Articles
An Invitation To Join The Conversation
No two parks are alike—and that’s a good thing. The features that become beloved in one neighborhood might sit unused in another.
Fulfilling Visions
How should the value of a park plan be determined? Should a plan be judged by the degree to which it is implemented? What good is a plan if it offers a vision that is unfulfilled?
Serve It Up!
While beach volleyball was added to the Olympics in 1996, there is plenty of evidence to suggest the sport originated in Hawaii in the early 1900s. Like surfing, the activity was carried to the United States, becoming a fixture in California—where it was noticed by the rest of the world.
Packed With Potential
Years ago, in the small city of Monona, Wis., the citizens wondered if they could develop a waterfront attraction—given that most of the city’s water access already had been developed. And the city’s neighboring, much larger state capital, Madison, had laid claim to other potential waterfront sites.
How To Raise A Meadow
With shrinking maintenance budgets on the horizon, municipalities and other public agencies have been researching options to reduce costs. One frequently considered initiative is the addition of turf to reduce the amount of mowing by maintenance crews.
Create A Hub In Parks
What do grassy hillsides, dog parks, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, and sports fields have in common? Certainly they provide places to play, but they also provide a reason for people to get together.
Trails On The Brain
Are trails just lines randomly drawn on maps? While some people may perceive them this way, trail planners would most certainly disagree because of the thoughtfulness and care with which they approach
An Intentional Collision
Have you heard of “intersectional planning” as it relates to parks and recreation? Essentially, the term refers to “the integration between planning for green spaces and for other elements, such as
Brownfield Remediation
“Great cities have a great park,” is the mantra of the visionary client group behind Bonnet Springs Park in Lakeland, Fla. However, untouched, open green space—just waiting to be recast as public open space—is
Endless Possibilities
A determined mom pushes a double stroller while her ponytail sways from side to side. Meanwhile, a cross-country team from the local high school gets in an afternoon run. Golfers—sunburned and sore—rib
Listen To The Community
To create a park that is embraced by residents and becomes a beloved part of a community, the plan and design must be a process of building relationships. Public parks are often planned for a lifespan of
A Natural Fit
In the densely populated Boston suburb of Somerville, Mass., open space is at a premium. Residents gravitate to natural areas, even if those spaces are undeveloped city lots on side
Embracing Challenges As Opportunities
When the city of Henderson, Nev., hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony in March to mark the grand opening of its 56th park, residents were thrilled. They had been anxiously awaiting
Preserving The Past
In many ways, downtown Westminster in Maryland has changed little in the last 100 years. Located in Carroll County, the city’s street-level shops and upper-floor apartments capture a
Parks Get Better With Age
A once-abandoned island in the harbor of New York City has become one of the city’s most intriguing tourist destinations with miles of paved pathways, baseball fields, natural space, and
Taking Back Nature
The Rocky River is an urban waterway that flows 50 miles through Anderson County, S.C. It has a long history of degradation and abuse, including channelization of the river in the 1980s and
Close to Home
A study currently underway reveals insights into the human-park relationship in a typical American community.
The Neighborhood Park
In theory, a neighborhood park serves everyone, but the mere presence of a park does not guarantee people will use it.
Right The First Time
If you have an active imagination like I do, the term “master plan” conjures visions of world-takeover plots, dastardly deeds, and evil henchman.
Northerly Island
In setting the framework for a new Northerly Island park in Chicago, the charge for the design team led by SmithGroupJJR and Studio Gang Architects was clearСdesign the next great icon for the city on one of the last large tracts of lakefront.