Study Notes on Urban Parks: Contemporary Typologies

Overview of Contemporary Park Typologies

  • Focus on how parks have evolved over time to meet social needs.

Evolution of Park Types

  • Each form/type of park is shaped by historical context.
  • New park types often emerge alongside existing ones.
  • Established parks may evolve to meet changing community needs.
    • Example: A park may start with only green space and later include playgrounds, dog parks, and skate parks as community demographics change.

Cultural Parks

  • Definition: Parks featuring exhibits or activities that reflect the history or culture of a region or people.
    • May include:
    • Public parks with museums.
    • Cultural venues.
    • Outdoor art displays.
  • Balboa Park Example: Represents a small village in Spain with a focus on local artists.

Park Sizes in the U.S.

  • Different parks categorized by size from largest to smallest:
    • National Parks: Typically not located in urban areas.
    • Regional Parks: Largest scale within or near cities (e.g., Craig Regional Park).
    • City Parks: Large parks found in urban areas (e.g., Heritage Park in Irvine).
    • Neighborhood Parks and Pocket Parks: Smaller communal parks.
    • Parklets: Smallest type of urban parks.
Scale Considerations
  • Definition of scale from a geographer's perspective involves land area coverage:
    • National scale vs. local scale.

Shapes of Parks

  • Typical park shapes: rectangular or square.
  • Linear Parks: Developed in less desirable areas or along transportation routes, previously used as railways, now converted to green spaces (e.g., Whittier Greenway Trail).
  • Design Example: Greenways may still reveal remnants of old infrastructure (e.g., railroad tracks).

Active vs. Passive Spaces

  • Active Spaces: Designed for organized sports and formal recreational activities:
    • Soccer fields, baseball diamonds, basketball courts, tennis courts, and frisbee golf.
  • Passive Spaces: Created for leisure and socializing:
    • Landscaped gardens, lawns, lakes, picnic areas, and walking trails.
    • Focus on gathering rather than organized sports.

Park Examples

  • Active Space: LA Mirada Regional Park features an outdoor gym, indication of community use during different times including COVID-19.
  • Open Space: Example of a larger open space in San Luis Obispo showing cityscape from an overlook.
  • Pocket Park: A designated park in Long Beach resembling a large lawn with communal benches.
    • Commentary on restrictions often found in parks (e.g., "Keep off the grass" signs).
  • Linear Park: Greenway in Dallas intended for public use along a river.

Parklet Discussion

  • Definition: Parklets are smaller than pocket parks, converted from parking spaces or street areas.
  • Example 1: Parklet in downtown Los Angeles, designed as a green space with plants and exercise bikes.
    • Initial design featured active components along with seating options.
    • Changes over time led to the removal of active features (bikes replaced with foosball table).
  • Example 2: A more permanent-looking parklet in Portland with wood fixtures, completed with metal barriers for safety against vehicles.
    • Community feedback highlights mixed feelings about proximity to vehicular traffic.

Reflection on Parklets

  • Encourages discussion on their value in urban areas and the adequacy of available green and passive spaces.
  • Generated questions for consideration:
    • Are parklets beneficial to urban environments?
    • Is there enough green space available?

Conclusion

  • The presentation concludes with an overview of the diverse park typologies, their purposes, and their evolution to satisfy dynamic urban community needs, while providing insights into social commentary on public space utilization.