An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a city park, municipal park, public park, public open space, or municipal gardens (UK), is a park or botanical garden in cities, densely populated suburbia and other incorporated places that offers green space and places for recreation to residents and visitors. Urban parks are generally landscaped by design, instead of lands left in their natural state. The design, operation and maintenance is usually done by government agencies, typically on the local level, but may occasionally be contracted out to a park conservancy, "friends of" group, or private sector company.
Central Park, one of the world's most visited tourist attractions, is surrounded by the skyscrapers of Manhattan in New York City.
Macon, Georgia Central City Park, Main Avenue, c. 1877
A concert in Chicago's Lincoln Park, c. 1907
Millennium Park is an urban park in Chicago that is partitioned into areas with various special uses
A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. Urban parks are green spaces set aside for recreation inside towns and cities. National parks and country parks are green spaces used for recreation in the countryside. State parks and provincial parks are administered by sub-national government states and agencies. Parks may consist of grassy areas, rocks, soil and trees, but may also contain buildings and other artifacts such as monuments, fountains or playground structures. Many parks have fields for playing sports such as baseball and football, and paved areas for games such as basketball. Many parks have trails for walking, biking and other activities. Some parks are built adjacent to bodies of water or watercourses and may comprise a beach or boat dock area. Urban parks often have benches for sitting and may contain picnic tables and barbecue grills.
Halley Park in Bentleigh, Victoria, Australia
A park in Turkey
Depiction of a medieval hunting park from a 15th-century manuscript
Hatanpää Park in Tampere, Finland