peavey park redesign plan

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METROPOLITANDESIGN CENTER

TRANSFORMING

PEAVEY PARK

COLLEGE OF DESIGN U NIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

te Pysica Design

and Caracter of

Image credit: ickr

“Cities are, by their very nature, under continuous cycles of urbantransformations. Yet, there are a few instances in the history of a city that

the drive producing these transformations is accelerated by a cultural

momentum that can become tremendously innovative. Such occurrences

often signal a new period of civic consciousness contributing toward the

creation of a better quality of urban living.”



02

TAblE OF CONTENTS

UNDERSTANDING ThE PhENOMENA OF CRIME IN PUblIC PARKS 05

A Criminal’s Perception of Risk

Factors Impacting Crime in Parks

Success, Decline, and Rehabilitation: The Lifecycle of Parks

UNFOlDING ThE GEOGRAPhY OF CRIME AT PEAVEY PARK 09

Types of Crimes

Who is Committing Crimes?

When are Crimes being Committed?

ON ThE ANATOMY OF PUblIC PARKS: DESIGN PRINCIPlES 13

Scale of Consideration

Edge Treatment

Open Field

Park Access

Movement

Paths

Themes & Habitats

Materials

ClAIMING ThE SITE: bRINGING ThE bACKGROUND INTO

ThE FOREGROUND 19

Extrapolated Context

The Cosmic Garden

Asking the Kids: What Can the Park Be?

Translating Dreams into Reality: Playground and Water Case

Typologies and Case Studies

FROM SPACE TO PlACE: TRANSFORMING ThE NARRATIVE OF

PEAVEY PARK 27

A Kit of Parts

Design Approach

Using a Native Planting Palette

Reciprocal Inuences: Modifying Franklin Avenue

TAKING PART: APPROAChES FOR DEVElOPING COMMUNITYPARKS PARTNERShIPS 43



03

On warm summer evenings, Peavey Park is a busy place in spite of its unkempt

appearance. Neighborhood boys play soccer on a threadbare field and small children

scramble over tired play equipment while their mothers stand by. But some nights, the

games are short-lived, as a violent altercation or shots fired into the park cause the

children to scatter abruptly. Criminal activity in the area surrounding the park is soprevalent that some neighborhood parents prohibit their children from using the park at all.

This seven-acre open space is located in the heart of the Ventura Village Neighborhood, a

complex mix of multi-family housing, social services, and a commercial corridor landlocked

from Minneapolis downtown and the Lake District uptown by surrounding interstate

highways. The park currently offers limited opportunities for community gathering and

recreation, curtailed by the frequency of crimes committed and reducing the safety and

usability of Peavey Park as a lively community place.

METROPOlITAN DESIGN

CENTER INVOlVEMENT

AbOUT PEAVEY PARK

In August of 2010, the Ventura Village Neighborhood Association and the Hope Community

contacted the Metropolitan Design Center (MDC) requesting support from the MDC to

provide urban design assistance and meet with the community and the MinneapolisPolice Department in the hope of transforming the current condition of Peavey Park.

Direct contact with the Minneapolis Police Department provided the necessary crime

statistics to understand the complex nature of the crime in and around the park. This

led to a broad investigation of similar prominent cases in the country known for having

altered the direction of crime and transforming the entire civic and economic climate of the

neighborhood. To this aim, a Community Advisory Board was assembled involving public

agencies, the Minneapolis Park Board, community leaders, business owners, and a group

of dedicated residents. From this initial interaction a framework of critical questions guided

the MDC’s work that included:

INTRODUCTION

• UnderstandingthePhenomenaofCrimeinPublicParks

• UnfoldingtheGeographyofCrimeatPeaveyPark

• OntheAnatomyofPublicParks:DesignPrinciples

• ClaimingtheSite:BringingtheBackgroundintothe

Foreground

• FromSpacetoPlace:TransformingthePhysical

NarrativeofPeaveyPark

• TakingPart:ApproachesforDevelopingCommunity

ParksPartnerships



04



05

UNDERSTANDING ThE

PhENOMENA OF CRIME

IN PUblIC PARKS

“Sustainability is always talked about in terms of the

environment, but it applies equally to human ecology and the

sense of involvement in open space. People are what keeps

places alive and they’re what keeps them safe”.



06

“If signs of disorder go unchecked, they become visual cues that there is no

control in the park and that the space is unsafe, deterring law-abiding users

from these areas, while potential offenders feel increasingly comfortable

escalating their criminal activities.”

The diagrams shown illustrate the

relationship between crime activity,

community involvement, and the physical

quality of the park. Physical design

changes in a park are not enough to

prevent crime; community ownership and

commitment must also have a strong

presence in a neighborhood.

UNDERSTANDING ThE PhENOMENA

OF CRIME IN PUblIC PARKS

People who commit crimes take a variety

of perceived physical risks and social

factors into account. The relative risksand rewards of various criminal activities

are weighed when deciding whether or

not to commit a crime, where and when to

commit it, and whom or what should be the

target. Offenders select an area to commit

a crime based on a cognitive image of

the neighborhood, which may include the

physical environment, the neighborhood

demographic characteristics, resident

behavior patterns, policing alertness, the

offender’s social knowledge of locale,

and the disposition of the individual

offender. The ease of entrance, exit, and

internal circulation within the park and

neighborhood can indicate the level of risk

of detection and apprehension. However,it does appear that socio-demographic

composition of the neighborhood has more

to do with crime levels than the physical

environment.

Crime in parks is part of a cycle of disorder

that begins with a physical decline of

the park. The park may be perceived as

“unsafe” deterring visitors and leading to

a decrease in use by local residents. The

resulting appearance of abandonment

communicates to potential criminals that

the risk of crime has decreased because

there is no community control of the space.

Offenders feel increasingly comfortable

in the space, and the cues of disorder advertise the area as a “free zone” for

crime.

A CRIMINAl’S

PERCEPTION OF RISK

CrimeActivity

Community

Involvement

PhysicalQuality

ofthePark

CrimeActivity

Community

Involvement

PhysicalQuality

ofthePark

CrimeActivity

Community

Involvement

PhysicalQuality

ofthePark

From the body of research literature on

crime written by organizations involved

in the revitalization of parks with crime

activity, it is evident that a community’s

involvement or lack of involvement is

a serious factor influencing the crime

equation. “Community involvement”

has a variety of definitions. In general

it means that the park is cared for in a

way that creates a meaningful space

for use in a variety of ways by a variety

of people. A park with high community

involvement shows an appearance of careby all members involved in the park’s

FACTORS IMPACTINGCRIME IN PARKS

maintenance. It needs to be patrolled to

avert crime, either by a volunteer crime

patrol, an individual (the “Park’s Mayor”),

local police officers, or private security.

A park with high community involvement

is used for a variety of events and

gatherings by many different groups of

people, anything from high-profile cultural

performances to family picnics. Regardless

of the specific type of activities, parks with

high community involvement are “a place to

be and visit,” and provides for a “sense of

place” that translates into a well-used andwell-loved place.



07

Strategic case studies of parks with a

history of crime reveal that parks often

have a lifecycle of success, neglect,

decline, reconstruction, and revitalization,depending on a variety of factors. Bryant

Park in New York City has experienced

many cycles during its 150+ years as a

park and is currently a very successful civic

space due to its revitalization in the 1980s.

Meridian Hill Park was considered to be the

most dangerous park in Washington D.C.

in the 1990s until local residents led the

transformation of the park into a cultural

treasure. Pershing Square in downtown

Los Angeles, a drug market and homeless

camp in the 1970s, was recovered by local

business owners and redesigned as a

public art and event space.

Beginning in the 1950s, as the booming

population began relocating further from

the urban core, urban parks lost their

foundation of regular local users. This

migration also reduced the tax base that

once bolstered these parks, meaning

less revenue for park maintenance and

programming. During its most recent

period of decline, Bryant Park was known

as “Needle Park” due to the prevalence

of drug use and drug selling in the park.

