Many cities are now turning parks and farmland into new housing developments. Is this a positive or negative development?

Some are of the belief that current initiatives to transform public parks and farms into residential areas are misguided. I am in general agreement with

this

contention despite its ostensible advantages in dense urban regions. Those who argue

this

policy is positive point out its effects on overcrowding in

cities

. In the

last

century, mass migrations to

cities

have created increasingly dense urban regions. One of the best solutions for

this

is to expand the size of

cities

by subsuming nearby farmlands into urban districts.

For instance

, large metropolitan areas

such

as Tokyo and Mexico City are only able to house their surging populations by spreading to neighbouring lands. The result is that more individuals are able to live in

cities

and enjoy higher standards of living, better healthcare, improved economic opportunity and various entertainment options. For the average resident,

such

development is incontestably positive.

However

, new housing developments neglect the primacy of the natural world.

Firstly

, building homes on nearby farmland not only clears away pristine natural land but

also

necessitates the transportation of agricultural products from greater distances.

This

will in turn exacerbate environmental issues and potentially lead to inflated food costs for the average person. More importantly,

cities

that lack parks are not providing an optimal living environment for residents. For wealthy individuals,

this

is less pressing since they may be able to make frequent trips to outlying areas. Whereas, for the least privileged classes, parks may be their only opportunities to experience nature and a life deprived of all contact with the natural world is undeniably bleak. In conclusion, despite the positives related to population density in

cities

, it is an overall negative due to its effect on the natural environment and quality of life in

cities

.

Such

proposals should

therefore

be pursued in moderation.