Urban Parks and Urban Problems
An Historical Perspective on Greenspace Development As a Cultural Fix
“Parks Are Like Icebergs” Overview
My return to the academy 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. Each blog will be 1600 words or less (I hope). You will also see short video presentations. I will use lots of “I” and “me” to personalize my experiences. I will also give lots of examples. I will share park development policy and practice decision-making using an academic lens (i.e., institutional theory) base in part on my experiences in a specific jurisdiction (i.e., Edmonton, Alberta, Canada). Oh, and by the way, I have opinions that may or may not be popular with others. So let’s get started!
Todays Video/Blog
This is the creation story of parks. As industrialization occurred in cities in the mid 1800s and beyond, populations moved from the farm to the city, and from other parts of the world to North American cities. This created living environments that were crowded, poorly or not planned and not conducive to healthy living. The late 1800s and early 1900s saw park movements in North America and Europe create spaces that had narrow benefits. This discussion attached below reflects on an excellent paper provided by Kevin Loughran, an American critical geographer. I developed this presentation for my urban parks planning class in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada in 2021.