A 1980 evaluation of Pershing Square

noted rampant drug dealing and homeless

squatting. To change directions, local

residents often begin by forming a

neighborhood organization dedicated to

the revitalization of the park. For instance,

the Friends of Meridian Hill was organizedby concerned residents taking immediate

action in the park to address crime and

physical deterioration. These groups will

also often partner with public agencies and

local organizations to assist in planning

programs or addressing crime. The rebirth

of Meridian Hill Park was a collaborative

effort between the Friends group, the

police, and community organizations.

Local businesses may also form a group

to partner with government agencies or

to seek outside design assistance. The

Bryant Park Restoration Corporation, a

private management organization, took

over the park’s renovation with the city’s

permission.

Bringing more people to the park appears

to be the most important action that

contributes to the revitalization of a park.

Planning for specific events is a key

method of attracting people to parks.

Pershing Square provides space for

cultural celebrations, music performances,

and community events. Organized

recreational activities, such as ice-skating

or tai chi, are provided seasonally by

Bryant Park.

The revitalization of a park appears to be

a conscientious sequence of decisions that

are impacted by a complex interaction of factors. Through a savvy business plan,

a carefully managed maintenance and

funding system, most public parks can be

transformed into a successful urban space

that can attract lunchtime crowds as well

as community residents.

SUCCESS, DEClINE

AND REhAbIlITATION:

ThE lIFECYClE OF PARKS

IN ESSENCE

• HaveanInvolved,Attentive,andDedicatedCommunity.

• FormaCommunityEntitythatisFocusedonRevitalizingthePark.

• OrganizetoProcureFundingSources.InvolvetheWholeCommunity.

• DevelopaProgramofEventsCommittee.

• RedesigntheParktoEncourageRegularUseByAllCitizens.

• EnsureLong-termMaintenance.

• ConsiderHavingPolicePresence.

• BePatient.ImportantChangesinaParkUseTakesTime.

S U C C E S S F U L N E S S

TIME

High

Low

1920s: Park tornup during subwaytunnel construction

1934: New DealRedesign of park byarchitect Lusby Simpson

Mid-20th century:Decline of park

1980: bryant Park RestorationCorporation: Managementtransferred to private entity

1988 - 1992:Park renovationsand repairs(Designed by Hanna/Olin)

20101930 1990

1980 - 1988: Park maintained

and puic events planned(crime reduced 92%, visitorsdoubled)

1970s: Park overrun by drug dealers,prostitution, homeless

Late 1990s:Visitors in park duringlunchtime frequentlyreach 4,000

195019101880

1884: Reservoir Squarenamed Bryant Park

200019701840

1871: Reservoir Square renovated

bryant Park,New York City

TIME


High

Low

1914 - 1936: MeridianHill Park designed byGeorge Burnap andconstructed

1910: US governmentpurchases land on former college campus

1910 2000

1990: Murder of local teenager promptsformation of Friends of Meridian hi

2003 - 2010:Park renovationscrime reduced by 98%,number of visitorshave quintupled

20101970

1994: Park designateda National historiclandmark

1960s: Park falls intodisuse and disrepair

1930 1950

1980s: Park overrun by drug dealing and crime

199018801840

Meridian hi Park,Washington DC


TIME

High

Low1970 20101840 1880 1990

1886: Park renamed 6thStreet Park and designedby Frederick Eaton

1910: Redesigned byJohn Parkinson

1918: RenamedPershing Square

1952: Parkingramp builtbelow park

1910 1950

1994: Legorretaand Olin’s designimpemented

2005: Park reported as apopular place for events,protests, and daytimeuse; continued issues withhomeless loitering and disuse

1866: Land designatedas public park

1890s: Renamed CentralPark, considered somewhatunsafe at night Post-WWII: Decline of

park and surroundingcommercial area

1986: Center City Management Associationorganizes international design competition

20001930

1980s: Park reported to be used for homeless camps and drug dealing

Persing Suare,Los Angeles



08



09

UNFOlDING ThE

GEOGRAPhY OF CRIME

AT PEAVEY PARK

“A busy park is a safe park.”



010

CRIME “hOT SPOTS”, 2009 - 2010

FranklinAveE

24th Ave E

P a r k A v e

S

P o r t l a n d A v e

S

22nd Ave E

19th Ave E

C h i c a g o A v e

S

E l l i o t A v e

S

1 0 t h A v e

S

I n t e r s t a t e 3 5 W

Interstate35W/94

1 1 t h A v e

S

Peavey

Park

Entry or forcible entry of a

structure to commit a felony or

larceny

Taking of property of another;

includes pocket-picking, purse-

snatching, shoplifting, theft of

property, etc.

Theft and attempt of theft

Willful burning of a structure,

land, or other property

Burglary:

Larceny:

Auto

theft:

Arson:

Includes murder, manslaughter,

and death by negligence

Includes rape and attempted

rape/assault

Forcible taking of another’s

property; includes armed

robbery with weapons and

using strong-arm tactics

Violence to another person;

includes assaults with gun,

knife, other dangerous

weapons, as well as fists, etc.

Homicide:

Rape:

Robbery:

Aggra-

vatedassaults:

All assaults and attempted

assaults which are simple or

minor in nature

Violation of weapon laws such

as the manufacture, sale, or

possession of deadly weapons

Commercialized sex offences

such as prostitution, keeping

bawdy or disorderly house,

procuring or detaining women

for immoral purposes

Violation of ordinances

retaining to the unlawful

possession, sale, use, growing,

manufacturing and making of

narcotic drugs

Simple

Assault:

Weapons:

Prostitu-

tion:

Narcotics:

PART 1 PROPERTY CRIMES, 2007 - 2009

YEAR

2007 2008 2009

400

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

N U M b E R O F C R I M E S

LARCENY

BURGLARY

AUTO THEFT

ARSON

PART 1 VIOlENT CRIMES, 2007 - 2009

2007

YEAR

2008 2009

200

150

100

50

0

N U M b E R

O F C R I M E S

ROBBERY

AGGRAVATEDASSAULT

RAPE

HOMICIDE

PART 2 SElECTED CRIMES, 2007 - 2009

2007YEAR

2008 2009

200

150

100

50

0

N U M b E

R

O F C R I M E S

SIMPLEASSAULT

NARCOTICS

PROSTITUTIONWEAPONS

Aggravated

assaults 37%

Robbery 53%

Rape 10%

ViolentCrimes,

2008-2009

Larceny 60% Arson 3%

Burglary 21%

Auto theft 16%

PropertyCrimes,

2008-2009

Property

Crimes

57.4%

Violent

Crimes

42.6%

TotalPart1Crimes,

2008-2009

The statistics for Ventura Village showed

that while crimes overall have decreased

between 2007 and 2009, crime is still

very high at this location. Of all the Part

1 Crimes committed in 2008 and 2009,

57.4% were property crimes and 42.6%

were violent crimes. Of the property crimes

committed, 60% were larceny, 21% were

burglary, and 16% were auto theft. Of

violent crimes, 53% were robbery, 37%

were aggravated assaults, and 10% were

rapes. Narcotics and simple assault were

the highest categories of crimes committed

within Part 2 Crimes.

TYPES OF CRIMES

TOTAl PART 1 CRIMES

UNFOlDING ThE GEOGRAPhY OF

CRIME AT PEAVEY PARK



011

Investigating the age of arrested offenders

in the area between 2008 and 2009

finds that while the highest number of

arrested offenders were 25 years old, the

overall crime spectrum was fairly evenly

distributed between the ages of 15 and 55.

AGE OF ARRESTED OFFENDERS IN PEAVEY PARK AREA, 2008 - 2009

N U M b E R O F A

R R E S T S

AGE OF OFFENDER

100

80

60

40

20

15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

WhO IS COMMITTING

CRIMES?

