Urban Park

Objectives
1) To characterize park use, including user characteristics and physical activity mode
and intensity.
2) To determine how local residents interact with parks based upon their proximity, size
and features.
3) To estimate the population-level impact of local parks on physical activity.

Here are some problematic design features the graphics identify:
Narrow, unobserved footpaths hemmed in between high solid fences and dense
planting
Dense tree and shrub planting that obscures the view of open spaces from
adjacent houses
Footpaths that converge in hidden spaces, leaving no option to avoid the secluded
areas
Secluded areas that encourage misuse, posing threats to pedestrians using
footpaths and adjoining property
Children's play areas hidden from view
Footpath alignments and dense planting that obstruct sight lines along routes to
the exit
Houses whose backs face the park and don't allow useful surveillance of the area
Pedestrian routes that include unobserved areas blocked by high fences.

Permeability
"Safe" Park
A dynamic place where the design, maintenance, and policing of the park work together
so that the general public perceives the park as a safe place, wants to go to the park
regularly, and spends their optional time in the park engaged in valued activities.
Crime and disorder is limited, and diverse usage of the park by different groups is
tolerated.
Parks with more activity generators, especially sport fields, experience less crime.
Passive efforts focus on blocking access to the park or removing the physical elements
that facilitate crime.

Arroceros Forest Park
The last lung of Manila situated beside LRT Central Terminal Station, adjacent to the
Pasig River.
2.2 hectare
Active techniques involve direct intervention by motivated people, such as legitimate
users and/or park personnel, who organize the take-back effort. These people choose
to become natural guardians of their park. The message now being sent to offenders is
that "someone cares."
Ecotourism is the practice of bringing together sustainable travel practices
that promote the conservation of protected natural areas while also benefiting
local economies.

To educate
For cultural and social awareness
To conserve protected areas



Main Attraction
Butterfly Sanctuary
-Landscape Tower
Water feature
Picnic Shelters
Amphitheater
Amenities
Research Center
Toilet



Users:
Outsiders
Local community

Gender
-Male
-Female

Age Group
-Adult
-Child
-Teen
-Senior Citizens

Activity Level
-Sedentary
-Walking
-Vigorous

Target Areas
-Busy
-Quiet

Good design features
Railings around the park that prevent vehicle access and keep children away from
roads;
No secluded spaces on key footpath routes or against house boundaries
Traffic-calming measures on residential distributor roads or through-routes,
including speed control bumps, surfacing changes, etc.
Trees planted on the perimeters, selected and spread out to allow views across
the park
Perimeter roads that provide increased visibility and alternative safer routes for
pedestrians at night
Adjacent housing fronted onto the park that provides good surveillance, a sense of
ownership, and benefits from the view
All pedestrian routes feeding into the park being located on well-observed streets.
Change car parking. Relocate parking underground and/or wrap shops and
cafs and green spaces around parking structures.

MEHAN GARDEN
-covered court

-community garden

BONIFACIO SHRINE
-Playground
-Police station
-water feature



Main Attraction
-
-Fitness Cove
-Picnic Shelters
-Modern Changing Pavilion
-Community Garden
-Gymnasium
Hardscapes
-Flexible seating (to give people choices)


Amenities
-Toilets (to eliminate hidden corners or entrapment areas)
-Refreshment stands
-Parking
-Police station

Areas
-Lawn(open lawn area designed for informal play as well as an area for event
gatherings)
-Sidewalk
-Playground
-Multi-purpose field/Open field/oval
-Picnic Area
Gardens
Memory walk
Arbor and Trellis
Art Wall (water feature)

Provide variety of activities to encourage a diversity of users

Activities
Morning
Recreational trail; nature walks, biking, jogging
Bird watching
Exercise
Scenic picnics
Celebration/Gatherings
Meeting friends
Walk dogs
Organized/Supervised Activity; Aerobics, Sports


