related to new urbanizations, such as high-density building construction, while leading to an increased demand for more quality in residential areas. In response to these environmental hazards and urban densification, there is a growing need to innovate healthier designs and planned sustainability for urban environments. Therefore, green areas need to fit in and residential interventions should provide adequate furnishings.

Below I show you how it is possible to leverage the AI architecture generator to generate design proposals starting from a sketch made on a sheet

SketchAI-generated

Design Themes: Functions, Paths, and Equipped Areas

When designing an urban park, it is essential to evaluate functional themes, which will be fundamentally important to meet the main purposes of enjoyment and aggregation.

Play Areas and Inclusion

Play is a moment of aggregation for young children and different age groups, to stimulate movement and gathering. Emphasis is placed on the possibility of creating play areas that focus on natural materials and innovative structures capable of stimulating a perception of the place strongly connected to the naturalistic aspect. It is considered essential to provide games and recreational-sporting structures also for children with physical and mental disabilities, as well as recreational-sporting facilities for adults and the elderly.

Educational and Cultural Function

Education and civic training are considered primary elements, as the urban park has a high cultural content and is a fundamental learning tool, such as, for example, the correct labeling of trees, informative tables on the natural characteristics of the place (vegetation, fauna, history, and culture), shared gardens, and social gardens, the latter to be placed in contexts that provide users with other elements of aggregation.

Sports, Health, and Well-being

Sports is a function to be encouraged at every level, where there are design possibilities and space conditions, considering the recreational, aggregative function and aspects related to physical and mental health.

Dog Areas and Spaces for Animals

Animals coexist civilly also based on the proposals made to citizens regarding reserved areas; it is advisable to foresee the necessary provisions of bins and waste collection equipment, as well as comfort for owners and animals, with provisions for shade, space, seating areas, drinking water, etc.

Rest and Relaxation Areas

Rest is a fundamental function of the urban park. It may be an area for reading and individual or social resting, for relaxation, aggregation, and conversation. It is important to identify shaded and quiet areas, as far as possible, away from high-traffic roads.

Pedestrian and Pedestrian-Cycle Paths

Pedestrian paths in green areas will be constructed to be easily accessible even by people with disabilities, have a minimum width of 2 meters, and be appropriately lit. They should connect the various zones of the green area, provide suitable access from adjacent roads, and include resting areas with benches, shaded areas with trees, pergolas, gazebos, and drinking water fountains.

Pavements and Surfaces

Paved surfaces within green areas designated to serve the functions of pedestrian paths, trails, resting areas, etc., must be designed and constructed with the aim of ensuring long-term stability of the surface pavement. They should be easily accessible even by strollers and wheelchairs for the disabled.

Concept design | Cross-sectional profile

Design Elements: Soil, Vegetation, Water, Shade

The elements listed below should be considered during the design phase to provide the green space with a creative identity that is never separated from emotional and utility factors.

Terrain Modeling and Topography

The soil can be understood not only as a simple horizontal surface. The topographical variations in level, with the creation of small hills or depressions in the ground, as well as the use of sloped paths or terraces, give the park a different dimension and perception, allowing for varied uses.

Vegetation and Seasonality

The vegetation suggests the possibility of visible chromatic variation that can be played on both the different shades of green and the use of blooms, also on color themes consistent with the functionalities of the design and inspired by principles of color therapy. An additional element to consider regarding vegetation is seasonality, which fosters the communication of natural rhythms.

Water Element: Aesthetic and Microclimatic Value

Water, whether still or moving, induces the perception of color variations and sound changes. The design aspect with aesthetic and emotional functions is associated with the utility function within the microclimate, which helps to mitigate, refresh, and humidify, expanding the possibilities for vegetation and the utility and enjoyment functions for citizens.

Natural and Artificial Shade

Shade is included in these guidelines in function of light variations and considering the need to carefully evaluate the purposes and modes of use of the park to allow citizens to find oases of well-being.

Design | Detail of the isometric view

Materials for a Sustainable and Durable Urban Park Design

The materials used in designing an urban park will be chosen based on functionality, durability, and the project’s own language. It is considered important to emphasize that the choice of materials must align with the identity of the place, highlighting its characteristics, architecture, and intended use. Currently, materials that can be included in the material recovery chain (metal, glass, wood, stone…) are considered consistent with the concept of energy saving.

