Comments on: Near is the New Far http://citiwire.net/post/1289/ Our mission... to reflect a new narrative for 21st century cities and regions. Leaving behind the 20th century pattern of cheap energy, endless automobility, burgeoning suburbs, threatened inner cities. To a challenge-packed 21st century: energy prices headed north, perilous carbon emissions, deepening have-have not divisions, excruciating social problems and deep challenges in education. But a time of exciting promise, too. Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:32:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Kathleen Beine http://citiwire.net/post/1289/comment-page-1/#comment-893 Kathleen Beine Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:36:12 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1289#comment-893 In many communities there are city-owned properties (small patches of land) scattered throughout neighborhoods in the community. Often these are "undevelopable" because of either size, easements, slope, or other issues. However, many of these would be great locations for retrofitting small parks in neighborhoods. This was a serendipitous discovery in my city when I saw a GIS map in our city's engineering department ---it was peppered with small green patches ---spaces that I knew were not formal parks. Upon questioning the chief engineer, I found out that indeed this was city-owned land, and, in many instances could be made into a small park. With encouragement and education of our city leaders, these spaces could provide opportunities and become community-building projects, with neighbors sharing in the effort of designing and installation, thus getting to know one another better. In many communities there are city-owned properties (small patches of land) scattered throughout neighborhoods in the community. Often these are “undevelopable” because of either size, easements, slope, or other issues. However, many of these would be great locations for retrofitting small parks in neighborhoods. This was a serendipitous discovery in my city when I saw a GIS map in our city’s engineering department —it was peppered with small green patches —spaces that I knew were not formal parks. Upon questioning the chief engineer, I found out that indeed this was city-owned land, and, in many instances could be made into a small park. With encouragement and education of our city leaders, these spaces could provide opportunities and become community-building projects, with neighbors sharing in the effort of designing and installation, thus getting to know one another better.

]]> By: Kirk Meyer http://citiwire.net/post/1289/comment-page-1/#comment-787 Kirk Meyer Fri, 04 Sep 2009 18:26:40 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1289#comment-787 I agree with everything Richard says and would like to add an additional focus point for consideration - schoolyards. Unfortunately, many city parks, green belts and urban wilds are not currently safe for unsupervised play. Green schoolyards that have food gardens, wild habitat areas, trees, water flow systems, renewable energy demonstrations, compost bins, weather stations and bird feeders offer children regular and ongoing exposure to elements of the natural world. If used as an outdoor classroom, experiential learning activities blur the boundary between academics and creative play. To see an example in Boston visit: http://greenschoolyardnetwork.org/2009/07/17/outdoor-classroom-in-action-video/ (click icon for full screen) By integrating green schoolyards into the culture of public education we can raise a new generation of environmentally literate citizens who understand the fragile dynamics between human society and the natural world. Remember, an 8-year old will be voting in ten years! I agree with everything Richard says and would like to add an additional focus point for consideration – schoolyards. Unfortunately, many city parks, green belts and urban wilds are not currently safe for unsupervised play. Green schoolyards that have food gardens, wild habitat areas, trees, water flow systems, renewable energy demonstrations, compost bins, weather stations and bird feeders offer children regular and ongoing exposure to elements of the natural world. If used as an outdoor classroom, experiential learning activities blur the boundary between academics and creative play. To see an example in Boston visit:

http://greenschoolyardnetwork.org/2009/07/17/outdoor-classroom-in-action-video/
(click icon for full screen)

By integrating green schoolyards into the culture of public education we can raise a new generation of environmentally literate citizens who understand the fragile dynamics between human society and the natural world. Remember, an 8-year old will be voting in ten years!

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