Australian-first study hopes to see Perth become leader in 'smart parks'

It sounds like something from a Michael Jackson video clip — Perth parks with glow-in-the-dark paths and lights powered by footsteps, alongside technology to get people of all ages moving and barbecues that tell you when they need to be cleaned or fixed. These may sound like far-fetched visions from the future but in reality are the cutting-edge of technologies already being used across the globe to make the humble park "smarter". Cities in Europe, China and the US are blending the divide between the technological and the natural to future-proof their urban centres and get more people outdoors. PerthNow…