Different parts of the city

Susie works as an urban planner. Her job is to decide what can be built where in a city. She is always thinking about how land is used in a city, and why things are built a certain way. A city needs places for people to work. Susie works in the city centre, sometimes called the downtown.

There is usually a lot going on here! There may be government buildings, offices, universities, hospitals and more. It’s no coincidence that businesses often set up downtown: most public transportation flows in and out of the city centre, making it easy for workers to get to work. This is convenient for Susie, who commutes to work from outside of the city centre. Why?

Well, nowadays it is unusual for a family to live in the city centre. In many cities, urban space is limited and therefore in high-demand. So it is now very expensive to live downtown. It’s important to use the land here efficiently. That also explains the tall buildings.

Because they are built up, high-rise buildings and skyscrapers allow many people to live and work on a small area of land. From her office window, Susie can see an area with many old buildings. A city that has existed for a long time may have a historic district. This area is preserved for a few reasons. It may have an association with a historical event, or the life of a significant person.

Perhaps the buildings have a unique construction style from the past. A historic district can teach us about the past and also become a tourist destination. When work is over, Susie needs to go grocery shopping. But the stores downtown are small, and don’t have what she needs. Susie knows she needs to go to a different part of the city to find supermarkets.

She’s come to the outskirts of the city. The supermarkets are larger. So are the shopping malls and the parking lots. In most cities, land on the outskirts is plentiful and affordable. When people and businesses need more space, they move here.

Large trucks can come in and out on main roadways, and easily deliver large quantities of goods to customers in all directions. Therefore, the outskirts are also more convenient for factories and warehouses. There’s something else on the outskirts too: Susie’s house! On the outskirts you find many areas with family homes -- residential areas. Residential areas often start out as rural.

As cities expand, they become a part of the city known as the suburbs. With public transportation, it’s easy for Susie to go downtown to work. At home, she can enjoy the peace and quiet of suburban life. After she gets home, Susie, Leon, and Lina go for a walk in the neighbourhood park. There’s a pond, a playground and walking trails...

is this still the city? Yes! Cities also need places for people to enjoy leisure time. Parks, gardens, and urban forests are examples of what we call green space. Green spaces can be beautiful, but they are also important for maintaining the environment in cities.

They improve air quality by filtering pollution, and help prevent flooding by absorbing water that runs off pavement. They also help us spend time outdoors. This makes us healthier, and happier too! Every day, Susie passes through many parts of her city. Cities can look very different around the world, but they also have many similar parts, regardless of their location and history.

Next time you’re in a city, take a look around and think about the different parts you see!