An exploration of crimes and time of year

found that 22.7% of crimes occurred in

the spring months, 28.9% in the summer,

28.7% in the fall, and 18.7% in the winter,indicating that any time of the year is a

good time to commit a crime at Peavey

Park. Property crime and violent crime

were analyzed separately. Slightly more

violent crime than property crime occurred

in the fall and summer months. Analysis

on the time of day crime occurs revealed

a difference between property crime and

violent crime. 52.7% of property crime

occurred during the workday hours (7:00am

- 6:00pm), whereas 48.6% of violent crime

occurred during the evening and early

morning hours (7:00pm - 4:00am).

WhEN ARE CRIMES bEING

COMMITTED?CRIMES IN PEAVEY PARK AREA

bY SEASON, 2008 - 2009

Winter: December, January, February

Spring: March, April, May

Summer: June, July, August

Fall: September, October, November

Vioent Crimes

Fall32%

Summer32%

Spring20%

Winter16%

Fall29%

Summer26%

Spring25%

Winter20%

Property Crimes

CRIMES IN PEAVEY PARK AREA

bY MONTh, 2008 - 2009


J A N .

F E B .

M A R .

A P R I L

M A Y

J U N E

J U L Y

A U G .

S E P T .

O C T .

N O V .

D E C .

5

1 0

1 5

2 0

2 5

AggravatedAssault

Robbery

Rape

Homicide

Arson

AutoTheft

Larceny

Burglary

Vioent Crimes

Property Crimes

5

1 0

1 5

2 0

J A N .

F E B .

M A R .

A P R I L

M A Y

J U N E

J U L Y

A U G .

S E P T .

O C T .

N O V .

D E C .


N U M b E R

O F C R I M E S

2

1

1 2

5

1 0

1 5

1 2 P M

1 A M

2 A M

3 A M

4 A M

5 A M

6 A M

7 A M

8 A M

9 A M

1 0 A M

1 1 A M

1 2 P M

1 P M

2 P M

3 P M

4 P M

5 P M

6 P M

7 P M

8 P M

9 P M

1 0 P M

1 1 P M

2 0

CRIMES IN PEAVEY PARK AREA

bY TIME OF DAY, 2008 - 2009

AggravatedAssault

Robbery

Rape

Homicide

Arson

AutoTheft

Larceny

Burglary

Property Crimes

Vioent Crimes

1 2 P M

1 A M

2 A M

3 A M

4 A M

5 A M

6 A M

7 A M

8 A M

9 A M

1 0 A M

1 1 A M

1 2 P M

1 P M

2 P M

3 P M

4 P M

5 P M

6 P M

7 P M

8 P M

9 P M

1 0 P M

1 1 P M

1

1

5

1 0

1 5

2 0

N U M b E R

O F C R I M E S



012



013

ON ThE ANATOMY

OF PUblIC PARKS:

DesignPrinciples

“The quality of open space in an urban setting may be the

single most dening design element in city building and far

more important to livability than is generally understood.”



014

ON ThE ANATOMY OF PUblIC PARKS:

DesignPrinciples

Street Intimate Transition PublicOpenField Transition StreetIntimate

Partly because of their small size,

community parks are often competing for

providing a multiplicity of functions to a

diverse audience. While large-scale sports

facilities are not always possible, there

are a numbers of flexible approaches that

can make the programmatic selection of activities much easier. Today, community

EDGE TREATMENT

Bryant Park, NY (Design and Photo credit: Laurie Olin)

OPEN FIElD

Bryant Park, NY (Photo & design credit: Laurie Olin)

The treatment of park edges is a critical

component framing the perception and

use of a Park. Edges define space for

various informal or civic uses and provide

a level of transparency into the interior of

the park. Edges communicate to people

about how the space is used and cared for

within the community. Through a variety of

factors, such as lighting and seating, parkedges can welcome visitors and encourage

gathering and use.

Open fields are often found in the interior

of parks. These flexible spaces can be

adapted for multiple types of uses, such as

sun-bathing, picnicking, or playing sports.

An open space that is defined by a clear

edge will allow users to orient themselves

within the park.

Scale is a critical factor and has the

greatest impact on type of park use.

The size of activity spaces within a park

will dictate the type of use; intimate or

enclosed spaces will attract small groups

or individuals, whereas wide-open spaces

can be used by larger groups of people.

Parks that provide attractions in all

seasons will be used year-round. Spaces

can be designed for a fixed use, such as

a specific sport or activity, or they can be

more flexible, meaning that they can be

quickly adapted for a variety of uses.

SCAlE OF CONSIDERATION Multiple sizes of spaces

for multiple usage

Natural lights

Multiple atmospheres

Fixed and exible usage

Different times of the day

Seasons

parks must provide for a variety of social

functions and diverse experiences to

individuals of all ages and be a place for

lively community gatherings as well as

places for enjoying some degree of private

seclusion, book reading, or exercising.

While most community parks are indeedof relative small size, there are always

opportunities for thinking in regards to the

larger environmental values that community

parks bring to the community. To help

in the transformative design process of

Peavey Park, the MDC offered eight design

principles that are common to most park

designs.



015

Eyre Square, Galway, Ireland (Design credit: Mitchell + Associates)

MOVEMENT

Picadilly Gardens, Manchester (Photo credit: EDAW)

PARK ACCESS

Access defines the relationship of the

park with the surrounding urban context.

Uninhibited access allows visitors to enter

and exit the park from anywhere, meaning

there is no particular degree of hierarchy

between the park and the surrounding

context. Hierarchy encourages the use of one or more entrances over the others,

infusing a particular area of the park with a

heightened significance. Controlled access

limits where and how visitors enter and

exit.

Paths provide an experience of the

landscape as a visitor moves through

the park. Paths determine views, provide

levels of enclosure, and offer physical andsensory opportunities.

PAThSPATHOFDISCOVERY

MULTIPLEPATHS

Nagasaki Seaside Park, Japan (Design credit: Ryoko Ueyama) Saitama Plaza, Saitama, Japan

(Design credit: Peter Walker and Partners)

Nasher Foundation Sculpture Garden, Dallas, TX (Design credit: Peter Walker and Partners) Miller Garden, Columbus, IN

(Design credit: Dan Kiley)

In the larger context, a sense of movement

through the park along primary and

secondary paths is part of the park’s

experience. Symmetrical movement

contributes to a formal understanding of

the space, whereas a naturalistic system

of movement may feel more flexible and

natural. A combination of movement

systems may allow for a greater degree of

choices and intimacy.

Fromeverywhere

HierarchyControlledaccess

Symmetry Asymmetry Naturalistic



016

Parks often have themes, which relate to

the experiential opportunities within the

park created by the physical characteristics

of the space and the activities that takeplace at each specific place. Themes

are what allow a visitor to experience a

transformation of self into a larger context

of reality. Common themes can include

gardens, natural habitats, art, culture, play,

water, seasons, or topography. The wonder

of an ever-changing landscape may be

recalled in the specific selection of plants

to be enjoyed in all seasons. A particularly

exciting play area or ecological habitat can

inspire a theme of learning and growing.

