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The biggest urban parks

Hey, guys :) I`ve been writing here on the big subject of how cities around the world are trying to be greener for a time now. So what is more logical than continuing the series, but this time let`s take it literally :) Here we go, below is a list of the greenest cities. And this time green meaning the colour green, because we are talking about the biggest urban parks:

Fish Creek Park Calgary, Alberta, Canada 3261 acres

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Fish Creek Park one of the largest urban parks in North America; it is a provincial park located in the southern part of Calgary, Canada. The growth of Calgary has left the park bordered on all sides by the city. The Bow River as well as the Fish Creek passes through the park, which used to span the width of the city but because of growth the city has surpassed the edges of the park.

South Mountain Park Phoenix, Arizona 16 283 acres

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South Mountain Park is the largest city park in the United States! In all of them! It preserves in a natural state a mountainous area of 65.89 km2 of native desert vegetation. The park was formed in 1924 and it has since been expanded through bond programs during 1970s into the early 1980s. Naturally (or not, actually :) ), suburban growth has nearly surrounded the park. Beyond the roads leading to ramadas and the summit, the park features 58 miles (93 km) of trails for cycling, hiking and horseback riding.

Fairmount Park Philadelphia, PA 9 200 acres

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Fairmount Park is a municipal park system, consisting of 63 parks. The system includes the Centennial Arboretum, Philadelphia's Horticulture Center, Fairmount Water Works, Memorial Hall, home to the Please Touch Museum, the Belmont Plateau, Japanese House and Garden, Bartram's Garden (America’s oldest living botanical garden), Philadelphia Museum of Art, Boathouse Row, Azalea Garden, recreation centers, reservoirs, and numerous pieces of art.

Casa de Campo Madrid, Spain 4200 acres

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Formerly a royal hunting estate, today Casa de Campo is the largest urban park in Spain. Inside it are located an amusement park, the Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, and the Madrid Zoo. Very few things can beat a day spent in the park, enjoying the warm weather and looking at the wildlife - squirrels, rabbits and many, many  birds.

Sutton Park Birmingham, UK 2400 acres

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Sutton Park is a mix of heathland, wetlands and marshes, seven lakes, extensive ancient woodlands several restaurants, a private 18-hole golf course and a municipal golf course to the south, a donkey sanctuary, children's playgrounds and a visitors' center.

Wascana Centre Regina Saskatchewan Canada 2300 acres

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Wascana Centre brings together lands and buildings owned by the City of Regina, University of Regina, and Province of Saskatchewan. The park contains government, recreational, cultural, educational and environmental facilities. It was designed by the Seattle architect Minoru Yamasaki, creator of the original World Trade Center in New York.

Metropolitan Park of Santiago Santiago, Chile 1800 acres

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Santiago Metropolitan Park consists of the San Cristóbal, Chacarillas and Los Gemelos hills, and the areas of Tupahue, Lo Saldés, Pirámide and Bosque Santiago. It was created in 1966 and is the largest urban park in Chile. Therefore it is taken good care of, as the Chilean government plans to significantly refurbish and expand it by building new footpaths, planting 100,000 more trees and expanding the National Zoo.

Phoenix Park Dublin, Ireland 1750 acres

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Phoenix Park is one of the largest walled city parks in Europe. It includes large areas of grassland and tree-lined avenues, and is a home to a herd of wild Fallow deer. In Irish fionn uisce means "clear water". In case you are lucky and living close to one of those magnificent places, please, do go out for a walk now :) If not, go anywhere you can, it is the best you can do for yourself, spend some time surrounded by nature.