Night
Evening walks
After school events
Meeting friends
Gatherings

Parks play a critical role in facilitating physical activity in minority
communities, not only by providing facilities and scheduled, supervised
activities, but also by providing destinations to which people can walk
even though they may be sedentary after arriving there.
Public parks may have an important role to play in facilitating physical
activity. They provide places for individuals to walk or jog, and many have
specific facilities for sports, exercise, and other vigorous activities. Fredric
Olmstead, the father of urban parks, thought parks should be built as
places where city residents could experience the beauty of nature,
breathe fresh air, and have a place for receptive recreation (music and
art appreciation) as well as exertive activities (sports as well as games
like chess). Parks are also places where people can socialize with friends
and neighbors. In other words, parks can play a role in facilitating physical
activity, but do not necessarily do so; indeed, parks also provide
opportunities for people to engage in sedentary behavior.
Parks provide places for people to experience nature, engage in physical
activity, and relax.
Parks are social venues.
People exercise in parks.
Supervised activities draw more people to the park
Public parks are critical resources for physical activity in minority communities. Because
residential proximity is strongly associated with physical activity and park use, the
number and location of parks are currently insufficient to serve local populations well.
Parks present huge opportunity for Rain water harvesting. The water collected can be
used for ground water table enhancement, and for public water supply for nearby
neighborhood. Thus, urban parks can promote sustainability within the vicinity.






Attracting tourism and visitors as well as long-term residents
Many people want to live in and visit places where they can be active, be out
and about and socialize in active ways. City carnivals, events and winter adventures
that feature physical activity and sports are an important way to attract
tourism. They are also a mechanism for ensuring that city residents of all ages
experience opportunities to participate in traditional, cultural and seasonal
activities that support active living in the city and surrounding recreational
areas.
Designing cities around people not cars
The City of York has won numerous awards for developing an integrated
transport network that does not rely on private cars and meets local air
quality objectives. An integral part of that strategy promotes sustainable
active alternatives to the private car that are both convenient and
reliable by using public transport, walking and cycling. York was one of
the first local authorities to adopt a hierarchy of transport users when
making decisions related to land use and transport and in implementing
transport measures. The order of priority is:
1. Pedestrians
2. People with mobility problems
3. Cyclists
4. Public transport users (includes
bus, coach, water, taxi and rail)
5. Powered two-wheelers
6. Commercial or business users
(includes deliveries and heavy
goods vehicles)
7. Carborne shoppers and visitors
8. Carborne commuters

More people used specific areas when they were provided organized
activities, suggesting that increasing the availability of structured,
supervised activities will also likely increase park use

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/time-to-draw-safety-into-urban-
designs/article5058823.ece
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1805017/
http://www.delawareohio.net/departments/parks_recreation/Rent_a_Shelter_or_Park_F
acility.aspx
http://www.popcenter.org/Responses/urban_parks/print/

http://www.beardenfoundation.org/supportbeardenpark/bearden_park_design.html

The concepts for this proposal were essentially guided by the intention to
make this a multi-purpose space with the necessary versatility and human
comfort, but without losing sight of the urban layout and landscape
necessitated by the spaces central location.
To achieve these goals, both from a standpoint of aesthetics as well as the
work areas structural and environmental consolidation, the land must be
properly prepared and modelled in order to install a green infrastructure to
address the projects specific needs.
Comfortable foot traffic and the interconnection with existing walkways were
an ongoing concern in this project, which was the reason for creating a
network of interconnecting paths allowing the park to be easily traversed
and/or the different leisure zones found there to be accessed.
Inside the parks central area, a small water feature is planned, flanked by a
small support building with a bar and, on the opposite end, a mini
amphitheatre. Dispersed along the pathways are other small leisure areas for
sports (basketball, beach volleyball and table tennis), recreation and leisure,
thanks to a childrens playground, tables and benches, together with a space
for traditional games.
At its most central point, there are three lawn areas, one modelled, also aimed
at encouraging recreation and leisure.
The walkways and leisure areas are meant to be comfortable for foot traffic,
with the desired permeability, which is why most of the ground will be gravel.