Today in our environmental science lecture, we'll discuss urban green spaces. A recent study in Melbourne found that parks can reduce local temperatures by up to 4 degrees Celsius during heatwaves. Interestingly, the cooling effect extends about 100 meters beyond the park boundary. However, this depends on the park's size and vegetation density. Small gardens with scattered trees have minimal impact, while large, densely wooded areas create significant cooling. The study also noted that water features, like ponds, enhance the effect but require careful maintenance to avoid mosquito breeding. So, city planners should prioritize larger, interconnected green corridors over many tiny pockets of greenery.