ABSTRACT

Parks are the largest type of public urban space and as such can address needs of communities outside of the urban core. They range

in size from 10 acres to several thousand acres. Parks have amenities that smaller open spaces do not: natural features such as mead-

ows, lakes, rivers, trails, and topography; recreational infrastructure such as sports-field complexes, ice rinks, and play equipment;

and civic institutions such as museums, libraries, botanical gardens, zoos, and major event areas. Their edges provide a transitional

area between the urban grid pattern and the parkland’s interior. Gardens and small areas for passive recreation are typically located

between pedestrian pathways that create a “procession,” or a primary spine of pedestrian connection, through the park. This proces-

sion leads to various activity zones of individual character. Another important part of the park is the “objective”—the primary central

gathering space at its heart. A part of the objective should be a large, open, grassy, and relatively flat area between two and 10 acres in

size, where major concerts, public gatherings, and other events take place. It should also be a place where residents go to relax during

lunchtime or on the weekends.