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38. The Park that Pays for Itself: Inside the Presidio's Transformation with Michael Boland
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 parks in the world, Michael shares how clear vision, community leadership, and ecological values can shape the future of our cities.From childhood wonder to global advocacy, this episode explores the philosophy and strategy behind enduring parks, and how large urban parks are uniquely positioned to address the climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and social equity.✨ Highlights include:Why access to nature in cities is essential, not a luxuryA behind-the-scenes look at transforming the Presidio from army base to national parkLessons from parks around the world, from Alcatraz to Paris to SydneyThe triple bottom line: people, planet, and financial sustainabilityWorld Urban Parks’ next chapter — and what it means for the global parks community👤 Featured Guest Michael Boland – Strategic Advisor, Landscape Architect, and Co-Chair of the Large Urban Parks Committee at World Urban Parks 🔗 Michael on LinkedInReferenced in this episode:Presidio of San Francisco – A former military post turned urban national parkWorld Urban Parks – Large Urban Parks CommitteeCentennial Parklands, Governor’s Island, Western Sydney Parklands, and moreAbout PodParksPodParks 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 TeamMaria Burnett | Luis Romahn | Vitoria Martín Delgado | Vladimir Yañez Huehpa| Cynthia Hernández Martínez| Boris SolisWorld Urban Parks🌐 worldurbanparks.org 📱 Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn |...
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37. Breaking Silos: How Professionals are Transforming Urban Green
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 collaboration.From landscape ecology and soil networks to garden coaching and cross-industry standards, this episode highlights what becomes possible when we stop working in silos and start creating shared solutions.Highlights include:Soil as the hidden foundation of urban green networksHow private gardens can support public environmental goalsDesigning for seasonal extremes in Nordic citiesTurning academic research into community changeCreating shared standards for long-term successFeatured Conversations🧑‍🏫 Marina Cervera – Barcelona Architectural School Lecturer and practitioner focused on landscape architecture, urbanism, and bridging theory with practice 🔗 LinkedIn | Website🧑‍🔬 Outi Tahvonen – HAMK University of Applied Sciences Research scientist exploring the role of soil, gardens, and community engagement in ecological planning 🔗 LinkedIn | X/Twitter👷‍♂️ Taavi Forssell – Finnish Association of Landscape Industries Executive director leading cross-sector collaboration in the Finnish green industry 🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteReferenced in this episode:Green Days Congress – annual gathering of Europe’s landscape and planning professionalsFinnish Association of Landscape Industries – collaboration across the green industry value chain in FinlandHAMK University of Applied Sciences – research and applied learning for ecological and community solutionsInterested in attending Green Days 2026?Learn more and stay connected with future events at Green Days CongressAbout PodParksPodParks 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 TeamAlongside Maria, the podcast is brought to life by a passionate and creative team working together to share stories from around the world: Luis Romahn Vitoria Martín Delgado
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36. The Rule of Green: 3/30/300 with Cecil Konijnendijk
The 3-30-300 RuleStraight 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 idea with deeply personal beginnings and a conversation that might just change how you see the world outside your window.Learn more or connect with Cecil nbsi.eu/3-30-300 Cecil on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/cecil-konijnendijk-2038201Questions or feedback Contact Maria Burnett: [email protected] Share your thoughts: bit.ly/podparks-feedback Explore more🌿 worldurbanparks.org – Join our online community and become a member🎧 Follow Podparks for more voices shaping the future of urban naturePodcast Episode Notes – Attribution DisclaimerThis podcast episode contains short audio excerpts from publicly available YouTube videos. These clips are used for purposes of commentary, analysis, and discussion under the principles of fair use as defined in Section 107 of the U.S. Copyright Act.All rights to the original content belong to their respective creators.Featured sources include:•Video Title: "Future cities: Urban planners get creative | DW Documentary" YouTube Channel: "DW Documentary" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Future+cities%3A+Urban+planners+get+creative+%7C+DW+Documentary+DW+Documentary•Video Title: "How trees can keep cities cool" YouTube Channel: "CBS TEXAS" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=How+trees+can+keep+cities+cool+CBS+TEXAS•Video Title: "Johannesburg plans on growing its urban forest" YouTube Channel: "CGTN Africa" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Johannesburg+plans+on+growing+its+urban+forest+CGTN+Africa•Video Title: "Melbourne's Urban Forest Strategy | City of Melbourne" YouTube Channel: "City of Melbourne" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Melbourne%27s+Urban+Forest+Strategy+%7C+City+of+Melbourne+City+of+Melbourne•Video Title: "Saudi Arabia Insane Plan to Turn its Desert into Green Paradise" YouTube Channel: "Civil Mentors" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Saudi+Arabia+Insane+Plan+to+Turn+its+Desert+into+Green+Paradise+Civil+Mentors•Video Title: "Statewide Urban Forest Map Aims To Help Cities Close Gaps In Tree Cover" YouTube Channel: "WTIU & WFIU - Indiana Public Media" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Statewide+Urban+Forest+Map+Aims+To+Help+Cities+Close+Gaps+In+Tree+Cover+WTIU+%26+WFIU+-+Indiana+Public+Media•Video Title: "Students adding to tree canopy" YouTube Channel: "CTV News" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Students+adding+to+tree+canopy+CTV+News•Video Title: "The Importance of a Tree Canopy" YouTube Channel: "CuyahogaCounty" Search Link: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=The+Importance+of+a+Tree+Canopy+CuyahogaCounty•Video Title: "The cooling effects of urban tree canopies" YouTube Channel: "CBC British Columbia" Search Link:...
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35. The City Above: Greener Cities from the Top Down
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 greener futures.Mentioned Projects:High Line, NYCCopenHill, CopenhagenAl Shaheed Park, KuwaitStavros Niarchos Centre, AthensConnect with Oliver and ZinCo:Oliver Hanna – LinkedInZinCo – LinkedIn | Instagram | FacebookExplore more:worldurbanparks.org – global conversations on parks, public space, and urban nature
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34. More Than a Bench: Public Life, Beauty, and Belonging with Daniela Bertino
What if a bench was more than just a bench?In this episode of Podparks, host Maria Burnett sits down with Daniela Bertino, international development lead for Agoramakers, for a lively, unfiltered conversation about public space, beauty, and belonging. From benches turned skateparks to lighting that shapes how we feel in a city, Daniela shares stories and reflections from a career spent helping cities design for people.Recorded in the Middle East with laughter, background ambience, and spontaneity intact, this episode explores how design can foster dignity, inclusion and joy. Beauty in public space is not just nice to have. It is deeply meaningful. One highlight is a story about a dancer in Paris who transforms a simple lighting pole into a stage. It's a powerful reminder that when we design with care and creativity, people will find their own ways to bring public spaces to life. Daniela also reflects on movements like guerrilla gardening, where everyday citizens reclaim forgotten urban corners and turn them into vibrant green pockets of community care.Topics include:Why benches, bins and lighting matter more than we thinkDesigning for emotional impact, not just functionStories from Italy, Colombia and the GulfCreating places that are safe, welcoming and built to lastSustainability, accessibility and unexpected uses of public designThe intersection of culture, community and creativity in urban space🔗 Links and ResourcesDaniela BertinoDaniela on LinkedInMetalcoLinkedInFacebookInstagramEclatecLinkedInFacebookInstagram🎥 Lighting pole as stage: Iya Traoré in ParisWatch on YouTube🌍 Become a World Urban Parks memberJoin here
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