Fold, Carmarthen, UK

(Design credit: Kathy De Witt)Safe Zone, Quebec, Canada

(Design credit: Yvan Maltais )

Nagasaki Seaside Park, Nagasaki, Japan (Design credit: Ryoko Ueyama) Diana, Princess of Wales

Memorial Fountain, UK

(Design credit: Gustafson Porter)

ExPlORATION OF WATERRhYThM OF TOPOGRAPhY

Stanford Medical School: Narrative Art Project, Pal Alto, CA

(Design credit: Tom Leader Studio)

PlAY TO lEARN AND GROWhISTORY, ART & CUlTURE

Spielplatz “Töne Des Dschungels”, Berlin, Germany

(Design credit: Büro K. Baumgart, Karina Tischer)

The Gates exhibit at Central Park,

NY (Photo credit: identity crisis

and stuff via Flickr)

Cookson Park, Shefeld, UK

(Design credit: Kinnear

Landscape Architects)

lIGhTS TO ShINE

The Red Ribbon - Tanghe River Park, Qinhuangdao, China

(Design credit: Kongjian Yu / Turenscape, Beijing)

Charleston Park, Mountain View, California (Design credit: SWA) (Design credit: Piet Oudolf)

Buttery garden Artis, Amsterdam, Netherlands

(Design credit: Landlab, OC Graphics)

Parque Acuático, Pilar, Argentina

(Photo credit: Maria & Roberto

Mulieri)

Park Solidarity, Barcelona, Spain

(Photo credit: Joan Argelés)

WONDER OF NATURE

CElEbRATION OF SEASONS

ThEMES AND hAbITATS

ON ThE ANATOMY OF PUblIC PARKS:

DesignPrinciples



017

The material of which a park is constructed

is of great importance in giving identity

to the park. Materials influence the park

visitor’s acquaintance of place by offering

a pleasant sensory experience. Materials

can indicate the intended use of a space

or the community’s attitude toward the

park. Materials can be hardscape, such as

concrete or gravel, softer materials, such

as mulch or sand, or living material, such

as flowers or grasses.

The MDC encourages the use of materials

that offer an opportunity to mitigate

ecological issues, create beauty, and

promote learning. Such materials can

reduce urban heat island effect, improve

water quality, reduce natural resource

consumption, support local biodiversity,

minimize exposure of pollutants to humans

and the environment, and promote a closedcycle of reusing and recycling.

Charleston Waterfront Park, Charleston, SC

(Design credit: Sasaki Associates)

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN

(Design credit: Coen + Partners)

Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, Mexico

(Design credit: Grupo De Diseño Urbano)

South Boston Maritime Park, Boston, MA

(Halvorson Design Partnership, Inc)

Mesa Arts Center, Mesa, AZ

(Design credit: Martha Schwartz Partners)

Laurie Garden, Chicago, IL (Photo credit: Flickr)

Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN

(Design credit: Coen + Partners)

MATERIAlS

Portland Art Museum (Design credit: Andrea Cochran)



018



019

ClAIMING ThE SITE:

BringingtheBackground

intotheForeground

“Inspiring people to believe in their dreams for parks,

especially in unjustly forgotten communities, may begin

with simple steps that transform the way they are perceived.

Children can lead the way.”



020

Access to

Mississippi River

Access to Downtown

Minneapolis

Access to

Chain of Lakes

Access to

Uptown

M i d t o w n G r e e n w a y

B i k e R o u t e

F r a n k l i n Av e

I nt e r st at e 9 4

La k e S t .

La k e S t .

C h i c

a g o A v

e

C h i

c a g o

A v e

B i k

e R o u

t e

B i k e

R o u

t e

I n t e

r s t a t e

3 5 W

I n t e r s t a t e

3 5 W

F r a n k l i n Av e

Peavey Park

East

Phillips Park

Corcoran Park

Pioneers & Soldiers

CemeteryStewart Field

Elliot Park

Convention

Center

Minneapolis Institute

of Arts

Stevens Square

Powderhorn

Park

Whittier

Park

Abbot Hospital

MidtownGlobal Market

Franklin BridgePossible Inhabited

Bridge Connection

Cedar Field

L R T

L R T

Washburn-Fair OaksPark

Viewing the park’s location from a

larger context, one sees that while

Peavey Park sits in a centrally located

geographic position within the city,

the altered urban fabric around it hasisolated the park and neighborhood from

the surrounding neighborhoods and

landmarks. Ventura Village is adjacent

to downtown Minneapolis and within just

a few miles of the Mississippi River and

the commercial center of Uptown. This

would be considered a prime location for

access to the rest of the city, but the vast

trenches created by Highways 94 and 35W

geographically cuts off the greater Ventura

Village district from the rest of the city.

URbAN CONTExT

PowderhornPark Washburn-FairOaksPark ElliotPark

StewartFieldEastPhillipsPark

StevensSquareParkCorcoranPark WhittierParkCedarAvenueField

• Bandstand• Basketball Court• Fishing Dock• Garden• Picnic Area• Soccer Field• Tennis Court• Volleyball Court• Baseball Field• Football Field• Ice Rink• Restroom• Softball Field• Playground• Wading Pool• Water Pump

DISTRICT PARKS & AMENITIES

• Volleyball Court

• Baseball Field• Craft Room• Picnic Area• Softball Field• Wading Pool• Basketball Court• Restrooms• Playground

• Baseball Field• Softball Field• Playground• Basketball Court• Picnic Area• Tennis Court• Wading Pool






ExTRAPOlATED CONTExT

Despite this geographic isolation, the

park is fairly well connected by public

transportation and bike routes to multiple

sites of interest around the city.

Peavey Park’s context within the

neighborhood can be understood by a

study of the district’s park system. An

inventory of the nine parks in the area

reveals a striking similarity in terms of

physical characteristics and amenities.

Some of the parks contain buildings, some

have playgrounds, but in general, the

parks are of a greatly similar character.

Perhaps the most striking similarity is the

predominance of turf grass; none of the

parks incorporate native plants or gardens

and only one has a natural water feature.

Size and a great degree of standardized

homogeneity seem to be the principal

factor among the parks.

This revealing study of context strongly

suggests taking a significantly different

design approach for Peavey Park. What

program of activities and experiences

are not being met by any in the Park’s

district system? What can Peavey Park

offer that will differentiate it from the rest

of the parks in the district, making it a

true destination or “place” and not just a

“space”?

ClAIMING ThE SITE: Bringingthe

BackgroundintotheForeground



021

S U M M E R S O L S T I C E

E Q U I N O X

W I N T E R S O LS T I C E

SUMMER SOLSTICE(JUNE 21st)

SUNSET: 9:03 PM

SUMMER SOLSTICE

(JUNE 21st)SUNRISE: 5:26 AM

EQUINOX

(MARCH 20th& SEPT. 23rd)

SUNSET:7:09 PM

EQUINOX(MARCH 20th

& SEPT. 23rd)SUNRISE:

7:01 AM

PEAK ALTITUDE:

44.9˚ at 1:05PM

PEAK ALTITUDE:68.5˚ at 1:15PM

PEAK ALTITUDE:21.6˚ at 12:11PM

WINTER SOLSTICE

(DECEMBER 21st)SUNSET: 4:34 PM

WINTER SOLSTICE

(DECEMBER 21st)SUNRISE: 7:48 AM

9

9

9

12

12

3

3

3

6

6

PEAVEY PARK

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Latitude: + 44.96183

Longitude: - 93.26388

J F M A M J J A S O N D

AVERAGETEMPERATURE

RANGE

AVERAGEPRECIPITATION

100°F

90°F

80°F

70°F

60°F

50°F

40°F

30°F

20°F

10°F

0°F

AVERAGESNOWFALL

10.0”

9.0“

8.0”

7.0“

6.0”

5.0“

4.0”

3.0“

2.0”

1.0“

0.0”

ThE COSMIC GARDEN

FranklinAvenue

22ndStreet

P a r k A v e n u e

C h i c a g o A v e n u e

FranklinAvenue

22ndStreet

P a r k A v e n u e


FranklinAvenue

22ndStreet

P a r k A v e n u e


FranklinAvenue

22ndStreet

P a r k A v e n u e


N

S

EW

N

S

EW

March June

N

S

EW

September

N

S

EW

December

WIND SPEED & DIRECTION

200’ 400’0’ 100’

SummerSolstice

(June21st)9:00A.M.

WinterSolstice

(Dec.21st)9:00A.M

SummerSolstice

(June21st)4:00P.M.

WinterSolstice

(Dec.21st)4:00P.M.

