I live in an apartment block that’s located right on Singapore’s famed park connector network. The park connector is a green pedestrian+cyclist walkway that connects the island’s neighbourhoods. It’s lined with trees, flowering plants and little benches, and often interspersed with children’s playgrounds and exercise equipment used by the elderly. It’s a wonderful common resource used by residents – runners jog, parents push their strollers and dogs walk the park at all times of the day. Despite SG being so hot, strolling the park connector is still bearable due to the generous shade from the trees. The best part is that it is so integrated with the community that it serves as the walkway for many central aspects of the community – getting to the supermarket, the MRT, the daycare centre, playground, etc.
The PCN has a positive reinforcement loop going that’s so helpful in getting to be more physically active day-to-day. My favourite part of the PCN is that it makes it so easy to get out of the house and move. It’s a great resource to feel more refreshed instantly: just get down, and start walking! The act of walking in greenery and seeing others engaged in the same peaceful activity truly helps in rewiring some brain circuitry, reducing stress and helping to sort out thoughts in the mind.
If you’re reading this and feeling cooped up / stressed out / anxious or just lethargic, I highly recommend taking a walk to reset. Bonus points if it’s through a patch of green.
Shweta Padmanaban 