When new towns are planned, it is important to build more public parks or sports facilities than shopping centres for people to spend their free time. To what extent do you agree or disagree?

As governments seek to accommodate rapidly expanding urban populations, the challenge is no longer simply to construct new towns but to create places where people can enjoy a high quality of life.

While

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shopping

centres

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undoubtedly contribute to local economies, I strongly agree that public

parks

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and

sports

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facilities

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should take precedence. They represent a long-term

investment

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in human capital, social stability and sustainable urban development,

whereas

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the benefits of additional retail space are comparatively limited. The most compelling reason is that recreational infrastructure addresses problems that commercial development cannot solve. Modern cities are increasingly characterised by sedentary occupations, heavy traffic and high levels of psychological stress, all of which place considerable pressure on public healthcare systems.

By contrast

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,

parks

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and

sports

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facilities

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encourage preventive rather than reactive healthcare. When residents have easy access to attractive green spaces, they are significantly more likely to walk, cycle or participate in organised

sports

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instead

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of remaining indoors.

Consequently

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, governments may face lower healthcare expenditure in the long run,

while

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individuals enjoy longer, healthier and more productive lives. From

this

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perspective,

investment

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in recreational amenities should be regarded not as a public expense but as a strategic

investment

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with substantial social and economic returns. An equally persuasive argument concerns the creation of social capital. A successful town is defined not merely by its buildings but by the strength of the relationships that exist among its residents. Unlike shopping

centres

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, where interactions are largely transactional,

parks

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and

sports

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facilities

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encourage spontaneous communication and repeated social contact. Parents meet

while

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their children play, neighbours encounter one another during daily walks, and

sports

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clubs unite people around shared goals rather than commercial interests. These seemingly ordinary interactions gradually cultivate trust, strengthen civic engagement and reduce social isolation. In newly established towns, where residents

initially

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lack a shared identity,

such

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opportunities are indispensable for transforming a collection of houses into a genuine community. Admittedly, shopping

centres

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remain an integral component of urban planning. They provide employment, generate tax revenue and ensure convenient access to goods and services.

Nevertheless

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, commercial infrastructure should support urban life rather than define it. A town designed primarily around consumption may succeed economically, yet fail to provide the social and environmental conditions that enable people to flourish.

By contrast

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, communities that prioritise public spaces are more likely to remain attractive, resilient and liveable as their populations continue to grow. In conclusion, I firmly believe that public

parks

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and

sports

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facilities

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deserve greater priority than shopping

centres

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in newly planned towns. Their capacity to improve public health, strengthen social cohesion and generate lasting societal benefits makes them a far more valuable

investment

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than additional commercial developments.