> Contrast that with visiting a city like Kiev where, in the evening after work, the city parks are filled with families enjoying the sunset (when the weather is warm)

Or any large American city with residential urban neighborhoods? I don't think it's fair to compare a European capital with nameless American suburbs. Thinking back to one of my favorite apartments I lived in Chicago, I had: an independent grocery store 2 blocks away, numerous small locally owned shops, bakeries, and restaurants on the main commercial thoroughfare, and large park (~1/2 sq mi.) less than a mile away, filled with families on summer evenings.