Comments on: City Parks’ Grand Rebirth http://citiwire.net/post/1293/ 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. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 12:15:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Brimmer http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-2930 Brimmer Sun, 14 Aug 2011 05:16:23 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-2930 Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon! Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!

]]> By: Nigel Botterill http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-2633 Nigel Botterill Fri, 20 May 2011 14:05:29 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-2633 I am so glad I discovered this blog (EDITOR'S NOTE-Please columns, not blog!!) . Thank you for the data. You make a whole lot of great points in your write-up. Rated five stars! I am so glad I discovered this blog (EDITOR’S NOTE-Please columns, not blog!!) . Thank you for the data. You make a whole lot of great points in your write-up. Rated five stars!

]]> By: Trina Miller http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-814 Trina Miller Mon, 21 Sep 2009 04:08:24 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-814 I thought that this story was very uplifting! If possible, I would love to get more insight on steps to try in order to gain assistance on getting county officials interested in revitalizing a community with a park that has a walking trail/greenway and playground . The preferred land, however, is owned by a church that is not in the position to donate the land to the county. This community has been hit greatly with a huge amount of vacant homes, due to the economic situation and housing issues, but many residents in this area are extremely hopeful in the possibilities. Please share any words of guidance. I thought that this story was very uplifting! If possible, I would love to get more insight on steps to try in order to gain assistance on getting county officials interested in revitalizing a community with a park that has a walking trail/greenway and playground . The preferred land, however, is owned by a church that is not in the position to donate the land to the county. This community has been hit greatly with a huge amount of vacant homes, due to the economic situation and housing issues, but many residents in this area are extremely hopeful in the possibilities. Please share any words of guidance.

]]> By: Linda Stoll http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-802 Linda Stoll Thu, 17 Sep 2009 15:43:24 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-802 Park development - even those that come with a high pricetage - appears to be a successful venture for large communities. Does that trend carry over to small communities, especially those under 20,000 pop? Are there examples? Park development – even those that come with a high pricetage – appears to be a successful venture for large communities. Does that trend carry over to small communities, especially those under 20,000 pop? Are there examples?

]]> By: Mary Northern http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-794 Mary Northern Fri, 11 Sep 2009 15:33:36 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-794 Great article, Neal! It's clear you get the value of parks to a city. Louisville gets it, too. In 2004, Mayor Abramson launched City of Parks, a public-private partnership to reinvest in existing parks, create new parks, complete the 100-mile Louisville Loop, and celebrate our natural and cultural heritage. Nearly $160 million has been committed to: continue building the 100-mile Louisville Loop shared-use path; purchase land and design a 4,000-acre park; add 150 acres of new parkland and 500 acres to the 6,200 Jefferson Memorial Forest; invest $40 million in upgrades and new facilities in existing parks; and grow environmental education. And we're just getting started. Parks have been a part of Louisville since Frederick Law Olmsted designed the original 18 parks and 5 parkways. (We now have 123 parks and a forest.) We've witnessed how parks encourage good growth, neighborhood stability, and healthy residents. Louisville, a City of Parks, come see for yourself. You can find out more at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/metroparks/cityofparks. Great article, Neal! It’s clear you get the value of parks to a city. Louisville gets it, too. In 2004, Mayor Abramson launched City of Parks, a public-private partnership to reinvest in existing parks, create new parks, complete the 100-mile Louisville Loop, and celebrate our natural and cultural heritage. Nearly $160 million has been committed to: continue building the 100-mile Louisville Loop shared-use path; purchase land and design a 4,000-acre park; add 150 acres of new parkland and 500 acres to the 6,200 Jefferson Memorial Forest; invest $40 million in upgrades and new facilities in existing parks; and grow environmental education. And we’re just getting started. Parks have been a part of Louisville since Frederick Law Olmsted designed the original 18 parks and 5 parkways. (We now have 123 parks and a forest.) We’ve witnessed how parks encourage good growth, neighborhood stability, and healthy residents. Louisville, a City of Parks, come see for yourself. You can find out more at http://www.louisvilleky.gov/metroparks/cityofparks.

