PodParks

In this episode of PodParks, we are joined by Pawel Gradowski, a landscape architect with over 40 years of experience across Europe, Canada, and South Africa, and the founding director of LASquare, specializing in aquatic landscapes and water-sensitive design. Pawel shares a career shaped not just by design, but by building, learning, and constantly questioning how things work. From starting a lan...

In this episode of PodParks, we are joined by Dr Fritz Lord and Erik Kaiser to explore how evolving practice, land use, and data-informed decision-making are shaping the future of parks and recreation. Together, they unpack how parks systems are becoming more complex and more essential, responding to growing populations, changing expectations, and increasing pressure on land and resources. Drawing...

In this episode of PodParks, Maria Burnett is joined by Emanuel Trueb, Head of City Gardens and Cemeteries for the City of Basel, Switzerland , and former President of the International Federation of Parks and Recreation Administration (IPFRA). With more than three decades leading Basel’s green spaces, Emanuel shares insights into how one of Europe’s most nature-connected cities plans, manages, an...

In this episode of PodParks , our host speaks with Jenny Moodley , spokesperson for Johannesburg City Parks and Zoo and Co-Chair of the World Urban Parks Africa Region . With more than two decades of experience in local government, advocacy, media, and intergovernmental relations, Jenny offers a powerful perspective on the role of parks in addressing inequality, strengthening communities, and shap...

In this episode of PodParks , host Maria Burnett speaks with Gavin White , Director of Planning and Projects at RiverLife in Pittsburgh, about the power of urban parks to shape more resilient, connected, and people-centered cities. With a background that spans film set design, community engagement, and public space development, Gavin brings a thoughtful and multidisciplinary perspective to the fut...

In this episode of PodParks , our host speaks with Zina Abdulla , a PhD researcher in architecture and urban design at the University of Bath, whose work explores equitable access to urban green spaces across the UK and Poland. With a background spanning architecture, environmental design, and policy, Zina brings a powerful perspective on how cultural, social, and economic barriers shape who feels...

We open Season 4 of PodParks with a powerful conversation with Fergus Garrett (https://www.greatdixter.co.uk/about/people/) renowned horticulturist and the long-time driving force behind Great Dixter . In this episode, Fergus reflects on his multicultural upbringing, his journey into horticulture, and what it has meant to continue and evolve the legacy of Christopher Lloyd at one of the world’s mo...

Season 3 of PodParks has been a year-long exploration of how parks shape cities, communities, and everyday life. Across this season, we’ve spoken with leaders, practitioners, and emerging voices working in very different contexts, but grappling with shared questions about equity, access, health, and the role of urban nature. From the challenges of building a global organisation, to the practical t...

What happens inside the brain when we step into a park, hear birdsong, or simply look at a tree? And what does this mean not just for the public, but for the people who work in parks every day? In this episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett speaks with Lance Burdett, former national crisis negotiator for the New Zealand Police and now a leading specialist in resilience, stress, and brain health....

How might our cities change if we planned parks with public health at the centre of every decision? In this episode, host Maria Burnett speaks with Humera Sultan , a Consultant in Public Health at Birmingham City Council and a National Institute of Health Research Doctoral Research Fellow. Humera brings a health focused perspective to nature planning, shaped through her work leading the Naturally...

46. What to Think About When Designing Park Lighting with Gary Jacquard Behind every welcoming park at night is a thoughtful lighting design. In this episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett speaks with Gary Jacquard, General Export Manager at Eclatec, about how cities can use lighting to create atmosphere, comfort and safety without compromising biodiversity. From the glow of Paris’ historic lamp...

What do the world’s most inspiring parks have in common? Behind every great green space are passionate people, designers, advocates, and communities who believe parks can change the way we live. In this special episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett explores the real stories behind the World Urban Parks Awards, celebrating the people and projects transforming public spaces across the globe. Toget...

Dünyanın en dinamik şehirlerinden birinde oyun ve parkların geleceği nasıl şekilleniyor? PodParks’in bu özel bölümünde, sunucu Maria Burnett , peyzaj mimarı, akademisyen ve Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025 ile World Urban Parks Sempozyumu nun önde gelen isimlerinden Dr. Ahmet Cemil Tepe ile bir araya geliyor. Birlikte, İstanbul’daki parkları ve kamusal alanları şekillendiren fikirleri—oyuna yönelik ye...

