PodParks

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 on their experience across planning, management, and research, the conversation highlights the importance of thinking long-term while still delivering practical, on-the-ground outcomes.
The discussion explores how digital tools and data are being used to better understand park use, inform investment decisions, and improve the management of assets over time. Rather than focusing on technology for its own sake, the conversation centers on how these tools can support clearer thinking, better prioritization, and more effective outcomes for communities.
Golf courses are used as a lens to examine broader land use questions, including how large-scale recreational spaces can adapt over time to better serve communities, environmental outcomes, and changing participation trends.
Alongside this, the episode reflects on what “better practice” really means in today’s context, moving beyond traditional approaches to embrace adaptability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
This is a practical and forward-looking conversation that encourages parks professionals to think critically about how they plan, manage, and evolve public spaces in a rapidly changing world.
Highlights include:
Parks under pressure:
As cities grow and land becomes more constrained, parks systems must respond to increasing demand while balancing competing priorities.
Data-informed decision-making:
Better use of data is helping parks teams understand how spaces are used, prioritize investment, and manage assets more effectively over time.
Rethinking large-scale land uses:
Spaces like golf courses present opportunities to reconsider how land is used, ensuring it delivers broader community and environmental value over time.
Maintenance matters:
Long-term stewardship is just as important as initial design, with ongoing care and management playing a critical role in the success of parks.
Better practice is evolving:
There is no single model for success. Good practice today requires flexibility, responsiveness, and a willingness to adapt to changing conditions.
Balancing competing needs:
Parks professionals must navigate tensions between development, recreation, conservation, and community expectations.
The importance of long-term thinking:
Planning for decades ahead is essential to ensure cities remain livable and connected, particularly as populations continue to grow.
Learning from different contexts:
Global perspectives and shared experiences help inform better outcomes locally, even when systems and governance structures differ.

Featured Guests
Dr Fritz Lord, Global Crop Manager at COMPO EXPERT
🔗LinkedIn
Erik Kaiser, Co-founder/CEO/Managing DIrector of SUMMETIX
🔗LinkedIn
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🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.
About PodParks
PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.
🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team
Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa| Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez
🌐 worldurbanparks.org
📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

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, and values its parks, cemeteries, and urban landscapes. From transforming former infrastructure into vibrant public spaces to embedding biodiversity within the city, his work reflects a long-term commitment to creating livable, green environments for all.
The conversation explores how Switzerland’s decentralized political system shapes decision-making, with responsibilities shared across municipal and canton levels. Emanuel explains how this structure influences everything from park management to nature conservation, and why strong local governance plays a critical role in delivering quality public space.
Alongside this, Emanuel reflects on the evolution of global parks leadership, including his time as the final President of IPFRA and the transition to what is now World Urban Parks. He shares why the shift was necessary, what it aimed to achieve, and the ongoing challenge of maintaining relevance and connection across a global network.
This is a thoughtful and grounded conversation that highlights the importance of long-term thinking, strong governance, and the often-overlooked role of maintenance in shaping successful parks systems.
Highlights include:
A city shaped by green space:
Basel’s approach to parks integrates biodiversity, recreation, and everyday access to nature, with green space becoming increasingly important as cities grow .
Parks, cemeteries, and green systems as one:
Rather than separate functions, cemeteries, allotments, and parks are understood as part of a connected green network serving the public.
The importance of maintenance:
Long-term care and stewardship are critical, often more important than initial design or construction in determining the success of a park .
Planning for growth and density:
As urban populations increase, cities must provide more accessible green space, particularly for those without private gardens .
Switzerland’s political structure:
A decentralized system means decisions are made at multiple levels, with municipalities and cantons sharing responsibility for parks and environmental outcomes .
Balancing competing interests:
Protecting green space often requires ongoing advocacy within political systems, particularly as cities face pressure to develop land.
From IPFRA to World Urban Parks:
Emanuel reflects on the transition from IPFRA to World Urban Parks, and the need to evolve global organizations to remain relevant and inclusive.
The value of global perspective:
Learning from other cities and countries strengthens local practice, even when systems and contexts differ.
Connecting people to nature:
Access to public green space is fundamental to community wellbeing, particularly for those without private outdoor space.

Featured Guests
Emanuel Trueb
🔗LinkedIn
Feedback
🎧 Give feedback on this episode here.
About PodParks
PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.
🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team
Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa| Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez
🌐 worldurbanparks.org
📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter/X

