Parks & Recreation magazine interviews New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg about his commitment to parks, and the Mayor is quite the spokesman for them. In his own words: New Yorkers have a special relationship with parks. After all, they’re our backyards. They’re where we go to relax, spend an afternoon outdoors, and share good [...]
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This picture of a sign from Bryant Park pretty much speaks for itself. Lots of parks have don’ts signs, but few have dos and don’ts signs, which really change the feeling of welcome-ness. (Our earlier post, aided by Gil Peñalosa thoughts on the subject.)
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The New York Times City Room reports on an actual 210-year old gravestone that was found when workers were digging in a section of Washington Square Park. Once a burial site, the land was covered to become a military parade ground and then to its current use as public park. The remains of up to [...]
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The folks at GOOD magazine have unveiled a “platform” on ideas and action in cities. As part of this, they put together the short, entertaining and informative video below describing initiatives from around the globe to reduce carbon emissions and make cities better places to live. The piece mentions bus rapid transit in Bogota, bike [...]
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An AP reporter takes a trip to Savannah, Georgia, the historic city on the Atlantic coast and provides some background on the its famous network of public squares: But the reason for those public spaces might surprise modern visitors: British General James Oglethorpe designed them as part of a military grid so his troops could [...]
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Earlier this month, Rep. Earl Blumenauer announced the creation of a congressional Livable Communities Task Force, with a mission to make the Federal Government a better partner with communities in their efforts to improve quality of life. The now group indicates that it will will promote Federal policies that: Allow for local community involvement in [...]
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Lynden Miller, renowned public garden designer is profiles in the Wall Street Journal, says “People need places to go in a city and sit on a bench and be connected with nature.” Miller is out with a new book, Parks, Plants and People: Beautifying the Urban Landscape. (WSJ) Anne Schwartz reviews Mayor Bloomberg’s vast efforts [...]
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Some U.S. cities have National Park Service properties from parks to historic sites and monuments to wildlife refuges. As the latest Ken Burns documentary on the national parks mentioned, it was NPS director who expanded the agency’s thinking and make it more relevant to an urban society during his tenure in the 1960s. But which [...]
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Bill Moyers featured a segment on Santa Ana, California in his PBS show this past week, featuring the efforts of local citizens and the group Latino Health Access to provide more parks. The city is emblematic of how parks are important to tightly packed communities craving for more space for their kids to play. Santa [...]
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The American Planning Association is again out with its top ten list of great public spaces for 2009. According to the APA, characteristics of a Great Public Space include: Promotes human contact and social activities. Is safe, welcoming, and accommodating for all users. Has design and architectural features that are visually interesting. Promotes community involvement. [...]
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