Small urban park spaces are valuable assets for any city, but they can also pose some challenges for landscape architects. How can you design a park that meets the needs and expectations of the users, the environment, and the budget? Here are some tips and strategies to help you make the most of small urban park space.
Before you start sketching or drafting, you need to understand the context of your park site. What are the physical, social, and cultural characteristics of the area? Who are the potential users and what are their preferences and behaviors? How does the site relate to the surrounding urban fabric and infrastructure? What are the opportunities and constraints for your design? Conducting a thorough site analysis and engaging with the community and stakeholders can help you answer these questions and inform your design decisions.
Comprender el contexto es crucial para comenzar a proyectar un espacio. En mi opinión, es necesario no solo hacer foco en las características físicas en términos urbanos sino entender el paisaje donde se emplaza ?por que ese paisaje es como es??como es el clima??Cómo voy a utilizar esta información para hacer que el espacio sea confortable para los usuarios? Haciéndonos estas preguntas, poniéndonos en el lugar de quienes habitaran el lugar, nos dará aún más herramientas para el abordaje del sitio.
Drawing from more than 25 years of experience in regional and urban planning across Egypt, the UK, and Qatar, the key to maximizing small urban park spaces lies in their multifunctional design, community engagement, and sustainability. By integrating flexible design elements that cater to various activities and age groups, utilizing vertical greenery to enhance biodiversity and aesthetic appeal, and ensuring the space is accessible and inviting, small urban parks can significantly enrich urban life. Incorporating local culture and art can also foster a sense of community ownership and pride.
Post Office Park, Boston, MA. Cynthia Smith, ASLA. design landscape architect I had the pleasure of working with Cynthia while we were both working with the SWA Group in Boston. Cynthia is extremely talented, patient and detail oriented. This is evident in her execution of Post Office Park. If you are not familiar with this project, take a good look at it. This is a great example of how one woman made the very most of a small urban park space and produced one of the best, in my opinion.
You should look at the layers of history to the site. Be it cultural architectural, ecological horticultural and geological to find the essence of the site
Next, you need to define the purpose of your park. What are the goals and objectives of the project? What are the desired outcomes and impacts? What are the key functions and features of the park? How will the park support the health, well-being, and quality of life of the users and the city? Having a clear vision and a specific program can help you prioritize and allocate the limited space and resources.
Engage your community to determine what they want. You will get some insightful information to help you with decisions, design, purpose and gain more support for the project.
It's important to understand which are the needs of those who use the park already. What could we offer to make their lives more comfortable or to improve their outside time? After getting those answers, design, present ideas, and select some to be continuously part of the development process. We may know the techniques but they the place better.
Whilst you need to consult with stakeholders to gain and understanding of needs; it’s very important to be brave and do new things. The iPhone would not exist where it to have been decided by stakeholders and committees
Once you have a clear purpose, you need to optimize the layout of your park. How can you make the best use of the available space and create a sense of place? How can you balance the needs for open and flexible spaces, as well as for diverse and specific activities? How can you maximize the accessibility, visibility, and safety of the park? How can you integrate the park with the existing or planned urban elements, such as streets, sidewalks, buildings, or public art? Using smart spatial planning and design principles, such as zoning, clustering, layering, and buffering, can help you optimize the layout of your park.
A small urban park, in a valuable piece of real estate owned by the city and sure to be developed otherwise in ten years or less, was limited in scope by neighboring developments that would surely remain, including surface parking. We engaged with all the immediate neighbors and beyond and were able to incorporate some aspects of the design beyond the apparent limits with city approval. We discovered some years later that some of those aspects were not only still there, but some had been employed in the eventual re-development of the small park. Hence including aspects of the revitalized existing context.
We prioritize efficient space utilization. By zoning different areas for various activities, maximize the use of available space while catering to diverse needs. Focus on fostering identity and atmosphere within the park. Versatility and specificity are key considerations in park design. We strive to strike a balance between open, flexible spaces and dedicated areas for specific activities. Accessibility and safety are non-negotiable aspects of park design. We prioritize the integration of ramps, pathways, and lighting. Harmonious integration with the surrounding urban environment is another key consideration. By considering these steps we would be able create an urban park that can enhance the quality of our community.