ShADOWS ON PEAVEY PARK

Peavey Park’s geographical location

results in certain climatological and

astronomical advantages. When perceived

as a whole, Minnesota’s latitude and

seasonal variations can transform the

park into a vibrant cosmic garden. As the

sun path changes position throughoutthe year, the summer solar trajectory

brings a reliable clear sunny sky and clear

atmosphere, a condition that persists

for the most part during the cold winter

season. Stars and constellations circle the

sky in patterns that can be tracked and

read like an open book. At Minneapolis’

latitude, the winter and spring winds

come out of the northwest the largest

percentage of time. In spring and summer,

the winds most often come from the south

or southeast. These dynamic seasonal

variations not only inform site design

decisions, but also provide opportunities

for exciting discoveries year-round for kids

and adults alike.



022

lESSON 2. KIDS ENjOY TESTING ThEIR PhYSICAl SKIllS

Rollercoaster

lESSON 4. KIDS WANT OPPORTUNITIES TO DISCOVER & ObSERVE

lESSON 3. KIDS NEED PlACES ThAT ChAllENGE ThEIR IMAGINATION

Forest

Boatingon

thelake

Treehouse

Spaceship

Leaningtower

Musicalwater

fountain

lESSON 1. KIDS lIKE TO PlAY IN SEqUENCES

As a “taking part exercise” the MDC worked

with a group of Hope Academy students

to tell their own story about their favoriteday in a park or to imagine a futuristic

park. The kids’ highly imaginative visions

inspired the Center to find examples of

play spaces that push the boundary of

adventure and excitement.

Snowboarding

Bungeejumping

Climbingstructure

Theworldofplants

andanimals

FINDINGS FROM ThE

ChIlDREN’S WORKShOP

Skateboarding





023

WATER FEATURE TYPOlOGY 1: lINEAR WATERWAY + SPlASh PAD

Totalarea=40,000sq.ft.(0.92acres)

Water ows down

shallow canal

Water gushes out of rock walls

onto at pads

Splash pad

PLAZA

50’6’

Open green space

160’

250’

CASE STUDY:WilsonvilleMemorialPark:MurasePlazaWilsonville, OR

Children are encouraged to explore and enjoy many types of water play.

260’

165’

20’

6’

Water ows in

both directions

Water collects

in calm pool

Smooth

water

movement

Turbulent

water

movement

WATER FEATURE TYPOlOGY 2: CIRCUITOUS WATERWAY

Totalarea=42,900sq.ft.(about1acre)

CASE STUDY:

PrincessDianaMemorialFountainHyde Park, London, UK

People of all ages can experience both the exciting and calming qualities of moving water.

Mistingplaysculpture

WATER FEATURE TYPOlOGY 3: MIST/SPRAY FOUNTAIN

MistingfountainMistinggatewaysculpture

Adams-Sangamon Park, Chicago, IL

(Image credit: Joseph Askins, www.yochicago.com)

McEnery Park, San Jose, CA

(Image credit: www.rhorii.com)

Discovery Green, Houston, TX

(Image credit: www.ickr.com/JWSherman)

Fountains can become water play feature, public art, and gateway, all in one.

Image credit: www.ickr.com/Teresa_Grant

Image credit: www.pdxfamilyadventures.com

Image credit: www.ickr.com/Loz FLowers

Image credit: www.ickr.com/jiformales

TRANSlATING DREAMS INTO REAlITY:

PlAYGROUND AND WATER FEATURE TYPOlOGIES & CASE STUDIES



024

Garden City Park sand play area, Richmond, BC, Canada

(Design credit: space2place)

PlAYGROUND TYPOlOGY 1: A NETWORK OF DISCOVERY


FEATURES

1. Tower with slide and climbing net2. Water play feature

3. Slide

4. Tree climbing sculptures with sand5. Sand and water play area

Play areas are located on a network of pathways or waterways, whichconnects activities but does not define movement.

1 2

3

5

6

7

9

8

4

2

2

2

4

6

10

180’

300’

CASE STUDY:GardenCityPlayEnvironmentRichmond, British Columbia, Canada

6. Concrete sculptures with sand7. Water fountain/play feature

8. Meandering water feature

9. Swings with sand10. Amphitheater

Native plantings at Garden City Play Environment

(Image credit: www.space2place.com)

140’

140’

13

4

5

2

4

1

4

7

6

PlAYGROUND TYPOlOGY 2: ISlANDS OF ChAllENGES

FEATURES

1. Volcano-shaped climbing mound with slide2. Sand play area with rocks

3. Climbing structure

4. Climbing walls

5. Sand play area6. Swings

7. Sand and water play area

Independent activity areas are arranged around a central featurewithout a defining path of movement.


CASE STUDY:

WilsonvilleMemorialParkWilsonville, OR

Kompan climbing structure(Photo and design credit: Kompan, Inc.)

Climbing tower at Oerliker Park, Zurich, Switzerland

(Image credit: Christoph Busse)





025

PlAYGROUND TYPOlOGY 3: A CONNECTED ClUSTER OF SEqUENCES

PlAYGROUND TYPOlOGY 4: PAThWAY TO IMAGINARY PlACES

Play areas are densely clustered and linked together as a large play structure.

Play areas are located along a defined path to create an experience of discovery.

FEATURES

1. Infant/toddler area

2. 7-10 year-old area

3. Sand and water play area4. Bike-powered carousel

5. Sand table


10

3

5 6

7

8

4

2

9

1

6

7

7

7

75’

225’

FEATURES

1. Circuitous elevated boardwalk2. Tower of Light

3. Tower of Water

4. Tower of Wind5. The Green Tower

6. Tower of the Birds

7. Tower of Change8. Forest

9. Wooden boats


340’

370’

173

5

6

4

2

9

1

7

1117

17

12 12

12

15

13

14

10

1616

1

12

10

17

CASE STUDY:

NelsonA.RockefellerPlaygroundNew York City, NY

CASE STUDY:

ValbyparkenCopenhagen, Denmark

10. “Green islands”11. Willow huts

12. Tree climbing sculptures

13. Lookout hill with winding path14. Storytelling re pit

15. Tree bridge

16. Pavement for games17. Grassy climbing hills

6. Picnic area

7. Two-story climbing structure

8. Toddler sand box9. Toddler climbing structure

10. Fountain with sculptures and seatingKompan climbing structure

(Photo and design credit: Kompan, Inc.)

BUGA Park, Germany

(Image credit:www.playgrounddesigns.blogspot.com)

Monash Adventure Playground, Australia

(Image credit: Harlot Takes Pictures on ickr.com)

Playground, Germany

(Image credit: www.ickr.com/vauvau)



026



027

“Small parks play crucially important roles in metropolitan

areas, but their design rarely reects all that is now known

about people, ecology, and cultural vitality.”

FROM SPACE TO PlACE:

TransformingthePhysical

NarrativeofPeaveyPark



028

ThE SIGNIFICANCE

OF ThE EDGE

Like many other multifaceted projects,

public parks must respond to a diversity of

needs and wants and to a different range

of age groups and activities, all of which

must work and harmonize as a completeentity. Unlike the materiality of buildings for

instance, parks are primarily made of living

elements that grow and change seasonally

over many years. This factor by itself is

what makes the didactic design of a park a

unique and edifying experience.

In the earlier stages of design development

the MDC was interested in understanding

the different types of activities (program)

and how the program can function in a

manner that optimizes space as well as

provides for a flexible use of activities. As

such, the MDC originally designed a “kit

of parts” approach with the distribution

of activities at different positions in thepark space until the advantages of each

permutation became reasonably clear. In

the successive stages of design, selecting

and coordinating the most appropriate

location for those activities under a

different set of preferences became critical.

The resulting design approach contains

six specific flexible program elements

that includes the buffer edge, children’s

playground activities, the flexible green

located on a rotation axis 23° west of

north, the building complex, the running

and exercise paths, and a system of

gardens including the orchard garden as a

framework of experiential activities.

Planter / Steps Common Space Planter Running

Path

Water

Wall

50’

Steps Planter Exercise Common Space Planter / Stairs / SeatingPlanter / Vendor Kiosk

75’

PlAUSIblE EDGE PROFIlES

FROM SPACE TO PlACE: Transforming

thePhysicalNarrativeofPeaveyPark

The edge of the park was identified as

a critical space for Peavey Park. Edges

are needed to buffer the park from traffic

noise, as well as offer a definition between

the street and the central park activities.

