Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Small Urban Parks (Especially) Should Be Made For People

I know this is one of my more unpopular opinions for reasons I can never quite figure out, but small urban parks need to be designed to accommodate visiting humans. Converting a small lot or two into unwelcoming greenery really doesn't add anything to a dense urban streetscape. I am not against trees and greenery - I am all for welcoming greenery! - just for the idea that in these contexts these spaces should be designed for people to enter them, and not to just glance at while walking by. This is in part, though only in part, because such spaces actually require a lot of upkeep and if there are no people using them that tends to fade away.