In Times Of COVID-19
Creating safe public spaces in 2020 and beyond
By Dan Biederman
Photos: Courtesy of The Detroit Pistons
Programming a public park safely and successfully in the time of the coronavirus requires vigilance, patience, and flexible persistence.
We at Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation stressed all these qualities when the Detroit Pistons NBA basketball team approached us to implement a programming plan at five city parks this past summer. The Pistons Neighbors Program is a public-private, partnership initiative of the Pistons and the city of Detroit, with further funding support from the William Davidson Foundation and the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.
The inception of the 2020 Pistons Neighbors Program preceded the onset of the coronavirus and its lasting effects in the United States. The program’s original goal was to elevate the Detroit Pistons Foundation’s 2019 efforts to renovate neighborhood basketball courts and use the game as a vehicle for change to inspire and improve several communities.
The Pistons envisioned vibrant and active park spaces beyond the courts to serve the neighborhood communities at large. The Pistons and the city of Detroit enlisted our programming experience and expertise to turn their vision into a reality.
The Diversity Of Each Neighborhood
First, we began assessing the sites and developing community-outreach plans to serve five parks across the city as the coronavirus began to spread across the country. We created neighborhood-specific programs for Adams Butzel Recreation Complex, Clark Park, Palmer Park, Pingree Park, and Jayne Field/Lasky Recreation Center.
Each park represented a surrounding neighborhood with differing interests and dominant languages. We surveyed each with support from local Detroiters to connect with essential community-partner organizations.
Apart from the ever-changing landscape of coronavirus safety concerns, the task of simultaneously programming five widely separated parks in diverse neighborhoods was fundamentally complicated.
The requirements for each park ranged from engaging a predominantly Bangladeshi neighborhood to a predominantly Latinx neighborhood, with varying interests in activities. We worked with local translators to provide marketing collateral in English, Spanish, and Arabic—adjusting structure and word choice based on feedback.
Evaluating Program Safety
As more understanding of the disease and subsequent safety guidelines became available, we adapted them to public space activity. One of the earliest assessments agreed upon globally was the increased safety in outdoor activity as opposed to indoor activity. We developed guidelines and protocols for safe and socially distanced programming in parks.
After assessing hundreds of activities, we placed some on hold in an abundance of caution. Several activities were adaptable to the new guidelines, while still maintaining interest and providing entertainment for park guests. Participants were socially distanced by six feet, and programming equipment was sanitized between uses. Clearly marked bins served as receptacles for used equipment, which staff members cleaned after use.
A new element to programming plans and procurement lists was adequate personal-protection equipment. Each of the parks was equipped with ample quantities of face masks, disposable gloves, sanitizing wipes, and hand sanitizer. City staff members wore face masks at all times and kept supplies visible for guests to use at will, in accordance with the governor of Michigan’s guidelines at the time.
The launch of the programming season followed extensive evaluations of the local coronavirus status, with insights from infectious disease and environmental-health experts. The team participated in a workshop with a local social- and mental-health expert in preparation for inviting the public outside after the height of the pandemic had subsided.
Forging Ahead
The pandemic has turned the world upside down for everyone, but the impact on children has been significant. Seeing children happily playing in the parks during the summer shone a light on the particular value the Pistons are creating in neighborhood communities.
By conscientiously forging ahead despite an unpredictable environment, the Pistons Neighbors Program created a safe and healthy space for youth across the city. While the outcome of the program was positive—laying a foundation for strong future growth—the process was affected by the pandemic challenges. To overcome the obstacles, we drew upon previous experience in successfully delivering programs. The crowds started small and have grown steadily over the course of the inaugural programming season—the beginning of a community legacy.
Dan Biederman is an urban planner and developer and the President of Biederman Redevelopment Ventures Corporation (www.brvcorp.com), which plans, revitalizes, manages, and programs parks, public spaces, and neighborhood streetscapes in 28 states and six countries. If you have interest in learning how you can revitalize or create an urban park or public space, email ContactUs@brvcorp.com.