The Final Lap

In response to Malchik, why is access to public space important? How might we reclaim public space?

Access to public space is important because it directly relates to the health of not only a city or neighborhood, but to the well being of all people. Public space provides a variety of positive outcomes many of which helps the community as a whole. It helps with creating a better look of the environment by seeing all the green and open space rather than slabs of cement. Public space can also be used to connect places that would otherwise be separated. It gives people places to walk which in turn helps with your overall health and connects people. It removes the barriers we see in terms of financial classes. We can reclaim public space by removing the architectural wrongs of are age. The buildings that provide nothing in regards to improving the overall well being of the community as a whole. Replacing these “eye sores” with public space can boost the health of a neighborhood drastically.

For my final project I want to see how technology and specifically smartphones play a role in how people walk and are aware of their surroundings. For my walk I am planning on walking around the DePaul Loop Campus and taking field notes on the amount of people on their smartphones while walking. I will also be taking notes on what their doing. If they have headphones in as well or if their on the phone talking to someone. I am doing my project on the effects of technology during walking because I feel like people are way to focused on their next notification rather than the green public space they are walking in. The story of Chicago I am telling is how much it’s changed from people walking to their destination while taking in the beauty around them to now everyone with their heads planted in their phones disregarding their surroundings.