Parks Differ (03-18-13)
Some studies are important because they rigorously confirm our expectations. A recent investigation by Wilhelm-Stanis, Vaughan, and Kaczynski of parks does just this. The research team found that “while more parks exist in lower-income neighborhoods, they tend to be less attractive than parks in upper- and middle-class neighborhoods, which have more amenities and are more visually pleasing . . . . In the study, which was completed in Kansas City, Mo., the research team found that lower-income areas had more parks, but fewer amenities such as playgrounds.
Feeling Safe Oudoors at Night
Lighting and overall design influence how safe people feel.
Living Outdoors
Urban Park
The design and management of the natural environments available to suburbanites and city dwellers have a significant influence on the well-being of humans and their planet.
Getting Out and About
Nearby nature—new research reveals the difficulties of enticing working adults and children into outdoor spaces, but it also hints at solutions.
Greener, Better, Healthier
Designers can benefit from a better understanding of how people think about and react to the natural environment.
Creating Life-Enhancing Urban Open Spaces
Urban spaces can affect both community and individual health.
Park Design: New Perspectives
A number of new articles provide insight into good park design.
Parks and Activity Level (10-09-08)
Floyd and his colleagues assessed activity levels in 28 different parks in Tampa and Chicago.
Promoting Diversity Among Users of Public Spaces (9-22-08)
In 2007, the Project for Public Spaces (PPS) investigated ways to increase the diversity of people using parks and similar places (“Placemaking in a Pluralistic World: Using Public Spaces to Encourage and Celebrate Social Diversity”).
Measuring How Public Spaces are Controlled
Designers and managers of public parks and plazas use many different methods to maintain the security of these places. Reviewing these can allow designers to take a comprehensive approach to public space security.