Parks As Icebergs - Vlog Overview
My return to the academy to earn a PhD after 32 years of parks practice uncovered many (practice) realities extensively studied by researchers. This dual lens gives me a unique inside (practice)/outside (research) perspective (and visa versa) to bridge the two worlds. I will use lots of “I” and “me” to personalize my experiences, with lots of examples. I will share park development policy and practice decision-making using an academic lens (i.e., institutional theory). My practice experiences were in the Edmonton region in the 1982 to 2014 period. Each individual vlog I will call Ice Sculptures, riffing off of Iceberg Concept. Oh, and by the way, I have opinions that may or may not be popular with my planning or political colleagues. So let’s get started!
Todays Ice Sculpture -
Parks as Systems of Program Systems (November 9, 2022)
Do you tend to think of park system as a compilation of discrete sites with stand alone land titles owned by government entities? Alternatively, do you think of park system as a system of programme systems (children and adult play, ecological goods and services, social and economic development) that collectively provide health and wellness benefits for its citizens? While a bit of a rhetorical question, the answer is “both.” Urban planners tend to focus on the former, but also need to understand the latter.
Please listen to the short video below for an overview. The notes below the video will provide some textual support for the discussion.
Takeaway Notes
Below is an example of how park places could be organized across an urban landscape.
DEFINITIONS
Program is defined broad benefits such as social & health and wellness, ecological goods and services, economic benefits and recreational goods and services.
Parks provide infrastructure (i.e., playgrounds, sports fields, trails, community gardens) to support structured and unstructured, active and passive activities
CITY WIDE OR REGIONAL PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
River Valley trails
River Valley natural areas
River valley parks (i.e., Rundle Park, Capilano Park, Hermitage Park, Whitemud Ravine Natural Area, Government Hill House Park, Terwillegar Park)
(Trail link between Terwillegar Park footbridge and Fort Edmonton footbridge)
Dog parks
Field Houses
Agglomerations of outdoor sport baseball and soccer fields
(Example: Ivor Dent Park)
DISTRICT PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (i.e., serving +/- 50,000 people)
(Example 1: Castledowns District Park Site +/- 30 hectares - located south of 157 Avenue, north of 153 Avenue, west of Castledowns Road)
Ice sport facilities (hockey/ringette rinks, figure skating, curling)
Aquatic facilities (e.g., pool tank, wave pools, lazy lagoons, diving tanks)
Fitness Centres (e.g., walking tracks, exercise equipment, fitness classes, etc.)
(Example 2: Mill Woods District Campus Site +/- 32 hectares)
Indoor field sport facilities (e.g., soccer)
Major skate park features
Major water play features
Tennis Courts
Gymnasiums (i.e., basketball, volleyball, court sports)
Climbing walls
Senior High Schools
Cultural Centres
Libraries
NEIGHBOURHOOD PROGRAMS AND SERVICES (i.e., +/- 4000-6000 people + school population)
(Blue Quill School and Park Site +/- 11 hectares, between 25 avenue, Saddlebeck Road, 112 street)
Playgrounds
Picnic areas/plazas
Community gardens
Elementary and junior high schools
Field sports
Small skate parks, water play features
Community League facility with community hall outdoor skating rink, rink shacks, batting cages, tennis courts, etc.
In addition to the constructed amenities of programme activities, the every site also provide ecological goods and services. Trees and grasses act as carbon sinks, remove pollution, reduce urban heat islands, reduce stormwater management requirements, etc.