Why did Tehran’s number of parks increase during the 1990s?

The increase in the number of parks in Tehran during the 1990s was primarily driven by the leadership and urban development initiatives of Gholamhussein Karbaschi, who served as mayor starting in 1989.1

Facing a city characterized by severe fragmentation and overcrowding, Karbaschi implemented significant infrastructure improvements to modernize Tehran and better integrate its southern and northern sections. These efforts included a major expansion of green spaces and cultural centers, which became increasingly accessible to residents across all income levels. The municipality’s commitment to providing more parks and planting trees was significant enough that the United Nations recognized Tehran as one of the world’s Best Practices cities at its Habitat II Conference in 1996.12