Garden vs. Park: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A garden is a planned space for growing plants, flowers, and vegetables for aesthetic or practical purposes, while a park is a large public area, often with natural and landscaped features, for recreation and leisure.
Key Differences
A garden is typically a private or public space dedicated to cultivating plants, flowers, and sometimes vegetables, often for beauty or food production. Parks, conversely, are public spaces designed for recreation, leisure, and often for preserving natural landscapes and wildlife.
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Nov 28, 2023
Gardens are usually smaller and can be located in private residences, institutions, or as part of public spaces. Parks are generally larger public areas, found in urban and rural settings, designed for community use and environmental conservation.
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Garden design focuses on plant cultivation, aesthetic landscaping, and may include features like flower beds, vegetable patches, and water elements. Parks encompass a broader range of features like playgrounds, sports fields, trails, and sometimes preserved natural areas.
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Gardens can be private, belonging to individuals or institutions, or public as part of community initiatives. Parks are typically public spaces, owned and maintained by local or national governments, accessible to all for leisure activities.
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Gardens often reflect personal or cultural aesthetics in plant choice and layout, and can be spaces for relaxation and hobby gardening. Parks play a vital social role as community gathering spaces, offering areas for sports, events, and public interaction.
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Comparison Chart
Primary Purpose
Plant cultivation, aesthetics
Recreation, leisure, and conservation
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Size
Typically smaller, varies widely
Usually larger, designed for public use
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Location
Can be private or public, often in residences
Public, in urban and rural areas
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Features
Flower beds, vegetables, water features
Playgrounds, trails, sports fields, natural areas
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Access and Ownership
Private or public, individual or community owned
Public, government-owned and maintained
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Garden and Park Definitions
Garden
An area used for growing vegetables and herbs.
Their backyard garden provides fresh vegetables throughout the summer.
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Park
An area used for community events and gatherings.
The park hosts the annual music festival attended by thousands.
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Garden
A plot of land for cultivating plants and flowers.
She spends her weekends tending to her garden full of roses and tulips.
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Park
A piece of land with few or no buildings within or adjoining a town, maintained for recreational and ornamental purposes.
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Garden
A decorative arrangement of plants and landscaping.
The botanical garden featured an exquisite array of tropical plants.
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Garden
A plot of land used for the cultivation of flowers, vegetables, herbs, or fruit.
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Park
A large tract of rural land kept in its natural state and usually reserved for the enjoyment and recreation of visitors.
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Garden
An arrangement of living material that is cultivated for food, as a fungus garden maintained by ants.
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Park
A broad, fairly level valley between mountain ranges
The high parks of the Rocky Mountains.
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Garden
Often gardens Grounds laid out with flowers, trees, and ornamental shrubs and used for recreation or display
Public gardens.
A botanical garden.
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Park
A tract of land attached to a country house, especially when including extensive gardens, woods, pastures, or a game preserve.
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Park
An area in or near a town designed and usually zoned for a certain purpose
A commercial park.
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Park
A position in an automatic transmission that disengages the gears and sets the brake so the vehicle cannot move
Put the car in park and turned off the engine.
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Park
(Aerospace)To place (a spacecraft or satellite) in a usually temporary orbit.
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Park
(Informal)To place or leave temporarily
Parked the baby with neighbors.
Parking cash in a local bank account.
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Park
(Slang)To engage in kissing and caressing in a vehicle stopped in a secluded spot.
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Garden
An outdoor area containing one or more types of plants, usually plants grown for food or ornamental purposes.
A vegetable garden
A flower garden
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Garden
(in the plural) Such an ornamental place to which the public have access.
You can spend the afternoon walking around the town gardens.
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Park
A tract of ground kept in its natural state, about or adjacent to a residence, such as for the preservation of game, for walking, riding, or the like.
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Garden
(attributive) Taking place in, or used in, such a garden.
A garden party;
A garden path;
A garden spade
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Park
A piece of ground in or near a city or town, enclosed and kept for ornament and recreation.
Hyde Park in London;
Central Park in New York
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Garden
The grounds at the front or back of a house.
This house has a swimming pool, a tent, a swing set and a fountain in the garden.
We were drinking lemonade and playing croquet in the garden.
Our garden is overgrown with weeds.
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Park
An enclosed parcel of land stocked with animals for hunting, which one may have by prescription or royal grant.
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Park
An open space occupied by or reserved for vehicles, matériel or stores.
A wagon park;
An artillery park
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Garden
To grow plants in a garden; to create or maintain a garden.
I love to garden — this year I'm going to plant some daffodils.
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Garden
Of a batsman, to inspect and tap the pitch lightly with the bat so as to smooth out small rough patches and irregularities.
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Park
An area zoned for a particular (industrial or commercial) purpose.
Business park;
Industrial park;
Science park
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Garden
A piece of ground appropriated to the cultivation of herbs, fruits, flowers, or vegetables.
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Park
(UK) An inventory of matériel.
A country's tank park or artillery park.
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Garden
A rich, well-cultivated spot or tract of country.
I am arrived from fruitful Lombardy,The pleasant garden of great Italy.
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Garden
To lay out or cultivate a garden; to labor in a garden; to practice horticulture.
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Park
(transitive) To bring (something such as a vehicle) to a halt or store in a specified place.
You can park the car in front of the house.
I parked the drive heads of my hard disk before travelling with my laptop.
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Park
To defer (a matter) until a later date.
Let's park that until next week's meeting.
