On a breezy summer afternoon here in the newly renovated Sanayeh Garden, children are climbing the monkey bars, pedaling on bikes, and kicking a ball by the huge water fountain in the park’s center. Their parents watch from shaded benches, while couples go for strolls, teenagers chatter, and older park goers do some people-watching.

Outside the garden in the congested district of Hamra, it’s all tall concrete buildings and the sounds of car horns in the air. But inside, it’s a lush oasis of green grass, pruned trees, and tweeting birds. “You can feel the air quality change as you enter the park,” says Noura, a 15-year old girl who lives next to the park and jogs here three times a week. “You can relax and breathe better.”

Source: City Lab