Cities and Sport. Proximity Planning Among Green Networks and Commons

This paper discusses the relationship between sport, health and urban form within the perspective of proximity planning, focusing on the role of green networks and urban commons. Starting from the growing relevance of outdoor physical activity after the Covid-19 pandemic and from the effects of climate change on urban environments, the contribution interprets sport as a driver of sustainable urban development and public health. The paper reviews the evolution of the relationship among sport, urban greenery and health, highlights current conditions in Italian cities, and argues for a planning approach that integrates walkability, green infrastructure and informal sports practices. Particular attention is devoted to large mono-functional urban enclaves and disused compounds, which can hinder proximity networks but also become strategic spaces for regeneration. Using previous research on Cagliari and Trieste, the paper recalls the use of GIS tools, community data and the Walkability in Big Buildings Index to support the interpretation of urban space as a network for health-oriented and inclusive sports practices. The contribution concludes that sport should be recognized as an urban common good and as a key component of the resilient city within the ecological transition.