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Park
(transitive) To bring together in a park, or compact body.
To park artillery, wagons, automobiles, etc.
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Garden
The flowers or vegetables or fruits or herbs that are cultivated in a garden
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Park
To hit a home run; to hit the ball out of the park.
He really parked that one.
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Park
To engage in romantic or sexual activities inside a nonmoving vehicle that was driven to a suitable spot for that purpose.
They stopped at a romantic overlook, shut off the engine, and parked.
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Garden
A space for personal relaxation and enjoyment of nature.
Their garden, with its serene pond and benches, was a perfect retreat.
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Park
To sit, recline, or put, especially in a manner suggesting an intent to remain for some time.
He came in and parked himself in our living room.
Park your bags in the hall.
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Garden
A part of a park designated for specific plant displays.
The public park included a Japanese garden admired by all visitors.
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Park
To invest money temporarily in an investment instrument considered to relatively free of risk, especially while awaiting other opportunities.
We decided to park our money in a safe, stable, low-yield bond fund until market conditions improve.
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Park
(Internet) To register a domain name, but make no use of it (See domain parking)
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Park
A piece of ground inclosed, and stored with beasts of the chase, which a man may have by prescription, or the king's grant.
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Park
A tract of ground kept in its natural state, about or adjacent to a residence, as for the preservation of game, for walking, riding, or the like.
While in the park I sing, the listening deerAttend my passion, and forget to fear.
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Park
A piece of ground, in or near a city or town, inclosed and kept for ornament and recreation; as, Hyde Park in London; Central Park in New York.
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Park
A space occupied by the animals, wagons, pontoons, and materials of all kinds, as ammunition, ordnance stores, hospital stores, provisions, etc., when brought together; also, the objects themselves; as, a park of wagons; a park of artillery.
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Park
Any place where vehicles are assembled according to a definite arrangement; also, the vehicles.
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Park
A position of the gear lever in a vehicle with automatic transmission, used when the vehicle is stopped, in which the transmission is in neutral and a brake is engaged.
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Park
To inclose in a park, or as in a park.
How are we parked, and bounded in a pale.
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Park
To bring together in a park, or compact body; as, to park artillery, wagons, automobiles, etc.
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Park
To bring (a vehicle) to a stop and leave it standing; - typically a parked vehicle is off of the public road, the motor is not running, and the driver has left the vehicle.
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Park
To place (an object) in a temporary location; as, to park oneself on the couch; to park one's money in a mutual fund.
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Park
To promenade or drive in a park; also, of horses, to display style or gait on a park drive.
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Park
To come to a stop [in a vehicle] off of the public road and leave the vehicle standing; - typically the motor of a parked vehicle is not left running; as, he parked in a no-parking zone.
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Park
A large area of land preserved in its natural state as public property;
There are laws that protect the wildlife in this park
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Park
A piece of open land for recreational use in an urban area;
They went for a walk in the park
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Park
A facility in which ball games are played (especially baseball games);
Take me out to the ballpark
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Park
A gear position that acts as a parking brake;
The put the car in park and got out
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Park
Place temporarily;
Park the car in the yard
Park the children with the in-laws
Park your bag in this locker
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Park
Maneuver a vehicle into a parking space;
Park the car in front of the library
Can you park right here?
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Park
A large public green area in a town, used for recreation.
The city park, with its wide open spaces, is a favorite among families.
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Park
A nature reserve or area for preserving wildlife.
The national park is home to numerous species of animals and plants.
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Nov 23, 2023
Park
A space designated for public leisure and sports activities.
They played soccer every weekend at the local park.
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Park
A designated area for parking vehicles.
He found a spot in the park near the office building.
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Repeatedly Asked Queries
Do gardens need a lot of space?
Gardens can vary in size, from small containers to large plots.
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Can parks have natural areas?
Yes, many parks preserve natural landscapes and wildlife.
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What is a garden?
A cultivated space for growing plants, flowers, or vegetables.
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Are parks always public?
Typically, parks are public spaces, but private parks do exist.
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What defines a park?
A large public space for recreation, leisure, and nature conservation.
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Can gardens be part of parks?
Yes, many parks include designated garden areas.
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Is gardening only for growing food?
No, gardening includes growing flowers, plants for aesthetics, and food.
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Can a balcony be turned into a garden?
Yes, container and small-space gardening can be done on balconies.
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Are gardens found in urban areas?
Yes, gardens can be found in urban settings, such as rooftop or community gardens.
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Do gardens require a lot of maintenance?
It depends on the garden's size and type of plants.
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Do parks provide educational programs?
Many parks offer environmental, historical, or recreational education programs.
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Are dogs allowed in parks?
Policies on pets vary; some parks allow dogs, others may have restrictions.
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Do parks offer sports facilities?
Many parks have sports fields, courts, and recreational facilities.
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Do parks have opening and closing times?
Most public parks have set hours, especially urban ones.
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Is gardening an expensive hobby?
It can vary, from low-cost options to more expensive setups.
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Can gardens be indoor?
Yes, indoor gardens are popular, especially in limited-space areas.
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Do gardens help with stress relief?
Yes, many find gardening a relaxing and therapeutic activity.
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Can anyone visit a public park?
Yes, public parks are generally open to everyone.
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Are parks important for the environment?
Yes, parks play a crucial role in environmental conservation and biodiversity.
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Are parks safe at night?
Safety can vary; it's advised to check local guidelines and conditions.
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Nov 28, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.