Additionally, the edge can serve in making

the park a safe and vibrant destination

in the surrounding community. Edges of

any space are the most socially active

places. Encouraging active occupation and

positive activity, the edge of the park also

serves to deter undesirable activities and

crime by creating a perimeter of “eyes”

on the park. But of course, they can also

provide a commercial function of space for

street vendors to set up carts or booths

to sell anything from ice cream to flowers.

Case studies of other park edges found

that a buffer of fifty feet provides enough

space for sitting and chatting, as well as

a dedicated path for exercising. A buffer

of seventy-five feet allows for even more

activity on the buffer: an exercise path,

space for vendors, and plenty of seating.

A KIT OF PARTS



029

Ice Hockey / Skating Rink

(0.3 acres)

Picnic / Tai Chi

Football

(1.46 acres)

Youth Soccer

(1.48 acres)

FlExIblE GREEN

PeaveyPark

Total7.7Acres

AmericanFootball

(1.46acres)

SoccerField

(minimum1.48acres)

SoftballField

(1acre)

Basketball

Court

Volleyball

TennisCourt

SkateboardPark

(SizeVaries1/2to

5acres)

Cross-countryski (minimum 3 miles

and 8 to 10 ft wide depending on

demands)

FrisbeeGolf (minimum 4 acres)

IceSkatingRink (0.3 acres or more)

bUIlDINGS / STRUCTURES

A flexible green space roughly the size of

a soccer field was determined to be the

right size to accommodate the recreational

needs identified by the community. Multiple

types of passive and active recreation

could take place here, from field sports

and exercise groups, to picnics and star-gazing. The space is also large enough to

accommodate outdoor public performances

and events.

Several programming needs identified

by the community would require a multi-

purpose structure. This structure can be

surrounded by community gardens, space

for lecture events, children’s programs,

and safety programs. A simple building

structure could provide flexible space

for year-round uses, such as workshops,

lectures, and community meetings. Thebuilding could also feature other important

park amenities, such as rest rooms and a

small police station.

GARDENS: DESIGNING

WITh MINNESOTA’S

NATURAl hERITAGE

Minnesota has a rich ecological heritage,

incorporating a vast diversity of plant and

animal life in a variety of habitats. The Twin

Cities metropolitan area is situated within

the Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province,

an ecological zone that functions as a

transitional zone, or ecotone, between

semi-arid portions of the state that were

historically prairie, and semi-humid, mixed

conifer-deciduous forests in the Northeast.

The variety of plant communities contained

within this province provides an immense

palette from which to draw inspiration for

our parks and gardens, from the delicate

grasses of the Upland Prairie to the shady

groves of the Oak Savannah. As is being

discovered around the country, parks can

foster the reintroduction of native plant and

animal communities into urban life. Vibrant

native landscapes can bring a diversity

of natural experiences back into the city,

while also reducing maintenance costs and

upkeep of our urban parks.

ShARED FlExIblE GREEN

RECREATIONAl SPACE SIzE COMPARISON

A NATIVE PAlETTE

Image credit: UnknownImage credit: Funton County, OH website

Image credit: Unknown

Design credit: Piet Oudolf

Image credit: ickr/eXtensionImage credit: ickr/dmills727

Prairie OakSavannah Woodland



030

The MDC used this “kit of parts” to create

a plausible design concept that not only fits

the needs identified by the community, but

also provides a unique and beautiful urban

oasis that will attract visitors throughoutthe metropolitan region.

In this design the park is surrounded by

a wide edge that acts as a buffer and

transitional space into the park. This

tree-lined corridor is the perfect spot for

stopping for a bite to eat from a vendor,

chatting with a neighbor, strolling along the

shady path, or just sitting and watching the

activity on the street and in the park.

The flexible green space in the interior of

the park is angled on a rotation axis 23°

west of north, or toward the southeast

entrance, to take advantage of the views

of downtown and to present a widepromenade along the length of the park

Flexiblegatheringspace

forpublicpresentations

Multi-usebuildingstructure

forworkshops,lectures,

andcommunitymeetings.

Children’s

playground

Waterfeatures

Orchardand

PicnickingGrounds

NativePrairie

Garden/Raingardens

Commemorative

Floweringgarden

Buffer/Edge

Flexiblegreenforrecreational

activities,publicperformances,

andculturalevents.

A NEW PEAVEY PARK



Exercisepaths



031

PARK ElEMENT lAYERS

A.Buffer/Edge

D.Building/Community

Space

E.Children’sPlayground/WaterFeature/Gardens

F.StreetEdge

C.FlexibleGreen

to the main entrance on Franklin Avenue.

In this sunny open space, kids organize a

game of soccer, or seniors join a morning

exercise class. On summer evenings,

neighbors gather together on the lawn for

movies in the park or music concerts. In

winter, the lawn is flooded for ice skating

or hockey and snow from the walkways is

mounded up into a hill for sledding.

The new playground is the hub of activity

for all the neighborhood children. The

elaborate sequence of play activities and

water features spans the length of Chicago

Avenue. Younger children have their own

space to play, separate from a space for

older children.

The multi-purpose building is capable

of housing a diversity of programs and

activities including educational programs,

community events, and lectures. The

structure is simple but attractive, perhaps

made of prefabricated elements such as

reused shipping containers, arranged

around an interior courtyard that can beused for outdoor gathering and activities.

In winter, a portion of the structure

becomes a warming house for any cold-

weather recreation in the park. Adjacent

to the building is an outdoor lecture space

with seating.

A series of distinct gardens invite visitors

to experience the natural world in all the

seasons. A colorful “Orchard Garden”

filled with blossoming trees becomes

picnic grounds. Flowering plantings are

incorporated into the existing art plaza on

the corner of Franklin Avenue and Chicago

Avenue. Swaths of colorful native prairie

plants become edge gardens along theperimeter of the park, providing color and

texture through all seasons. Near the

multi-use building are display gardens

for seasonal plantings and native plants,

as well as containers for growing food.

Here children and adults alike can learn to

cultivate plants in gardens beds.

Around the perimeter of the park are

walking paths and running courses,

separated for the different levels of activity.

Open exercise areas are created where the

path loops overlap.

B.ExercisePaths



032

MUlTIPURPOSE bUIlDING: A COMMUNITY GAThERING SPACE

ExteriorViewofBuildingandCommunityGarden

InteriorViewofCourtyardSpace





033

PrairieLandscapeEdge

BufferEdge

ExerciseArea

NativePlantsDisplay

LecturesandPublicEvents

RunningCourse

WalkingCourse

MeetingRooms

MultipurposeCourtyardBuilding

StartofChildren’sPlaygrounds

FlexibleGreen

Franklin

C h i c a g o

P ar k

22nd

FlexibleCommunitySpaceforPublicPresentations



034

TheOrchardGardenandPicnicArea

CentralMovementAxis

FlexibleGreenSpace

StartofChildren’s

PlayArea

Children’s

Challenge

PlayArea

SouthEntrance

Running

Course

Walking

Course

WaterPlayArea

RelaxingGreen

StreetBuffer/Edge

ThE DISCOVERY zONE: ORChARD AND KIDS’ PlAY AREA



TheChildren’sPlaygroundSequence

Children’s

PlayArea



035

Franklin

C h i c a g o

P ar k

22nd



036

FlExIblE GREEN: COMMUNITY EV

Franklin

C h i c a g o

P ar k

22nd

EDGE



75’

Street lighting LED Uplight LED Uplight LED Uplight Open Field lighting

Floor lighting Floor lighting Step lighting Recessed lighting

Pole lighting Pole lighting

EdgeLightingAlternatives

CommunityFestival



037

NTS AND RECREATION

Franklin

C h i c a g o

P ar k

22nd



038

PlANT PAlETTE OPTIONS



FORMAl EDGE

OAK SAVANNAh EDGE

Kentucky Coffee Tree

Gymnocladus dioicus

Paper birch

Betula papyrifera

Honeylocust

Gleditsia triacanthos

Gingko Tree

Gingko biloba

Fragrant sumac

Rhus aromaticaDwarf Crested Iris

Iris cristata

Creeping dogwood

Cornus canadensis

Bearberry

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi

Bur Oak

Quercus macrocarpa

Foamower

Tiarella cordifolia

Creeping Phlox

Phlox stolonifera

Swamp White Oak

Quercus bicolor

Side Oats Grama

Bouteloua curtipendula

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Prairie Dropseed

Sporobolus heterolepis

TreeSpecies

The form of the oak savanna edge demonstrates the dichotomy of staggered oak trees and expanses of

flowing grasses that would have defined historical oak savannas in Minnesota. The strongly contrasting

structure of this native plant community has appealed to humans over time, providing a sense of bothprospect and refuge. Additionally, native grasses provide seasonal color, playful textures, and wildlife

habitat.