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 shaping more sustainable cities.
The conversation explores Johannesburg’s legacy of spatial imbalance, the city’s ongoing effort to bridge the green divide, and the realities of managing over 2,000 parks, cemeteries, conservation spaces, and the zoo in one of Africa’s most dynamic urban centers. Jenny reflects on tree equity, environmental education, safety perceptions, informal use of parks, and why cities must think more creatively about the future of public green space.
Recorded during the World Urban Parks Symposium in Istanbul, this episode also looks outward—toward the future of the Africa Region within WUP, the importance of regional collaboration, and the opportunity to amplify African leadership, solutions, and innovation within the global parks movement.
Key highlights / takeaways
Bridging the Green Divide: Jenny shares how Johannesburg is working to address long-standing inequalities in tree canopy and green space distribution across the city.
A city shaped by disparity: The episode explores how apartheid-era spatial patterns continue to influence access to parks, trees, and public services today.
Greening as education and empowerment: From school programs to fruit tree distribution and Arbor Month campaigns, Jenny emphasizes the importance of environmental education and civic ownership.
Parks are deeply social spaces: Issues such as vandalism, litter, displaced persons, informal use, and safety perceptions all reflect wider social and economic realities—not just park management problems.
Africa has solutions to share: Jenny highlights the need to make African innovation more visible within the global parks movement and to create stronger platforms for knowledge exchange across the continent.
Regional collaboration is essential: Through her role as Co-Chair of the Africa Region, Jenny speaks about building stronger networks, hosting regional conversations, and creating opportunities for African cities to learn from one another.
Hope matters: One of Jenny’s strongest messages is that many of the challenges cities face are shared globally—and that solutions become more possible when practitioners come together with energy, honesty, and purpose.
Youth and community voices are key to the future: Jenny makes the case for involving young people, local communities, and emerging professionals in shaping the next generation of parks leadership.

🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team
Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martin | Cynthia Hernández | Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez
🌐 worldurbanparks.org

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 future of parks and riverfronts.
The conversation explores Gavin’s role in transforming Pittsburgh’s riverfronts through connectivity, ecological restoration, play, and public engagement. It also dives into his work with the World Urban Parks Climate Change and Resilience Committee, where he has helped build a framework for understanding how urban parks contribute to climate adaptation, public education, mobility, stormwater management, and long-term resilience.
From flood-sensitive park design in China and the Netherlands to community engagement strategies in Pittsburgh, this episode offers practical insight into how parks can respond to the climate crisis while remaining welcoming, democratic, and deeply rooted in the needs of local communities.
Key highlights / takeaways
A nonlinear path into parks: Gavin shares how he moved from film set design into public space work, driven by a desire for more meaningful, lasting, and sustainable impact.
Why urban parks matter in climate action: Through the World Urban Parks Climate Change and Resilience Committee, Gavin has helped frame how parks contribute to climate adaptation, education, mobility, and mitigation.
From broad ideas to measurable action: The conversation highlights how climate discussions in parks have evolved—from general awareness to more detailed modeling, case studies, and evidence-based design solutions.
Water is central to urban resilience: Gavin reflects on the importance of blue space, riverfront planning, and designing parks that can work with water rather than against it.
Flooding can be part of the design: Examples from Turenscape, the Netherlands, and FDR Park in Philadelphia show how parks can be intentionally designed to absorb flooding and strengthen city resilience.
Community engagement takes time—and it matters: Gavin explains why meaningful participation cannot be rushed, and why listening to people early and often is essential to building parks that truly belong to their communities.
Young professionals should start by observing: His advice for the next generation is simple but powerful: spend time in parks, listen, watch, and understand how people move through and experience these spaces.
There’s a place for everyone in parks: Whether through planning, volunteering, ecology, activation, or play, Gavin reminds us that almost any skill or interest can contribute to building better public spaces.

About PodParks
PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.
🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team
Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martin | Cynthia Hernández | Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez
🌐 worldurbanparks.org

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 welcome in parks—and who does not.
Together, they unpack why accessibility cannot be measured by distance alone. From fear of dogs and antisocial behavior to the lack of activities for teenage girls, culturally relevant events, and the importance of listening to non-users, this conversation reveals how many barriers to park access remain invisible in traditional planning approaches. Zina also shares personal reflections on how access to outdoor recreation differs between the UK and Iraq, highlighting how culture, climate, gender norms, and urban form all influence people’s relationship with green space.
This is a thoughtful and practical episode for anyone working in parks, planning, public space, health, or community engagement—and a reminder that inclusive design begins by understanding who a park truly serves.
Key highlights / takeaways
Accessibility is more than proximity: Zina explains why measuring access in meters or walking time is not enough to understand who actually uses parks.
Non-users matter: One of the biggest lessons from her research is that park planning must include the voices of people who rarely or never use green spaces—not only current park users.
Unexpected barriers are real barriers: In her three-year study, one of the most significant barriers that emerged was the presence of dogs, especially off-leash dogs, along with safety concerns, antisocial behavior, and lack of welcome for group gatherings.
Context matters: What affects park use in the UK may be completely different in Poland, Iraq, or elsewhere. Inclusive design depends on understanding local demographics, culture, and lived experience.
Representation in planning is essential: Zina advocates for co-design, partnerships with community organizations, and bottom-up strategies to better integrate underrepresented voices into park and green infrastructure planning.
Parks and health are deeply connected: Access to green space affects physical activity, mental health, and everyday wellbeing—especially for communities who may already face structural disadvantages.
One positive intervention can make a difference: Small but intentional changes—such as dog-free hours, more inclusive programming, or better engagement with local demographics—can significantly improve how safe and welcome people feel in parks.

About PodParks
PodParks is the official podcast of World Urban Parks. Hosted by Maria Burnett, each episode shares real stories and bold ideas from the people making parks, public space, and urban nature more inclusive, innovative, and essential.
🎙️ Meet the PodParks Team
Maria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martin | Cynthia Hernández | Gisselle Ibarias | Brizel Lopez
🌐 worldurbanparks.org