ABSTRACT
Africa has a rich tapestry of cultures, landscapes, and urban development spread over the vast continent in landscapes ranging from deserts, high mountains, tropical forests, savannahs, and more. Where parks are concerned, the continent is better known for the massive natural conservation areas in central and southern Africa than for its urban parks. In recent years there seems to have been a resurgence in the development of new urban parks in some African cities, providing public spaces that are relevant to their urban, ecological, and cultural contexts. In several notable instances, the city park in colonized Africa was a leafy, flowery, palmy political display of power. Developing open spaces into urban parks can help to change this mindset and make people see the values of urban green spaces. In this chapter, the authors illustrate a selection of urban parks to give an idea of urban park developments in Africa, without the pretense to give a complete and balanced view.
