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Creating a place of significance the community can identify with and rally around will promote a sense of unity and pride.
Creating a place of significance the community can identify with and rally around will promote a sense of unity and pride.
To foster a sense of community and identity both physical design and community involvement matter. Research suggests that specific physical design interventions can effectively strengthen a sense of community , and collective and participatory design processes also bring communities together.
Learning about a community's history and bringing people into the design process can can create meaningful designs. Considering programming, accessibility, and maintenance ensure that a place continues to be valued by the community.
Inspiration from Site History
Inspiration from Site History
Generating Identity through Participation
Generating Identity through Participation
The Importance of Programming
The Importance of Programming
Accessibility and Maintenance
Accessibility and Maintenance
With a range of styles and intentions present in landscape design, it is essential to identify a space's pivotal role in the community. Design approaches should be informed by the ultimate goal of your space. Research supports several unique patterns that foster unity and community pride.
For a successful design that elevates these values, three key patterns and their design implications were identified:
Flexible Gathering Hub
Flexible Gathering Hub
This flexible public plaza accommodates a range of activities and is a social gathering spot for locals.
Image Source: https://worldlandscapearchitect.com/grain-collective-designs-flexible-use-space-for-the-brooklyn-community/
Image Source: https://worldlandscapearchitect.com/grain-collective-designs-flexible-use-space-for-the-brooklyn-community/
Local Art & Expression
Local Art & Expression
Children enjoy a unique play sculpture in Benito Juarez Park created by a local artist to celebrate the area's culture and history.
Image Source: https://www.tpl.org/our-work/benito-juarez-park
Image Source: https://www.tpl.org/our-work/benito-juarez-park
Equitable Access
Equitable Access
Colorful bike parking and wide sidewalks signal to pedestrians they are included in the space.
Image Source: https://www.madrax.com/bike-parking-guide
Image Source: https://www.madrax.com/bike-parking-guide
When thinking of community pride and identity, unique places that celebrate historical and cultural context come to mind. The following case study examples were chosen due to their focus on community pride and identity integrated into park design. Each of these examples, while varying in engagement techniques, have similar project goals and showcase how the design considerations and research can be woven into a park's design.
Trojan Park
Trojan Park
Location: Wellston, Missouri
Date Designed / Built: 2016
Client: National Recreation & Parks Association for the Town of Wellston
Designer: Lamar Johnson Collaborative
Image Source: https://theljc.com/portfolio/trojan-park/
Castonguay Square
Castonguay Square
Location: Waterville, ME
Date Designed / Built: 2019
Client: City of Waterville
Designer: Mitchell & Associates, Beyer Blinder Belle, and the general public
Image Source: https://www.watervillecreates.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Castonguay-Square-Design-2019.pdf
SE 150th and Division Street Community Garden
SE 150th and Division Street Community Garden
Location: Portland, OR
Date Designed / Built: 2017
Client: Portland Parks and Recreation
Designer: Jaime English, Park Planner, Project Manager. Project Advisory Committee (PAC)，Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)，Community Engagement Liaisons (CELs)
Image Source: https://www.portland.gov/sites/default/files/2020-05/se-150th-division-flyer_english.pdf
Parkhill Commons
Parkhill Commons
Location: Baoan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
Date Designed / Built: 2021
Client: Shenzhen Vanke
Designer: PLAT Studio, Shenzhen Huahui Design Co., Ltd.
Image Source: http://landezine.com/index.php/2021/08/parkhill-greens-by-plat-studio/
To see how students applied research on community pride and landscape design, see the Bowman Park project description.
Fall 2021
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