Introduction
Green infrastructure is a lively production linking three crucial life segments: society, economy, and ecology. The role of the environment as the backbone of bright communities, balanced economies, and durable ecosystems is self-explanatory, regardless of whether appreciation, value, or utility stands in view. In this reflection, I intend to reflect on the complex layers of my unique journey that has led to understanding green infrastructure. The lush green landscapes of my childhood in Al-Baha and Al-Namas, as well as the more urban scenes of younger adulthood in Riyadh, are all powerful forces that shaped my view of nature and artificial environments. This reflective paper aims to examine the depths of my encounters with green infrastructure, exploring its profound impact on my daily life and aspirations for a greener and more sustainable future.
Experiencing Green Infrastructure in Childhood
When I was growing up, I had good luck living next door to two magnificent natural landscapes, Al-Baha and Al-Namas, in Saudi Arabia. There were princess green forests and breathtaking valleys where we used to find colorful flowers. I felt utterly embraced by beautiful greenery and live fields in the scent of nature and its mysterious complexities. The festive family gatherings took place around these green leaves, which is the most suitable way of taking a deep breath from nature besides elders and other panels. The life stories that my grandparents were using to shift not just meaning but the richness of natural spaces inspired me with an abundance of love for green areas towards the first place in my Divine heart. Cilliers (2019) asserted that the ‘nature’ exposure during childhood is a vital foundation for environmental citizenship and stewardship, a theme I kept stealing down my memory lane. My ancestors told me about nature in the past, just like the background I see grimly. This changed my mindset for it to be viewed as something alive and should be respected and preserved.
Re-thinking those moments, I acknowledge the excellent nature lesson I learned as a kid and its effect on shaping my environmental consciousness. During the story period of my grandparents, I understood the interactions between people and nature by looking at them. In this way, I developed a respect for nature and protecting spaces of green. Spiteri (2020) asserts that if young people develop empathy for the natural world in their early experiences, they will grow to treasure its lasting importance and champion conservation efforts. Living my youth in the green valleys of Hail and Najran gave me a profound appreciation of nature and amazement of the wondrous natural world. Additionally, I have learned that these experiences have added to my perception of the world in the present. Rao (2021) states that the early engagement of children with nature provokes an emotional contact with nature, resulting in a feeling of belonging to and falling in harmony with the natural world in a way that sustains their love of nature even when they become adults. For the time I spent jumping through the tall trees and escalating the green hills of my childhood, the outdoors will always be where I feel a strong sense of belonging to the environment while feeling as simple and someone responsible for it.
Transition to Urban Life
The transformation from the green mountains and nature reserves of Al-Baha and Al-Namas to the high-rise skyscrapers of Riyadh lit up with lights at night exposed me to a world of high-rise buildings and an entirely new type of green infrastructure. My home place of Riyadh has little trace of green scenery when compared to the nature-rich relaxation areas of my previous life. However, although Burj Al-Arab has a diversified population, Al-Fouta Park has become synonymous with calmness and nature (Fuller et al., 2007b). While living in Riyadh, I passed through the concrete wilderness, and the park gave me peace among lush green trees that would make me forget about the city’s fast life. Al-Fouta Park was my special place as it was one of the biggest parks in Riyadh, and therefore, I would always find it as a refuge where I could get away from the rush of the city and find myself connected to nature. Research by Washbourne (2022) suggests that Al-Fouta Park is a vast wildlife space that serves not only in improving mental health but also in reducing stress. The park was an island of calmness and peace in the middle of the noisy city.
