The public park, or more precisely the public space, has been reinvented with each generation. A rich public space is not necessarily just a destination unto itself. Rather, such space, often intangibly, serves to connect parts of a community that might not otherwise be drawn together.
Whether because of an increased awareness of sustainability initiatives or a desire to mitigate the challenges of higher population densities, cities large and small are investing in projects that create or preserve open space. The many and varied examples of how that open space is employed is as unique as the locality that undertakes the effort. Which is of course another hallmark of this drive to greater and more diverse open space – the careful and deliberate involvement of residents and community stakeholders in the process of planning.
The scale of these public space projects can be measured in square miles and in square feet. Among the largest undertakings presently in progress are:
These spaces are wonders of landscape design incorporating public art, sustainable vegetation and shade trees, entertainment venues, athletic facilities, gardens and secluded enclaves.
Just as compelling are the smaller neighborhood treasures being established or preserved in cities such as Philadelphia and Baltimore. Baltimore Green Space is protecting community gardens, pocket parks and other open space through neighborhood-driven efforts.
An effort in Philadelphia to convert the city’s huge holdings of vacant lots and asphalt-covered school yards into tree-shaded greens could if fully implemented yield 500 new acres of open space. Like in Baltimore, the city envisions not a destination for recreation but an “archipelago of green oases on scraps of land.” In one example from the neighborhood of Francisville, residents coming together under the Francisville Neighborhood Development Corporation conducted a cleaning and greening effort on 10 connected vacant lots to create a new public space that even includes fruit trees and a vegetable garden.
Resources
Which Comes First: The Neighbors or the Neighborhood? (April 11, 2011)
The stretch of land has all the attributes to warm the cockles of a city planner’s heart. Bordering the west side is a major sports venue and the nescient development that often accompanies such a facility...
Citiesspeak is the official blog of the National League of Cities.