INCREASING ACCESS TO PARKS AND GREENSPACE BY INCREASING AWARENESS

Robby Layton, FASLA, Ph.D. Candidate and Design Concepts’ Principal is speaking at the Environmental Design Research Association (EDRA) conference Thursday May 19 in Raleigh, NC from 8:30-10 am. Along with Teresa Penbrooke of GreenPlay LLC, their presentation will discuss access to parks and other greenspace features and how it has been shown to be correlated with improved health and well-being. While traditional measures of access have been based on distance and/or travel times, access is actually a more complex concept, involving cultural and socio-economic variables as well as proximity. One aspect of access that is often overlooked is awareness that a park, greenway, or open space even exists. Recent studies indicate that awareness of the presence and location of parks and programs available within one's local community is surprisingly weak among the general public. 

Robby shares “This presentation will frame the issue of awareness and discuss methods by which agencies can improve the public's perception of what is available and motivate participation, which in turn can lead to greater return of value from investment in greenspace features and programs.” 

EDRA has been the international leader for design research on all environments. This year’s EDRA conference “Innovation: Shifting Ground” features educational sessions and keynote speakers discussing transitions in the design industry affecting values, methods, and practices of both research and design practices.

NEW EL CENTRO DEL QUINTO SOL WHEEL PARK IN PUEBLO ROLLS TO COMPLETION

If you’re in Pueblo on Saturday May 14, El Centro del Quinto Sol’s Skate Park will be officially dedicated. 10:00 marks the opening ceremony with a skate competition at 11:00. Where? 609 E. 6th Street. Thanks to Team Pain for another awesome facility, a definite gem for Pueblo!

The 23,000 square foot wheel park is designed for all ages and all abilities.  It’s part of a multi-faceted, multi-generational park and recreation area supporting Pueblo’s revitalized east side neighborhood. The site also offers a festival plaza with amphitheater, improved trail access along Fountain Creek and community garden plots. A hands-on, youth-engaged public process including local skaters and City Council members were instrumental in the design and development of the park.

Design Concepts designed the new park and trail portion of the project and partnered with Florida-based Team Pain Skate Parks to design the wheel park portion of the project. Team Pain considers the El Centro project hands down one of the best street skate plazas they have designed and constructed in recent years. The skate park is designed for all levels of users, champion pro and beginners simultaneously.

The design inspiration came from the adjacent creek’s ripple effects, the natural landscape and the surrounding colors. The wheel park features o bump to bar, ledges of all sizes, various rails, hips, banks, and a variety of transitions to allow for proper flow in the park. Two bowls offer differing levels of adventure. The larger bowl is 9.5 feet in the deep end and 6 feet in the shallow area. The second bowl is 8 feet in the deep end and 5 feet on the shallow side. Use of a light green tile at the upper rim of the bowl is a first for Team Pain. The tile brings a vibrancy to the bowl, contrasting with the clay colored plains of Pueblo.

This project was made possible by a $1.3 million Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) grant awarded to the City of Pueblo. The City provided matching funds, bringing the total budget to just over $2.5 million. The City also received a $195,000 Community Development Block Grant to fund future park amenities including a new playground, new restroom fixtures and a parking lot overlay.

Principal Axel Bishop shares “The addition of any town park that touches much of what makes a neighborhood unique and special adds a touch of life that people always appreciate. When that park also creates an atmosphere that brings families, friends, neighbors of all ages together, the green effect of the park is multiplied. El Centro del Quinto Sol is a magnet for skaters, kids, families and the whole east side. That is truly a gift from GOCO and the City of Pueblo.”

Honing Our Skills for Designing ECE Facilities

Early Childhood Education: Design Concepts’ Amber Hernandez attended the 2016 Early Childhood Education Design Conference last week. Amber shares “As designers it is critical that we are cognizant of the social, emotional, and physical developmental needs of ECE students. ECE play environments should support learning; allow for special flexibility and transparency; promote movement, independence, and discovery; and instill a sense of stewardship.”

The conference brings together nationally recognized experts and thought leaders to highlight best practices and cutting edge research in designing, developing and managing high performance learning environments for early childhood education.  Presentations focused on the importance of understanding and designing toward the unique developmental needs of children ages 2-5.  Topics included ECE facility and classroom design, outdoor education and playscapes and neuro science. Sponsored by ECE Partners, this year’s 2016 Early Childhood Education Design Conference featured several speakers from the design community including keynote speakers Peter Lippman and Dr. John Medina as well as Robin Randall, Andy Howard, Ed Buglewicz, Stuart Shell, Tomas Jimenez-Eliasson, Carol Richard-Brideau, and Jonathan Goldstein.

Trees Bring Smiles

Last fall, Design Concepts donated, and helped plant, two trees at Columbine Elementary School playground. The kids are pretty happy, and that’s what it’s all about. They even gave us a poster to show their appreciation! Design Concepts is proud to have made a difference. Design Concepts chose Columbine because the social economic status indicated a greater need at this school with less ability to produce the needed shade than any other school in the system. As importantly, nature education at Columbine starts at the pre-school level and teaches the children how they fit within nature. Columbine also provides bilingual learning and is one of only two schools in the district to have certified teachers on staff delivering the Talented and Gifted program. Supporting a local school playground in need of shade is a community project Design Concepts is proud to have been a part of! 

Engaging Youth and the Community With the Outdoors: “Pueblo Plug in to Nature”

Design Concepts, along with Tapis Associates, led a recently completed study that was a focus of Research Brief #7, published by GP RED, a 501(c)3 organization. The brief is a research-focused review of the recently completed study, “Pueblo Plug in to Nature.”

The study is the analysis of an 18 square mile, low-moderate income census block within the City of Pueblo, Colorado, to determine current levels of connectedness with the outdoors and nature.  The goal of the study was to reveal gaps and barriers that inhibit connections to nature, and identify opportunities to increase access to the outdoors for residents.

According to GP RED, “by concurrently addressing policies, infrastructure, and community engagement, the City of Pueblo and its partners have the potential to create a positive shift in the ability of all citizens, particularly the youth of Pueblo, to access nature and the outdoors now and for generations to come.”

The “Pueblo Plug in to Nature” project was funded by Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO).  A collaborative effort was undertaken by the City of Pueblo, Plug in to Nature Advisory Committee and staff, and the consultant team led by Design Concepts and Tapis Associates, along with Place Matters, and GP RED’s Healthy Communities Research Group.

Additional information about this relevant and important study focusing on connecting children to nature will be shared on Design Concepts blog and social media sites in the coming months.