Besides being a solace gathering point for people, Al-Fouta Park is a creature for community and social interaction. As Rao (2021) acknowledges, urban green areas go a long way in catalyzing people’s social connections and interaction within a community. Al-Fouta Park played a role in social gatherings and participated in recreational activities found by the families, the children, and the individuals from different communities. During that trip to the park, I perceived different family setups as they had their picnics, kids playing, and friends seated around conversing while relaxing. Besides nourishing my personal growth, they have also indicated the park’s function as a liaison between social participants and the adhesion of the local community. Urban green spaces can serve not only as a space for cultural diversity and inclusivity but also as a platform for various displays and celebrations of different cultures (Mell and Clement, 2019). This park was a melted and pure pot of cultures where people from other cultures and backgrounds gathered here to celebrate occasions and cultural events. Taking part in this event, I could see and feel the impact of green infrastructure on bridging cultural boundaries and making an underlying sense of unity a reality within a wide range of people.
Understanding the Benefits of Green Infrastructure
The recurrent number of my visits to parks has given me deep knowledge about the varied consequences of green infrastructure. To recollect what I have gone through, green spaces can naturally influence the various elements of well-being, such as the psychological, physical, and social dimensions of a person’s health. Previous studies underscore these findings as they provide the positive impact of green infrastructure on mental illnesses, social infrastructure, and physical well-being (Fan et al., 2011). One of the self-evident points from a person’s visit to parks is the mental health at work in green areas. The study supports that nature is therapy through different investigations, proving that people feel relieved from stress. Moreover, they obtain good moods and cognitive function (Wood et al., 2022). The spaces with green in towns serve a vital task of providing an adequate break from my busy schedule. If one stops and considers all the aspects of nature that can help one relax, such as the view of green grass, the sound of wind between trees, or the smell of the air, nature can be repacked for the mind and soul.
Green infrastructure is also essential, enabling the community to unite and communicate. Parks bring people from varied social contexts together to get rest, exercise, and socialize (Rao 2021). Each time I take a walk around the park, I observe the families playing, friends practicing their games, and people who do not know each other to be chatting together. These experiences foster social relations and introduce feelings of being part of the community, with shared identity among its people. Green infrastructure, which can improve psychological and social aspects and physical health and well-being, is an additional benefit. The parks offer exercise facilities, such as going out, running, and biking, which are critical in guarding cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of chronic diseases (Wolf, 2017). In addition, the engagement of various green spaces has proven favorable to improving air quality and noise pollution reduction so that environmental health has also been enhanced (Gómez et al., 2004).
Challenges and Misconceptions
Despite the multiple benefits that green spaces bring to urban environments, the common misunderstandings often undermine their importance and relevance. One of the most common misconceptions about parks in cities is the conviction that they are only possible in cases of expendable funds rather than essentials during the design phase. A few people have adopted green infrastructure as an alternative to the built infrastructure. In contrast, some others may need to properly appreciate the role of green infrastructure in promoting well-being and sustainability. Disparately, the academic literature emphasizes greenery’s unique role in mental health promotion, shaping the garden as a factor of community cohesion, and increasing environmental quality (Barton and Rogerson, 2017). This notion can be debunked by stressing the need for greenery and showing its benefit to urban settings and the residents, thereby increasing greenery in urban designs and promoting healthier and better residents (Russell et al., 2013).
Another difficulty is parents’ fears of harm to their children and perceived risks caused by the possibility of children coming in touch with nature. In the current world, many parents are more likely to prefer to keep their children at home and not allow them to play outside because they fear many things happening, such as accidents or exposure to harmful elements (Little, 2013). Despite this, research states that such primary fears come from the attachment of young kids to nature and that all physical, cognitive, and emotional growth is ensured only through exposure to it. To overcome these issues, measures to create activities that can help people live an active life and green spaces that connect with nature are essential (Environment & Nature, 2023). By bringing safe and convenient outdoor spots to elements like playgrounds, nature trails, and community gardens, parents will become more reassured about their children being able to explore and engage in open spaces (Tolulope Adesoji and Pearce, 2024).
