Public Spaces in Chicago
Walking Journal
My theme for the final project is how Chicago’s public spaces build social capital. In Malchik’s “A Walking Life” he describes social capital as these tiny everyday acts that build “a life quality that many-perhaps even most-people feel they’ve lost over the last century: a strong sense of community, defined by a quality that in research circles has been termed “social capital.” In other words, neighborliness.” (Malchik 43). Malchik defines social capital as who you know. It’s a network of social connections. Social capital makes a city more walkable. Public spaces are places people like to be. Parks for example are green, friendly, and you can often find your very own seat. In another reading by Malchik, “End of Walking” he mentions how he can “open the door of my home, take my kids by their hands, and meet almost any need by lifting my feet and moving forward. Food, schools, social centers, books, playgrounds, even doctors and dentists and ice cream — nearly everything our family uses daily is within about a mile’s walk of home and well-served by wide, uncrowded sidewalks.” (Malchik). People like being in public spaces because it builds social capital. If people are comfortable or it’s peaceful when other people are around, then they won’t feel alone and people will be more willing to talk and be more social.
Reading Journal
Malchik and Loerzel would see a variety of factors on how location influences how one lives. A wealthy community with a stable economy can provide its citizens with safe roads, access to food, medical care, etc. Whereas unwealthy communities with limited economic resources will more likely have negative effects. If a neighborhood’s infrastructure was clean with stable buildings and parks, then its social capital would increase. If the neighborhood had unstable areas, then its social capital would decrease. Some threats to walking could be car accidents, assault, or getting lost. But underprivileged citizens are more prone to these threats. In order to reclaim streets, blocks, and cities for walking, we must seek variety and order. The buildings should be similar in size and shape, but they should also be completely individual in color and style from the rest. There also needs to be visible life, the streets cannot look dead. There has to be plenty of things going on. A block in Chicago that I walked around this weekend was on N Clybourn Ave by the Barnes and noble and regal movie theatre. The restaurants, entertainment, and convenient stores are what made it walkable. The block had visible life, there were plenty of people walking around. It was also local and unique, I am from the suburbs, and I would never see anything quite like that from there. (224)