• The various materials to be used for the construction of structures and furnishings should have a style consistent with the naturalistic approach of the park.
• Automated irrigation should be an obvious requirement. Flower beds need it permanently, as do trees and shrubs in their juvenile stages, during prolonged drought periods, in summer, and sometimes even at other key times of the year such as late winter and autumn.
• For lighting, atmospheric lighting elements can be considered for areas of particular interest in the evening hours.
• The furnishings may include fixed or movable elements. The possibility of creating shaded oases with gazebos or lightweight pergolas should also be considered as a quick response to shading needs while waiting for the development of tree canopies to provide a vegetative cover.
• Furnishing structures should be designed with consideration for the various age groups of users, made with materials that are easy to maintain and source. Seating should preferably be made from wooden materials.
• Bar/refreshment kiosks are structures whose presence in the park often leads to positive aggregative and socializing behaviors.
• Service elements (toilets, water taps) should not be overlooked.

Urban park design | Aerial view of the park | Render created with usBIM.codesign AI

Drainage pavements and natural materials

Drainage pavements help reduce surface runoff of rainwater, promoting infiltration into the ground and contributing to the mitigation of flood risks.

Among the most commonly used materials are:

• stabilized gravel: allows for good drainage and excellent aesthetic integration with the surrounding greenery;
• natural stone and pebbles: durable and recyclable, suitable for pedestrian paths and resting areas;
• FSC certified wood or bamboo: ideal for walkways and decking, with a reduced environmental impact;
• permeable materials based on eco-friendly resins: ensure durability and drainage capacity, usable in pedestrian or cycling paths.

The use of natural or recycled materials improves the overall environmental impact of the park, promoting an approach to urban bio-construction.

Impact-absorbing pavements and regulations

Play areas in urban parks require impact-absorbing pavements to ensure children’s safety. The most common materials include:

• recycled rubber (EPDM or SBR): high resistance to weather conditions, ease of maintenance, and shock-absorbing capacity;
• sand or wood chips: natural solutions that reduce the impact of falls, with limited maintenance.

Lighting and urban furniture

Lighting and urban furniture are key elements for the functionality and safety of parks. The use of sustainable solutions such as high-efficiency LED lamps, integrated with presence sensors and intelligent management systems, reduces energy consumption and light pollution.

For urban furniture, durable and recyclable materials are preferred, such as:

• benches made of wood or recycled metal;
• picnic tables made of natural composite materials;
• bins for recycling integrated into the design.

These elements must be designed to be ergonomic, durable, and harmonious with the landscape context, promoting usability and the well-being of citizens.

Fences and accessory structures

Fences and accessory structures complete the design of the urban park. Fences must ensure safety while harmoniously integrating with the environment. Sustainable and durable materials include:

• FSC certified wood: aesthetic and easily repairable;
• galvanized or corten metal: resistant to weather conditions and requiring little maintenance;
• fences made of recycled material: sustainable and flexible for various functions.

Accessory structures, such as pergolas, canopies, fountains, and inclusive play equipment, must meet safety, durability, and sustainability criteria, ensuring spaces accessible to all age groups and promoting universal accessibility.

AI is useful in urban park design

Generating images and concepts with AI

AI algorithms, especially those based on generative models, can produce realistic or stylized visualizations of green spaces, combining natural elements, paths, play areas, and urban furniture.

Main advantages

• speed and experimentation: the ability to evaluate different layout and vegetation configurations in very short times;
• customization: generation of concepts tailored to specific climatic, topographical, or cultural needs;
• decision support: stakeholders can compare multiple visual options and choose the solution best suited to aesthetic, functional, and sustainable needs.

This phase allows for the integration of creativity and technical data, reducing design errors and optimizing dialogue between landscape architects, engineers, and municipal administrations.

Rendering and video animations with AI and 3D model

In addition to static images, AI is increasingly used to create realistic renderings and video animations from 3D models of urban parks. These tools allow simulating:

• the effect of natural light during different times of the day and seasons;
• the growth of plants and the evolution of vegetation over time;
• the use of spaces by citizens, highlighting paths, play areas, and resting points.

Renderings generated with AI help improve project communication, making the aesthetic and functional impacts of design choices clearer. Furthermore, the combination of AI and animations allows for the creation of immersive videos for public consultations, citizen participation, and presentations to stakeholders.

Below you can observe the result of what has been said previously. In fact, this is a video created with the artificial intelligence software for architecture usBIM.codesign AI.