Furthermore, the technology preparedness of the children can be a challenging cause that will prevent them from keeping close to nature and following healthy life approaches and environmental care. There is a disparity between the number of children who use the internet, smartphones, and various devices and those who spend time outside, leading to the separation of children from their natural world (Little, 2013). Nevertheless, disruptive solutions, such as inventing technology like gratification and augmented reality, can help balance technology and nature, thus opening up the way for children to contemplate and perform green space activities (Tolulope Adesoji & Pearce, 2024). Using technology to create exploratory experiences, teachers and politicians can produce an environmentally conscious generation interested in maintaining healthy and functioning surroundings.
Vision for the Future
Dedication and activities such as Vision 2030 and Riyadh Green Initiative have shown that the leaders of Saudi Arabia are highly committed to developing this sector and the issues connected with environmental sustainability. These projects to transform a city’s expansive nature will emphasize providing green areas and the community’s overall welfare. Regarding this, King Salman Park has the potential to meet the objectives of sustainable city development alongside shifting today’s city direction into a bright future in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Nieuwenhuijsen, 2021). Vision 2030 first appeared in 2016 and was a detailed blueprint for the Kingdom’s socio-economic progress, considering environmental sustainability as one of the plan’s main focuses and a perfect example. Regarding this vision, a remarkable budget was provided for implementing green infrastructure projects and developing rich vegetation covering the city’s environmental quality (Saudi Vision 2030, 2019). On equal importance, engaging in wide-scale reforestation and development of green spaces are also the primary strategies of the Green Initiative of Riyadh, aiming to plant 7.5 million trees to improve air quality and alleviate climate change (Royal Commission for Riyadh City, 2019).
King Salman project is an excellent example of nature-based infrastructure and its therapeutic effects on the ecosystem and society in terms of environmental sustainability and the well-being of society. The King Salman Park spares 16 square kilometers. It will be one of the largest parks in the world. There will be a lot of green squares, entertainment areas, and cultural spaces at King Salman Park (Royal Commission for Riyadh City, 2019). Sustainable design principles and innovative green technologies are critical components in the master plan for the park to enrich the habitat, cope with climate change, and promote community health and well-being of the place. Moreover, this venue will facilitate economic and tourist growth development and bring many people from various locations around the globe, which will positively affect the local economy. King Salman Park, designed as a focal point of Vision 2030, represents the basic principles of imaginative future urban development in Saudi Arabia: preserving the environment, providing social inclusion, and securing economic growth (Dadvand and Nieuwenhuijsen, 2018).
With the future in mind, I find significant joy and hope for a world where green infrastructure will play a prominent role in growing an equally healthy and sustainable environment. The fact that Vision 2030 and the Riyadh Green Initiative generated positive results over time makes me picture a town in the Riyadh province marked by green spaces and active citizens while having an ecologically stable environment. The King Salman Park projects demonstrate the outstanding opportunities that emerge with exceptional visionary leadership, innovative designs, and close community involvement (Dadvand and Nieuwenhuijsen, 2018). The end products are public spaces that enrich residents’ lives and improve society. By prioritizing the construction of green infrastructure and by making people devoted to protecting the environment, Saudi Arabia is expected to be in a vanguard position in crafting cities that are not only comfortable and resilient but also in harmony with nature. With this vision in mind, green infrastructure will become a crucial pillar of sustainable urban development, bringing us to a fabulous and green tomorrow.
Conclusion
My experience has been diversified and unique, especially in Saudi Arabia, where I took beautiful green walks. Seeing the role of green infrastructure, from my childhood in the village with lush greenery to today’s life in Riyadh, I have realized that it is a part of life. This sub-category is defined by the mechanism that creates community, well-being, and environmental sustainability. Along the way, trips to parks such as Al-Fouta and King Salman Park have taught me that social, psychological, and health are just some benefits of visiting these natural areas. Initiatives, such as Vision 2030 and Riyadh Green Initiative, give reason to believe that their long-term aim is creating a healthier environment. When I remember these cases, I am overwhelmed with hope for the future of Saudi Arabia, where green will prevail, and human progress will be invented in the natural environment to benefit many.
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