GrassSpecies

TreeSpecies

TallShrubSpecies

ShortShrubSpecies

The concept for the formal edge is an open but sheltered space with pleasant views into Peavey Park

and out to the nearby streetscape, with places to gather and relax, and landscape interest throughoutthe year. Trees were chosen to provide dappled light and dramatic fall color. Groundcovers showcase

flowers, berries, and leaf color throughout the seasons.

Groundcovers

Wild Ginger

Asarum canadense

Larinem Park Stonecrop

Sedum ternatum

Three-toothed Cinquefoil

Potentilla tridentata

Allegheny Spurge

Pachysandra procumbens

Wild Geranium

Geranium maculatum

Highbush Cranberry

Viburnum trilobum

Blue False Indigo

Baptisia australis

Black Chokeberry

Aronia melanocarpa

Dwarf Bush Honeysuckle

Diervilla lonicera

Gro-low Fragrant Sumac

Rhus aromatica ‘gro-low’

Hackberry

Celtis occidentalis

Daffodils & other spring

bulbs

Bitternut Hickory

Carya cordiformis

White Oak

Quercus alba

Canada Wild Rye

Elymus canadensis

June Grass

Koeleria cristata

Blue Grama

Bouteloua gracilis



039

PRAIRIE EDGE

ORChARD

Pasque Flower

Anemone patens

Dense Blazingstar

Liatris spicata

Rose Turtlehead

Chelone obliqua

‘Blue Fortune’ Hyssop

Agastache x hybrid

Karl Foerster Grass

Calamagrostis acutiora

Butteryweed

Asclepias tuberosa

Blue Flag Iris

Iris versicolor

Purple Prairie Clover

Dalea purpurea

Moonbeam Coreopsis

Coreopsis verticillataNodding Onion

Allium cernuum

White Coneower

Echinacea

ForbSpecies(DrySoils)

GrassSpecies

Blanket Flower

Gaillardia aristata

PerennialSpeciesFor

StormwaterManagement

Many recall memories of visiting orchards while growing up, on a family outing, or with a local school or

organization. The orchard concept is meant to rekindle a sense of community, and encourage informal

small group gathering for a picnic or just to lie in the grass and smell the flowers! In addition, many of the orchard trees provide edible fruit, creating opportunities for local food consumption and education.

TreeSpecies

Serviceberry

Amelanchier laevis

Red Splendor Crabapple

Malus ‘Red Splendor’ Domestic Apple Tree Varieties

Malus domestica

Cornelian Cherry Tree

Cornus mas

Dolgo Crabapple Tree

Malus ‘Dolgo’

Thornless Cockspur Hawthorn

Crataegus crus-galli ‘inermis’

Centurion Crabapple Tree

Malus ‘Centurion’ American Plum

Prunus americana

June Grass

Koeleria macrantha

Scarlet Beebalm

Monarda didyma

Blue Lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

Needle Grass

Stipa comata

Little Blustem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Fox Sedge

Carex vulpinoidea

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Pale Coneower

Echinacea pallida

Heath Aster

Aster ericoides

Wild Petunia

Ruellia humilis

Lily Flowering Tulips

Tulipa

‘Little Joe’ Pye Weed

Eupatorium dubium

Sneezeweed

Helenium autumnale

Prairie Blazingstar

Liatris pycnostachya

Marsh Milkweed

Asclepias incarnata

Culver’s Root

Veronicastrum virginicum

Rattlesnake Master

Eryngium yuccifolium

Lg. Flowered Beardtongue

Penstemon grandiorus

Black Eyed Susan

Rudbeckia fulgida

New England Aster

Aster novae-anglea

Moonshine Yarrow

Achillea

Hoary Vervain

Verbena stricta

The concept for the prairie edge is a highly diverse, native garden to translate the gorgeous colors,

textures, smells, and structures of a group of plants often passed over in urban design. Selected nativeplants function on many levels, building soil fertility, providing wildlife habitat, offering seasonal appeal,

acting as an education device, filtering stormwater, and so on. The end product is a tantalizing visual

display!

Prairie Dropseed

Quercus macrocarpa



040

Access to the park, as well as the

park’s presence on the street, is animportant consideration in creating a safe

neighborhood park. Franklin Avenue along

Peavey Park currently provides a narrow

sidewalk immediately adjacent to the travel

lanes of the street, with no buffer for the

sidewalk. This creates a dangerous and

uncomfortable situation for pedestrians. A

simple solution is to enhance crosswalks

at intersections and park entrances, slow

traffic as it approaches these areas, and

provide a more attractive pedestrian space

on the sidewalk. These changes have

the additional benefit of creating a visible

identity for the area, attracting visitors

to the park, and encouraging pedestrian

movement on the street. The MDCdeveloped two alternative streetscapes

that illustrate how the Franklin Avenue

streetscape can reinforce the positive

changes made in Peavey Park.

RECIPROCAl INFlUENCES:

MODIFYING FRANKlIN

AVENUE

NewParkEntranceDesignonFranklinAvenue

Franklin

A venue





041

STREET SECTION 1

STREET SECTION 2



042



043

“Parks partnerships are successfully combining the assets of

the public and private sectors in novel ways to create new and

refurbished parks, greenways, trails, and other community assets

in our cities—often in the face of municipal budget constraints.”

TAKING PART:

ApproachesforDeveloping

CommunityParksPartnerships



044

TAKING PART: Approachesfor

DevelopingCommunityParksPartnerships

WhY PARTNERShIPS?

Under the current economic cycles occurring in most cities

and with the current positive interest in revitalizing inner city

neighborhoods and public parks, the opportunities for public-

private partnerships for parks are being spread throughout thecountry in many new ways and in many instances with significant

success. Some of the most frequent reasons cited include:

• Fluctuating and unreliable state budgets have prompted cities

to pursue financial independence through alternative sources

of funding.

• Many services traditionally provided by the government,

such as utilities and delivery of services, are being privatized

or partially privatized with contract-based arrangements to

encourage competition and lower costs.

• Cities are competing with each other to attract investment.

Quality public space is seen as an important part of creating

an attractive and livable city.

• Higher demand for quality public parks mean governments

need to find new ways to manage and finance their public

spaces - in other words, they need to be flexible andresourceful in ways that are generally difficult for large

bureaucracies.

• Partnerships between public agencies and non-profits may be

able to work around government bureaucracy to “successfully

combine the assets of the public and private sectors to build,

renovate, maintain, and program parks more effectively”.

TYPES OF NON-PROFIT PARTNERShIP ROlES

• Assistance Provider: These non-profits offer additional

support to parks departments, helping them manage parks by

organizing volunteers, raising additional funds, and planning

programs. Staffed by volunteers and working with small

budgets, they are often called “Friends of” groups. Theyfunction as public interest groups, advocating for the needs of

the surrounding community.

