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Future
Trends in Park Planning
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FUTURE TRENDS IN PARK PLANNING
Forrest Lowe
w 552-4222
h 729-9775
As I have talked with Brunswick
community members about the work of the Open Space & Recreation Task Force,
one point is clear: the concepts we are
addressing mean a wide variety of things to different people. Parks are a perfect example. When I think of parks, huge trees (with
nametags!), expansive lawns, and paths with flowers come to mind. To others, it’s athletic fields. While to some, an image of kids at a
playground is the theme. The same
breadth of vision seems to be true for the other topics we are trying to define
for Brunswick, such as open space, trails and recreation. With the help of the community, we want to
create a plan that is a thoughtful vision for Brunswick, as well as a timetable
and the tools to get there!
The nine community discussions we
had last spring were organized to stimulate and engage people in thinking about
the range of ideas that fall under parks, recreation and open space. The first was about parks and was led by
Kathy Spangler, Director of Programs for the National Recreation and Park
Association.
Kathy spoke of the importance of
leisure activity and how it nourishes the body and soul. She noted that recreation also encompasses
many different activities for people of all ages. While traditional activities are still popular, Kathy identified
the following as “facilities on the rise:”
outdoor learning labs, arboretums, art in public spaces, fitness centers
and trails. Current trends in park
planning that she shared revolve around creating community “connectedness,”
strengthening neighborhood identity, and establishing “community places” where
people come to share, learn, engage and participate.
Brunswick has a long history of
support for parks. Dating back almost
300 years from the creation of the Town Commons to the recently opened bike
path and skate park, we have created and maintained parks along with the
appropriate programming. As the task
force maps out plans for the future, we will have to identify our priorities
for park additions or expansion. Do we
need more small neighborhood parks?
(Studies have shown that these are some of the most appreciated
places.) How about larger parks that
provide for a multitude of activities?
How do parks stack up against the need for additional indoor recreation
space? What about parks and programs
for the “55+” population?
As we put this overall plan
together, balancing the needs of the town and our limited resources will be one
of the toughest challenges. Few would
dispute the value that parks bring to the community, but how does it compare to
wildlife habitat, trails, and open space?
As Kathy Spangler put it: “What
values are important to the people who live, work and play in Brunswick?” What defines “livability” for our community?
With your help we will try to answer
these questions for Brunswick.
