On Complete Parks™: The Cherry on Top
A series by: Aya Abdelfatah and Islam (Sam) Ibrahim
Facts and Figures
While 73% of Vancouver’s population is within a 5 minute walk from a park, most of Vancouver’s population is more than 10 minutes walk from public outdoor recreational amenities.
Having discussed the importance of offering the nuts-and-bolts previously in the article On Parks: Essential Ingredients; parks can additionally help provide space for outdoor recreational amenities.
Here is a two-birds-one-stone proposal where we expand on Vancouver’s parks to offer inclusive, year-round, and engaging activities, that in turn also bridge the gap of uneven distribution of public amenities!
Complete Parks™
An inclusive, year-round, and engaging place.
“Complete” the Trend
The trends of Complete Streets and Complete Neighborhoods have been pushed to the forefront of city planning, especially during the pandemic. We were encouraged to rethink how our cities operate and test our ideas through temporary interventions that are becoming permanent.
One of many examples is the street closure for a bike lane along Beach Ave at Stanley park. This, in turn, opened up the possibility of rethinking our parks. Learning from the methodology of programming children’s playgrounds, there should be a variety of “experiences” within parks.
Complete Parks™ are inclusive and engaging year-round, offering both kinds of recreation; passive and active leisure. Currently, parks mostly cater either for sports-oriented activities or simply sitting on the lawn. Hence, what can we do to have Complete Parks™?
1| Passive Programming Beyond Lounging
We often undermine adults’ imagination compared to children. Whereas Complete Parks™ can rather enable this imagination and engage all the senses further.
Imagine wind chimes hanging from a tree or a stream of water tickling the auditory and visual senses. Or being engulfed with flowers that stimulate your olfactory senses while tasting berries from the bushes in spring. It is an immersive experience!
Source: atlasobscura.com
For a more hands-on person, perhaps a few rocks laid out in an intriguing manner, or simply a classic chess table could go a long way for mental stimulation.
Engaging more senses in a safe space can have a therapeutic effect on the cognitive and physical functions of the body. Complete Parks™ offer the opportunity to unplug in a natural setting, within walking distance.
2| Active Programming: The Fun type
Being active has been a huge highlight of the pandemic. People were advised to stay physically and mentally active in order to stay healthy throughout the lockdown.
Based on a survey conducted by the Parks Board, 23% reported their barrier to accessing recreation as “lack of available programs of interest”
There are various ways of engaging users in a “fun” manner. Who said see-saws and swings are only for kids? Oftentimes people can enjoy a casual conversation on a swing. This trend is even emerging in workplaces which are focused on creativity and fun.
On the same note, trampoline parks are very popular. An adult size trampoline in the park would definitely attract a lot of people, and burn lots of calories!
It is no secret that swings, see-saws and trampolines are irresistible. Making them regularly available at parks is a gamechanger. Not only would it increase the number of people going to parks, it would also transform their visit into a more active and fun one.
Complete Parks™
It is time to think of park space as an opportunity to bridge the gap in recreational amenity distribution across the city.
With a fun outlook and an engaging experience in mind, these parks can benefit from adding active and passive zones. That way, users can enjoy a healthier physical and mental experience only a walk away.
However, parks can truly be enjoyed when they contain public washrooms, are accessible, and have weather protection. A place for all people, at all times.
Complete Parks™ are the new model we should be designing our parks towards: inclusive, year-round, and engaging!
Urban Reflections is a series which sheds light on the degree of resilience of cities as revealed by the pandemic in a way that contributes to a constructive dialogue so that social justice prevails in the future of our urban life.