What does the future of play and parks look like in one of the world’s most dynamic cities? In this special episode of PodParks, host Maria Burnett sits down with Dr Ahmet Cemil Tepe, a landscape architect, academic, and key figure behind the Landscape Istanbul Fair 2025 and the World Urban Parks Symposium. Together, they explore the ideas shaping parks and public spaces in Istanbul - from new app...

What happens when we design cities through the eyes of a child? In this inspiring episode of Podparks, host Maria Burnett is joined by Cecilia Vaca Jones , Senior Advisor to the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority and former Executive Director of the Van Leer Foundation, the organisation behind Urban95 . A passionate advocate for children’s wellbeing, Cecilia shares how childhood memories, evidenc...

What do parks look like across the globe, and how do local contexts shape global action? In this special panel episode, host Maria Burnett is joined by four World Urban Parks Regional Committee Chairs: Juan Carlos Acevedo (Latin America), Julia Watson (Africa), Carl McClean (Europe), and Thomas Dixon (Asia Pacific). Together, they explore what it means to represent their regions within a global mo...

Your WUP Briefing: A New Era Episode summary In this Deep Dive, we unpack three major updates from World Urban Parks (WUP) : the WUP Symposium 2025 in Istanbul, Türkiye (Oct 8–10) featuring the WUP Awards ; a reimagined WUP website designed for faster navigation, better search, and mobile access; and a new online community platform for members to connect, share knowledge, and collaborate globally....

En este Deep Dive presentamos tres grandes novedades de World Urban Parks (WUP) : WUP Symposium 2025 en Estambul, Turquía (8–10 de octubre), con la ceremonia de los WUP Awards . Un sitio web de WUP totalmente rediseñado , con navegación más rápida, mejor búsqueda y acceso móvil. Una nueva comunidad en línea para miembros , pensada para conectar, compartir conocimiento y colaborar a nivel global. C...

エピソード概要 本エピソードのDeep Diveでは、**World Urban Parks（WUP）**の3つの最新アップデートを紹介します。 ·   WUPシンポジウム2025（トルコ・イスタンブール） ：2025年10月8〜10日開催。会期中に WUPアワード を実施。 ·   再設計されたWUP公式サイト ：より速いナビゲーション、強化された検索、モバイル対応。 ·   新しい会員向けオンラインコミュニティ ：知識共有と国際協働を促進。 最後に、 2025...

What does it take to build a truly global parks movement – and where is World Urban Parks heading next? In part two of our special 10-year anniversary celebration, host Maria Burnett is joined by three leaders shaping the future direction of World Urban Parks: Mark Bowater, Michael Boland, and Hannah Chapman-Carr. Together, they explore the organisation’s strategic vision for the next decade – fro...

Have you been listening to PodParks and wondering how World Urban Parks actually came about? As WUP celebrates its tenth birthday, we’re taking you behind the scenes to uncover the story of how a global parks movement was born, and where it might go next. In this special episode, host Maria Burnett speaks with two people who were there from the beginning: Jayne Miller and Tim Geyer. From internati...

What if a park wasn’t just a green space, but a catalyst for equity, biodiversity, and long-term resilience? In this episode of PodParks , host Maria Burnett sits down with Michael Boland, renowned landscape architect, strategic advisor, and former Chief Park Officer of the Presidio Trust in San Francisco. With over three decades of experience transforming one of the most innovative urban national...

What happens when green infrastructure isn’t just a design project, but a shared mission across professions? In this episode of PodParks , host Maria Burnett shares conversations recorded at the Green Days 2025 Congress and Expo in Jyväskylä, Finland. The event brought together professionals from planning, design, research, and industry who are all working to create greener cities through collabor...

The 3-30-300 Rule Straight from the source: Maria Burnett sits down with Cecil Konijnendijk, the urban forester behind the world-famous 3-30-300 rule. Together, they unpack how this deceptively simple guideline — 3 trees in view, 30 percent canopy cover, and 300 meters to green space — can reshape urban planning, public health, and social equity. From city streets to forest roots, this is a global...

What if the greenest part of a city was its rooftops? In this episode of Podparks , Maria Burnett speaks with Oliver Hanna from ZinCo about how green roofs are transforming cities - from cooling buildings and managing stormwater to supporting biodiversity and urban life. Recorded at FutureScape in Riyadh, this is a grounded, global conversation for planners, designers, and anyone curious about gre...