December 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 12

EDITOR'S LETTER

The Importance of Conscious Design
We've all been there. You have a great idea that transforms a problem into a solution, only to realize upon
presentation, you hadn't considered one fatal flaw.
Sometimes, it's not until you've implemented your
idea that the unintended consequences come to light.
If we were to identify one tragic flaw of park design
and development, we might argue that it would be the
exclusion of community input. This lack of communication can be especially damaging in underserved
areas, leading to results that ultimately harm the very
communities we set out to help. One of the most cited
examples is New York City's High Line, which began
as an innovative design project to transform an abandoned railroad into a public space for residents of the
Chelsea neighborhood, but resulted in an influx of
tourists and designer high-rises that overran the population for which the project was intended. In an interview with Citylab (https://tinyurl.com/y4pxpqu7),
the park's cofounder, Robert Hammond, says, " Instead of asking what the design should look like, I wish we'd asked, 'What can we do for you?' "
The feature story, on page 34, " Greening Without Gentrification, " by contributors Alessandro
Rigolon and Jon Christensen, offers recommendations on ways in which park agencies can work
with residents, developers, nonprofits and other stakeholders to " green " marginalized communities to provide benefits to the people who need them most, without displacing them. " It has
become clear that it is everyone's job to worry about ensuring that parks are part of equitable
community development, " the contributors say, " so that the people who most need the benefits of
parks are able to stay in their communities and enjoy those benefits. "
The feature, " Adventure Parks: Breaking the Fear Factor, " beginning on page 40, by author
Shannon D. Gordon, ASLA, PLA, talks about why introducing risk into play is important, and
how park and recreation departments can create controlled environments for risk-taking to provide cognitive and developmental benefits. " The lack of risk in the play environment could lead
to children who are 'risk-averse,' never having learned how to effectively manage everyday situations... " says Gordon. " Mental health professionals also agree the lack of risk in play can lead to
a lack of resilience. "
Whether it is greening cities to provide physical, mental and economic benefits to residents, or
designing park amenities that provide greater developmental benefits, one thing is clear: We must
be intentional in the design and development process and ask for input from those individuals we
are building for. Behind beautiful and fun creations are the people who use them. At the core of our
process should always be the questions, " Who is this for? " and " How am I helping? " Only when we
practice conscious design can we truly innovate to advance and strengthen communities.

GINA MULLINS-COHEN
Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Publishing
Editorial Director
10

Parks & Recreation

| D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 9 | W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G

PRESIDENT AND CEO
Kristine Stratton
VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING,
COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLISHING,
AND EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Gina Mullins-Cohen
gcohen@nrpa.org
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Lindsay Collins
lcollins@nrpa.org
EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTOR
Suzanne Nathan
snathan@nrpa.org
PUBLICATION DESIGN
Kim Mabon/Creative By Design
CreativeByDesign.net
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
EASTERN REGION AND EUROPE
Kip Ongstad
703.858.2174
kongstad@nrpa.org
SENIOR SALES MANAGER
WESTERN REGION AND ASIA
Michelle Dellner
949.248.1057
mdellner@nrpa.org
SALES COORDINATOR
Meghan Fredriksen
703.858.2190
mfredriksen@nrpa.org
PHOTOGRAPHY
Dreamstime.com or NRPA
(unless otherwise noted)
MAGAZINE ADVISORY
BOARD MEMBERS
Anthony-Paul Diaz, Chair
Michael Abbaté, FASLA
Neelay Bhatt
Ryan Eaker
Beau Fieldsend
Robert García
Kathleen Gibi
Paul Gilbert, CPRP
Tim Herd, CPRE
Brian Johnson, CPSI
Denise Johnson-Caldwell
Roslyn Johnson, CPRP
Michele Lemons
Sam Mendelsohn
Maria Nardi
Lisa Paradis, CPRP
Paula Sliefert
Shonnda Smith, CPRP, AFO
Anne-Marie Spencer
Stephen Springs
December 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of December 2019 - Parks & Recreation