Integration of AI + BIM in urban design

The integration of AI and BIM represents the most advanced level of urban park design. With this combination, it is possible to:

• optimize the arrangement of vegetation, paths, and urban furniture based on real data of microclimate, shading, and pedestrian flows;
• evaluate sustainability scenarios with simulations of stormwater management, urban biodiversity, and thermal comfort;
• automate analyses and reports for scheduled maintenance, costs, and environmental impact.

Support multidisciplinary decisions involving urban planners, landscape architects, and environmental engineers in a single shared model.

Practical case: design of a neighborhood urban park

Let’s move on to the description of the operational phases of how to design an urban park to support a neighborhood in a semi-peripheral area.

Site assessment and context analysis

For the drafting of the urban park project, we use an existing space already designated as a green area.

The space, surrounded on three sides by roads and approximately 2,000.00 m² in size, includes a small building with a parking area, a five-a-side football field, and a bocce court, all in disuse. The fourth side, to the east, is bounded by the concrete channel of a stream.

The area, despite the conditions of abandonment and the absence of suitable furniture elements, is still used as a dog area and as a meeting point for the neighborhood residents due to the presence of substantial tree cover. For these reasons, this focus addresses the redevelopment of existing green spaces while also designing new functional areas.

Given that the design hypothesis does not alter the intended use of the area, the intervention falls under urban redevelopment project.

Urban park project | Children’s play area | Image generated with usBIM.codesign AI

Constraints and Compositional Criteria

Before starting the design of the urban park, let’s identify the design constraints dictated by the current state and context:

• The good condition of the building allows us to use it with a change of function appropriate for the quality and livability of the neighborhood;
• The numerous trees distributed evenly throughout the area in good condition, which continue to provide excellent shading during the summer;
• The existing path that crosses the green area longitudinally, in a north-west/south-east direction;
• The semi-central area of the site is decidedly flat as it hosts the old five-a-side football field;
• The concrete channel of the stream that defines the boundary and the intervention area on the east side.

Project | General Plan

Organization of functions and pathways

These constraints guide the composition towards a mixed solution of recovery and redesign of existing elements:

• the presence of the small building, to be designated as a neighborhood library and family counseling center, suggests the north-east/south-west direction on which to place a parking lot, a small square, and the skate track usable with skateboards, roller skates, and also BMX bikes;
• the dog area, located behind the track, fenced on all sides and protected by the dense existing tree cover, is equipped with sandboxes, doggy boxes (distributors of scoops and bags for waste collection), a drinking fountain, benches, bins, and lamps to make it accessible also for the owners of the dogs;
• the other two main entrances to the urban park confirm access to the existing main avenue that crosses it in a north-south direction;
• on an ideal grid, with a spacing of 2.50 m on the short side, parallel to the east-west direction, we trace the resting/play paths that appropriately fit among all the pre-existing trees without altering their position and function;
• the west area of the urban park hosts most of the equipped resting area with benches, while the large space between the main avenue and the stream accommodates equipment for children’s games, including a small maze made of boxwood bushes.

Urban park design | View from above of the play area | Render created with usBIM.codesign AI

Play area, skate park, dog area, neighborhood library

Let’s outline the main technological aspects and material components related to the compositional elements used for the urban park design project:

• the pavement of the main path, the central square, and the areas adjacent to the skate track, are made of stamped concrete adequately reinforced with iron rebar to allow for the transit of emergency vehicles;
• the skate track, usable with skateboards, roller skates, and also BMX, designed in accordance with safety regulations, is made of reinforced concrete coated with composite resin with a thickness of 9 mm, to ensure impact absorption in case of a fall;
• the pavement of the parking areas, fully draining and placed on stabilized gravel, is composed of selected natural aggregate (mixed gravel type, sizes mm 1/3 – 2/5 – 4/8) and bi-component hydrogenated resin, with an average final thickness of mm. 15;
• the areas designated for children’s play with all related equipment and flooring comply with European safety standards EN-1176:2018 and EN-1177:2018. In particular, the required anti-trauma flooring, made of poured rubber, is a continuous and porous material made of rubber granules and polyurethane-based adhesives, mixed and laid directly on-site, on a reinforced concrete base, with a continuous solution. The base layer is composed of raw recycled rubber granules (SBR), and the top finishing layer consists of colored elastomer granules (EPDM) with various color options;
• lampposts of different heights uniformly illuminate the various functional spaces present throughout the entire surface of the urban park;
• the urban furniture includes benches made of concrete with wooden seats and backs, large semicircular benches in corten steel, waste bins, drinking fountains;
• a fence with a visible concrete wall and a railing also in corten steel partially delineates the park in sections bordering private property, along the entire perimeter of the dog area and in some elevation changes.

