An urban park or metropolitan park, also known as a city park, municipal park , public park, public open space, or municipal gardens , is a park or botanical garden in cities, densely populated suburbia and other incorporated places that offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality. They are generally landscaped by design, instead of lands left in their natural state. The design, operation and maintenance is usually done by government agencies, typically on the local level, but may occasionally be contracted out to a park conservancy, "friends of" group, or private sector company.