]]> By: Virgina Gunby http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-793 Virgina Gunby Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:51:26 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-793 It is encouraging to read Neal Pierce's comments on the Rebirth of City Parks. In Seattle an Olmsted designed Arboretum, has a connecting 2 lane, Lake Washngton Blvd. running through it which have been impacted since 1963 when the Boulevard through the Arboretum was used to connect to access and exit ramps for SR 520, a major state highway across Lake Washington, to the growing suburban Eastside, including the Microsoft large home campus . Today during the planning for rebuilding the state highway are debating the problems and benefits of closing the ramps permanently and restoring the Arboretum's 1st class Wetlands and surrounding trees, islands, and wildlife habitat. Two SR 520 design, promoted by neighboring communities K, and the Chamber of Commerce L, keep the Arboretum ramps and move new entrance and exit ramps, onto the University of Washington's land, north of the Lake Washington Ship canal, with either a risky deep 150'wide/1500'long tunnel of large, diagonal bascule bridge. Park supporters are rallying to remove the ramps permanently, which were designed for a north/south , the R.H. Thomson Freeway, which Seattle Voters defeated at the polls, and take this opportunity to restore and regain what we think of as our Northwest "Central Park" for the people's use and enjoyment , and remove the noisy vehicles. It is encouraging to read Neal Pierce’s comments on the
Rebirth of City Parks. In Seattle an Olmsted designed Arboretum, has a connecting 2 lane, Lake Washngton Blvd. running through it which have been impacted since 1963 when the Boulevard through the Arboretum was used to connect to access and exit ramps for SR 520, a major state highway across Lake Washington, to the growing suburban Eastside, including the Microsoft large home campus .
Today during the planning for rebuilding the state highway are debating the problems and benefits of closing the ramps permanently and restoring the Arboretum’s 1st class Wetlands and surrounding trees, islands, and wildlife habitat. Two SR 520 design, promoted by neighboring communities K, and the Chamber of Commerce L, keep the Arboretum ramps and move new entrance and exit ramps, onto the University of Washington’s land, north of the Lake Washington Ship canal, with either a risky deep 150′wide/1500′long tunnel of large, diagonal bascule bridge.
Park supporters are rallying to remove the ramps permanently, which were designed for a north/south , the R.H. Thomson Freeway, which Seattle Voters defeated at the polls, and take this opportunity to restore and regain what we think of as our Northwest “Central Park” for the people’s use and enjoyment , and remove the noisy vehicles.

]]> By: Gary Kreie http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-791 Gary Kreie Wed, 09 Sep 2009 14:46:48 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-791 You mentioned the revival of old existing parks. Another park to add to that list is the Forest Park in St. Louis, a great large urban park that hosts the Zoo, Art Museum, MUNY Opera, Golf, boating, and Science Center. Revived through money from the city, a support group -- Forest Park Forever -- and generous donations from many, but primarily the Taylor family, which owns Enterprise Car Rental in St. Louis. Here is a link: http://www.explorestlouis.com/myStl/memberDetails.asp?mID=229&pt=1&ic=2 You mentioned the revival of old existing parks. Another park to add to that list is the Forest Park in St. Louis, a great large urban park that hosts the Zoo, Art Museum, MUNY Opera, Golf, boating, and Science Center. Revived through money from the city, a support group — Forest Park Forever — and generous donations from many, but primarily the Taylor family, which owns Enterprise Car Rental in St. Louis. Here is a link:
http://www.explorestlouis.com/myStl/memberDetails.asp?mID=229&pt=1&ic=2

]]> By: M. E. Nordstrom http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-790 M. E. Nordstrom Sat, 05 Sep 2009 00:11:24 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-790 Nice piece about parks. My concern as a country bumpkin: are city parks safe? Probably so, because a "well-run park" would have security. Nevertheless, there are the quiet hours when lone joggers may be at risk, or not? Nice piece about parks. My concern as a country bumpkin: are city parks safe? Probably so, because a “well-run park” would have security. Nevertheless, there are the quiet hours when lone joggers may be at risk, or not?

]]> By: Sam Newberg http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-789 Sam Newberg Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:48:38 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-789 Great piece, Neal. A couple parks you mentioned I covered in a 2007 article in Urban Land magazine about parks conservancies. A lot of great work has been done by conservancies in Louisville, Pittsburgh and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Link to the article here: http://joe-urban.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/urban-parks-helped-by-conservancies-may-2007.pdf Another notable downtown park, built in the 1990s, is the Bicentennial Mall State Park adjacent the state capitol in Nashville. Great piece, Neal. A couple parks you mentioned I covered in a 2007 article in Urban Land magazine about parks conservancies. A lot of great work has been done by conservancies in Louisville, Pittsburgh and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. Link to the article here:

http://joe-urban.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/urban-parks-helped-by-conservancies-may-2007.pdf

Another notable downtown park, built in the 1990s, is the Bicentennial Mall State Park adjacent the state capitol in Nashville.

]]> By: Yuri Artibise http://citiwire.net/post/1293/comment-page-1/#comment-788 Yuri Artibise Fri, 04 Sep 2009 19:39:28 +0000 http://citiwire.net/?p=1293#comment-788 I'd like to add downtown Phoenix's recently opened Civic Space Park to the list of new urban parks. It is a downtown urban destination that offers downtown residents, workers, students and visitors a park with unique urban design, sustainable construction, adaptive re-use and a landmark public sculpture by artist Janet Echelman. http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/civicprk.html I’d like to add downtown Phoenix’s recently opened Civic Space Park to the list of new urban parks. It is a downtown urban destination that offers downtown residents, workers, students and visitors a park with unique urban design, sustainable construction, adaptive re-use and a landmark public sculpture by artist Janet Echelman. http://www.phoenix.gov/PARKS/civicprk.html

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