The benefits of swapping “traditional” landscaping for native plants in parks
County park systems across the country are working to become more sustainable. In its recently adopted 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan, Oakland County Parks and Recreation (OCPR), added “Environmental Sustainability and Natural Resources Stewardship” as one of four core values, prioritizing planning, building,and operating sustainable parks, and caring for the environment at an organizational level.
“The health benefits of easy access to nature and open spaces, as well as the widespread harm of climate change on both an individual and global scale, are better understood and more apparent than ever,” OCPR Director Chris Ward says. “That is why we are so focused on preserving our natural spaces, collaborating with our local communities to build resilience to climate change, and working to meet the current recreation needs of our residents without compromising our natural resources for future generations.”
While the fight to become a more sustainable park system takes place on many fronts, the importance of landscaping design must not be overlooked. Sustainable landscaping—specifically its focus on planting native species—provides profound benefits for local wildlife and ecology. Additionally, landscaping is often what first attracts people to a park, making it central to their experience.