24 Parks and green space The city has many urban parks that are used for dog walking, running, public events and relaxation. Recent research shows that Amsterdam’s parks are gaining in popularity as they become more intensively used. Young creative people increasingly use parks for work and play. Well aware that green space provides the city with a more livable and attractive public space, Amsterdam is currently increasing the number of ‘pocket parks’, small oases of green space established on vacant lots and undeveloped corners in the city. These new little parks provide residents with an oasis of calm in the close vicinity and elevate the quality of the locale. The most important green elements in the city are pinpointed in the Main Green Structure, providing protected status for these zones. Woodland area Allotment gardens Public parks Cemeteries Never Yearly Daily Monthly Weekly How often does a resident of Amsterdam visit a park?
Spatial restrictions The possibilities for the further expansion of Amsterdam within its municipal boundaries are limited. The city is wedged between the protected green zones of the Green Heart to the south and rural Waterland to the north. The city is also faced with the challenge of limited space within its current footprint. The noise-nuisance contours around Schiphol Airport limit the opportunities for urban expansion to the west. Attempts to turn parts of the Western Harbour District into a more diverse area are hindered by restrictions imposed by industrial activities. Amsterdam has therefore opted for a strategy of densification of its existing urban fabric, though not simply out of necessity; high densities are also a means to ensure a sustainable and attractive city life. 25 Transport and industry limit other functions