Hey friends 👋 Ever walked past a beautiful patch of grass in the city and thought, "Wow, that looks great... but what's the point?" Yeah, me too. I've lived in a few cities now, and while the green spaces look nice in photos, they're often not places we can actually use.

So today, I want to talk about the weird gap between looking green 🌳 and actually living green.

Green spaces vs. usable spaces 🧩

So many cities these days are chasing "green coverage" numbers — the higher the better, right? But here's the thing: just because there's grass or trees doesn't mean it's helping people live better.

I've seen big lawns surrounded by fences, tiny flower patches in the middle of intersections, or even slopes covered in bushes that no one can walk on. Sure, they boost the stats... but do they make our lives better?

I just wanted to sit 😅

True story: I once walked 20 minutes with my coffee, looking for a shady bench to chill. I passed all sorts of plants and neatly trimmed hedges… but nowhere to actually sit. I ended up leaning against a tree.

And that made me realize — a lot of city green is about "face value." It's designed to look good, especially from above (hello drone shots), but not necessarily to be good for daily life.

What we really need

We need green spaces we can use:

• Parks where we can jog, walk our pets, or bring our kids

• Shady spots with benches for the elderly

• Open areas where communities can gather, dance, or do tai chi

• Paths for walking and cycling that feel safe and relaxing

It's not about planting more — it's about designing better 🌱

The small things matter 🧡

I've started noticing which green spaces make me smile. A tiny corner garden where aunties grow herbs. A quiet path lined with bamboo where I can hear birds. A park where kids actually run around barefoot. These are the ones that feel alive.

Let's not just aim for pretty cities. Let's make them livable.

What do you think? 🤔

Have you ever come across a green space that looked good but didn't feel right? Or maybe a tiny hidden park that made your day? Share with me in the comments 💬 I'd love to hear how green spaces in your area are used — or not used.

At the end of the day, a city isn't just about how it looks. It's about how we live in it 💚