Urban park project | Central square | Render created with usBIM.codesign AI

On the topic, also read the Focus “Urban furniture design: criteria and examples”

Download of the urban park project

Download the 3D BIM model ( .edf file ) of the project

Video | Project example

FAQ about the design of an urban park

What are the main phases in designing an urban park?

The design of an urban park starts with a historical and contextual analysis, followed by the definition of types of greenery, functions, pathways, materials, and design elements such as soil, vegetation, water, and shade. The process concludes with the definition of functional spaces and verification through 3D models and renderings.

What is the role of urban greenery in the city’s microclimate?

Urban greenery helps mitigate the heat island effect, improves air quality, supports evapotranspiration, and increases soil permeability. It also reduces flood risks and enhances thermal comfort, acoustic quality, and the livability of public spaces.

Which principles of the European Landscape Convention influence urban parks?

The Convention promotes the enhancement of landscape diversity, the involvement of local communities, sustainable development, and the recognition of the value of everyday green spaces. These principles guide resilient, inclusive, and multifunctional urban green design.

What types of urban green areas exist?

The main types include historical gardens, neighborhood green spaces, urban parks, and residential and private greenery. Each category has specific functional characteristics and requires dedicated design to ensure usability, safety, and integration into the urban context.

What functions can be included in an urban park?

Key functions include inclusive play areas, sports activities, educational and cultural spaces, dog areas, rest and relaxation zones, pedestrian and cycle paths, and recreational spaces. Each function contributes to the usability and social quality of the park.

What design elements are essential in an urban park?

Essential elements include terrain modeling, vegetation selected for seasonality and color, water systems with aesthetic and microclimatic functions, and natural or artificial shading to improve user comfort.

Which materials are recommended for a sustainable and durable urban park?

Preferred materials include recyclable or natural materials such as metal, glass, FSC-certified wood, natural stone, and permeable paving materials. High-efficiency LED lighting and durable urban furniture also contribute to overall sustainability.

What are the main permeable pavements that can be used in an urban park?

Available permeable surfaces include stabilized gravel, natural stone, pebbles, FSC-certified wood, bamboo, and permeable materials based on ecological resins. These solutions reduce surface runoff and promote rainwater infiltration.

What impact-absorbing pavements are required in play areas?

The most common impact-absorbing pavements include recycled rubber (EPDM, SBR), sand, and wood chips. They must comply with regulations, ensuring safety, impact absorption, and proper maintenance.

How should the lighting and urban furniture of a park be designed?

Lighting should use high-efficiency LEDs, presence sensors, and smart systems to reduce energy consumption and light pollution. Urban furniture should be made from recyclable and durable materials, harmoniously integrated into the landscape context.

What fences and accessory structures can be included?

Fences may be made of FSC-certified wood, galvanized or corten steel, or nets made from recycled materials. Accessory structures include pergolas, canopies, fountains, and inclusive play equipment, all of which must ensure safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

How is AI useful in the design of urban parks?

AI makes it possible to generate images, concepts, renderings, and video animations based on 3D models. It helps evaluate alternative layouts, visualize design scenarios, improve communication with stakeholders, and support both technical and creative decision-making.

What advantages does AI-based concept generation offer?

Advantages include fast creation of design alternatives, customization of solutions, and decision support for architects, landscape designers, and administrations. AI also enables the optimization of creativity and technical data, reducing errors and design time.

How are AI renderings and animations used in urban design?

AI renderings and animations allow simulations of natural light, seasonality, vegetation growth, and space usage. They facilitate design communication and public engagement by illustrating the aesthetic and functional impacts of the project.

How does integration between AI and BIM occur in park design?

Combined AI and BIM allow optimization of vegetation, furniture, and pathways based on environmental data, simulation of sustainability scenarios, and management of costs, maintenance, and environmental impacts. They also support a more efficient multidisciplinary design process.

What are the features of the presented practical case of urban park design?

The case study concerns the redevelopment of a neighborhood park of about 2,000 m², including an existing building, dog area, five-a-side football field, and pathways. The project integrates new functions, paths, inclusive play areas, a skate park, rest zones, lighting, and urban furniture, while respecting constraints, existing trees, and the surrounding context.

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