The most important thing is to create a place and a sense of place in peoples mind. The various techniques for maximising space show a clevernesses but it’s hearts you must win not being clever
Another important aspect of designing a small urban park is to enhance the experience of the users. How can you make the park attractive, inviting, and memorable? How can you create a distinctive identity and character for the park? How can you stimulate the senses and emotions of the users? How can you foster social interaction and engagement among the users and with the park? Using creative and innovative design elements, such as colors, textures, shapes, materials, lighting, sound, art, or signage, can help you enhance the experience of your park.
One thing I find crucial is empathizing with the users of urban parks. It's essential to understand who these users are and how they might feel while utilizing these urban spaces. Enhancing their experience necessitates putting ourselves in the shoes of the park's actual users, comprehending their needs, and crafting proposals that are enjoyable and accessible to all, even within limited spaces. People's behavior is significantly influenced by the environment, as supported by concepts such as environmental psychology and stress restoration theory. Therefore, the roles of professionals should encompass critical thinking, creativity, respect, and empathy to enhance experiences in small urban parks.
Parks must feel safe most of all; they must be democratic and meet the needs of all society not an elite or very vocal but connected minority.
Finally, you need to consider the sustainability of your park. How can you make the park resilient, adaptable, and durable? How can you reduce the environmental impact and improve the ecological performance of the park? How can you minimize the maintenance and operational costs and ensure the long-term viability of the park? How can you monitor and evaluate the performance and satisfaction of the park? Using sustainable and low-impact design practices, such as native plants, rainwater harvesting, permeable paving, renewable energy, or recycled materials, can help you consider the sustainability of your park.
After 36 years in this business I do not accept that parks should be low cost less maintenance etc. its a language that has crippled the work of parks professions landscape architects horticulture experts et al. There is a cost for art, healthy environments, good mental health safe cities happy families tourists etc. Parks reduce costs to governments by reducing mental health problems less crime less social dysfunction and boost areas such as income from tourism and employment why on earth should we talk about minimising costs it’s profoundly wrong. The negative costs that parks offset to society the income they attract to other sectors etc have to be factored into the lifecycle costs of parks
Ensuring park sustainability involves fostering resilience, minimizing environmental impact, and optimizing long-term viability. Embrace sustainable design practices like native landscaping, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy to enhance ecological performance. Employing low-impact materials and efficient maintenance strategies minimizes operational costs. Continuous monitoring and evaluation gauge performance and user satisfaction, facilitating ongoing improvements for a greener, more enduring park space.
Fulfill users needs Solve conflict in activities Create sense of belonging Provide variety and possibilities for interaction
Reduce Environmental Impact Minimize Maintenance Costs Enhance Park Performance Ensure Long-Term Viability Eco-Friendly Design: Use native plants, rainwater harvesting, permeable paving, and recycled materials. Low Maintenance: Opt for durable materials and native plants to minimize upkeep. Performance Monitoring: Track water use, waste, and user satisfaction to optimize the park. Long-Term Viability: Design with climate change in mind, use resilient materials, and plan for ongoing maintenance.
One more thing to consider when designing a park is take the opportunity to demonstrate some of the techniques to the users of the park. Homeowners love to look at examples of bio swales and pollinator gardens work successfully in a community setting before actually applying that to their own spaces.
Para aproveitar ao máximo o pequeno espa?o de um parque urbano, é importante considerar o uso de áreas multifuncionais, elementos verticais, mobiliário flexível e espa?os adaptáveis, além de integrar a comunidade no processo de design. Essas estratégias podem tornar o parque mais funcional e atrativo.
Ensuring a budget is allocated for the communal maintenance of the small urban park space and implementing a year-round program to utilize the space, weather permitting, are essential steps in maintaining the park's vitality and ensuring its continuous enjoyment by the community.
Multi-functional Design, Vertical Greenery, Flexible Use Areas, Active and Passive Zones, Community Engagement, Natural Elements, Accessibility, Art and Culture, Programmed Activities, Maintenance and Management,
Small Urban Parks. A lot of good content initially generated in this discussion. A key to this one could be in the title. “Small Urban”. Many conditions could apply here that directly impact the spaces opportunity for success. Safety. Visibility. Accessibility. Durability. These seem to be key core factors. The next layer of data would be specific demographic and regional attributes.