As someone living in Stockholm I find this very interesting. A football field, or a rose garden are very good public infrastructure, and I will never argue against them. But I love to go around Stockholm forests. Yes, these are not parks but forests with wildlife, hiking paths, and nature all around. That connection with nature cannot be replaced with any kind of facilities.
> A lake in the middle of a big city that you can simply get into is not a normal thing.
Stockholm is a big city (for European standards) in the middle of a lake. So, this is probably very difficult to emulate for other cities. Sadly around Sweden, trees that have been harvested for wood are replaced with low quality forest that do not meet biodiversity targets.
> I also feel like during the winter, even though the park looks amazing under snow or fog, there are not many things to do.
Parks are amazing and we should have more in our cities. I see people hiking and running in the forest all year round. Forests and nature are better than parks to bring a pace of mind and mindfulness that cannot be replaced by anything else. And they usually are free, so everybody can enjoy them independently of their economic situation. But each steps forward is a welcome step. And parks are also needed.
There are several large parks that resemble forests and are barely touched by human activity in Moscow as well. Can't say I liked walking in them very much when I was still living there, but I support the idea, it's good that they exist
> That connection with nature cannot be replaced with any kind of facilities.
100% this, I moved out of city (Geneva, Switzerland), even though it had 100km long crystal clear lake, plus pretty awesome mountain for climbing/hiking/paragliding very close with 600m vertical cliffs.
True nature ain't parks, however well curated. I live next to cca 1x1.5km wild forest, even scientific reserve, and on frequent walks there the feeling and energy recharge effect is real, very pleasant and (for me) was almost non-present in otherwise beautiful Geneva parks.
We are creatures of nature and still connected to it deeply, everybody I know feels better after even 1h walk in such forest.
> A lake in the middle of a big city that you can simply get into is not a normal thing.
Stockholm is a big city (for European standards) in the middle of a lake. So, this is probably very difficult to emulate for other cities. Sadly around Sweden, trees that have been harvested for wood are replaced with low quality forest that do not meet biodiversity targets.
> I also feel like during the winter, even though the park looks amazing under snow or fog, there are not many things to do.
Parks are amazing and we should have more in our cities. I see people hiking and running in the forest all year round. Forests and nature are better than parks to bring a pace of mind and mindfulness that cannot be replaced by anything else. And they usually are free, so everybody can enjoy them independently of their economic situation. But each steps forward is a welcome step. And parks are also needed.