Urban Lawns as Nature-Based Learning Spaces

Turfgrass lawns are a central component of urban ecosystems around the world. Whether public or private, lawns provide a place for human recreation and relaxation along with ecological benefits such as water filtration and urban heat mitigation. However, lawns are critiqued for their use of inputs (e.g., water and fertilizer), as well as the perceived lack of biodiversity. Although some have called for the replacement of turfgrass lawns with lower-input more diverse landscapes, residents generally like lawns, and in some cases want more of it. Therefore, there is an opportunity to view urban lawns as spaces for new nature-based learning approaches to re-engage individuals with nature near them. This study presents a brief review of how we can think of urban lawns as social-ecological systems alongside opportunities for nature-based learning centered on the urban lawn. Formal and informal educational opportunities can help expand individual knowledge of and connection to lawns as well as potentially impact how individuals manage lawns in the future more sustainably. Vegetation and policy interventions need to accompany educational opportunities to afford space for changes to occur without being constrained by existing systems.