• Catalyst: These groups are known to generate a vision and

then work to initiate and advocate for the project by raising

funds for implementation and assisting in the design and

construction process. They tend to be flexible, redefining their

role in the project and the partnership once the project is

completed.

• Co-Manager: Working in collaboration with the parks

department, some non-profits act as co-managers.

Collaboration can be manifested either through a position

that is jointly shared by both entities or through a non-profit

staff that works closely with the public agency to share

responsibilities.

• Sole Manager: In the less-common sole manager role, anon-profit is given permission from the city to assume full

responsibility for the management, policy-making, and

maintenance of the park. This type of organization functions as

an independent entity, requiring little involvement from the city.

• City Wide Partner: Operating on a larger scale, these non-

profits advocate for quality parks throughout a city. The groups

work with other non-profits and agencies to raise funds, train

neighborhood groups, and initiate city-wide programs for

parks.

PARTNERShIPS ASSETS AND lIAbIlITIES

In successful partnerships, the assets of one partner will offset the liabilities of the other.

• Stable funding from municipal budgets

• Well-developed organizational infrastructure with

stable staff and functions

• Approval from the public

• A wide variety of natural constituencies, such as

neighborhood families and program users that

support the park’s activities and can be mobilized

for support

• Chronic under-funding as management responsibilities

expand over time

• Bureaucracy leads to inability to innovate, move quickly,

or respond to citizens adequately

• Difficulty procuring private funding due to the public’s

belief that funding public parks is “the government’s job”

• Lack of outreach to nontraditional constituents, such as

education and environmental groups

• Flexible funding found from a variety of sources that are

often unavailable to the public sector

• Organizational flexibility can take advantage of

opportunities or respond quickly to project difficulties

• Support and credibility from the community

• Connections with a broad range of constituencies, such

as cultural institutions and special interest groups

• Unpredictable funding from lack of long-term funding

commitments

• Inadequate staffing or mismanagement can lead to a

lack of follow-through

• Unrealistic expectations may be raised within the

community by the nonprofit, which cannot then be met

• Shallow support from groups with limited interest in

parks

ASSETS lIAbIlITIES

P U b l I C

S E C T O R

P R I V A T E

S E C T O R

CRITICAl qUESTIONS AbOUT

PARTNERShIPS

• Can the characteristics of public space be maintained in apublic-private management partnership?

• Can private management of public parks ensure the safety,

openness, accessibility, and control of public space?

• How effective are public-private partnerships at producing

quality public space?

• How will the public be involved in decision-making?

• Can the rights of those not involved in the decision-making be

ensured?

• How will conflicts about the park regarding use, maintenance,

finances, and control be addressed?

WhAT NON-PROFITS CAN DO FOR PARKS

• Fundraising

• Organize and Mobilize Volunteers

• Design, Plan, & Construction of New Activities

• Programming

• Advocacy

• Remedial Maintenance

• Routine Maintenance

• Marketing and Outreach

• Security



045

MIllENNIUM PARK INC.Chicago, IL

Millennium Park, once a surface parking lot, was transformed into

a one-of-a-kind cultural center, featuring venues for performance

arts, interactive sculptures, and world-class architecture.

Millennium Park Inc is a private non-profit that worked with local

philanthropists to build Millennium Park. Their partnership with the

City of Chicago financed and shaped the vision for the park, and

continues in the sharing of park operations.

• Belief in innovation by the patrons allowed designers to “test,

redesign, and test again” until the works were fully realized.

• Establish a clear contractual separation from city. The

creation of a non profit organization allowed the project to be

designed through private donor decisions, encouraging donor

participation.

• Facilitate a bold vision.

• Have a strong partnership. The project’s “Three Legged Stool”

strategy, made up of the Mayor’s political leadership, the non-

profit’s strong vision, and project manager’s “skillful oversight”,

formed a core team that closely coordinated their activities.

lESSONS

bRYANT PARK CORPORATION

New York City, NY

Bryant Park is considered to be one of the most popular parks

in New York City, thanks to new programming and a physical

renovation. The City Parks Department handed over sole

management responsibilities to the Bryant Park Corporation,

including funding, programming, and operations. Funding is

provided by Business Improvement District assessments, private

donors, park restaurant and rental fees, and park concessions.

• Attack all the park’s problems simultaneously.

• Establish a business improvement district (BID) to provide

regular funding to the park and surrounding business area.

• Make the park as accessible and unthreatening as possible.

• Provide facilities and events that will “draw people to the park -

and generate the revenue to sustain it”.

• Bryant Park Corporation’s Executive Director suggests 10

factors that “control the success of urban parks”: security,

sanitation, concessions, restrooms, chairs and tables, lighting,

horticulture, programming, design, and management.

lESSONS

WAShINGTON PARKS & PEOPlE

Washington D.C.

lESSONS

Meridian Hill Park, once the most dangerous park in the city,

is now the heart of a diverse community, providing cultural,

educational, and environmental events and activities year-round.

The Friends of Meridian Hill, a neighborhood group, worked closely

with the National Park Service and the police to plan programming

to bring people to the park. The group eventually merged with

other community parks organizations to form the city-wide non-

profit Washington Parks & People, which uses the strategies from

Meridian Hill Park to assist other communities in revitalizing their

parks.

• Organize activities across cultural boundaries by encouraging

a variety of celebrations in the park.

• Encourage local community organizations and groups to use

the park as an extension of their facilities.

• Ask the community for help. Recruit long-time users of the park

to be leaders in the revitalization process.

• Work with the police to create a prevention-oriented

partnership.

• Reach out to a broad range of agencies, institutions, and

organizations to develop programming.

• Physically reconnect the park to the wider community through

events, such as races and tours.

• Advertise the park through the media to encourage visitors and

change the perception of the park.

Millenium

ParkInc.

MB Realty

Inc.

Private Donors

& Patrons

• Maintenance

• Cleaning

• Operation

•

Fundraising

• Marketing

• Managing endowments

City of Chicago

DepartmentofCulturalAffairs

Mayor’s

Ofce

• Operation

• Programing

• Ownership

Parks

Department

City of New York

Private Donors

& Patrons

BryantPark

CorporationBusiness

Improvement

District

• Fundraising

• Marketing• Operation

• Programing

• Maintenance

• Ownership

National Park

ServicePrivate Donors

& Patrons

WashingonParks

&People

• Fundraising• Marketing• Programing

• Organizingvolunteers

Other Limited Partner

Organizations

• Maintenance• Ownership



046

COMMUNITY WORKShOPS



047



For additional information contact

METROPOLITANDESIGNCENTERCOLLEGE OF DESIGNUniversity of Minnesota

1 Ralph Rapson Hall, 89 Church Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455

[email protected]

The University of Minnesota is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to its programs, facilities,

and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, publicassistance status, veteran status, or sexual orientation.

This publication/material is available in alternative formats upon request. Please contact Ignacio San Martin, 612-625-9000.

© 2011 University of Minnesota, Metropolitan Design Center, College of Design

Printed on 100 percent post-consumer ber, processed chlorine free, FSC recycled certied, and manufacturedusing biogas energy.

ADVISORY bOARD

VenturaVillageNeighborhoodAssociation

MaryWatson, Administrative Secretary

BobAlbee, Chair

ThorAdam, Board Member

JimCook,Board Member

JanetGraham, Vice-chair

JimGraham, Board Member

RayPeterson,Chair

JonBenson,Resident

AnnaBell, Resident

IanMcNamara, Board Member

BillKingsbury, Board Member

WestPhillipsNeighborhoodAssociation

CrystalTrutnau,Executive Director

JakeRock,Board Member

DelLundeen,Board Chair

HopeCommunity

MaryKeefe, Executive Director

ChakaMkali, Director of Organizing and Community Building

JakeVirden, SPEAC Member

TiaWilliams, SPEAC Member

DavidRiley, Intern

HanaWorku, Intern, SPEAC Member

HopeAcademy

RussGregg, Executive Director

TracyBrandon , Teacher

LocalBusinesses

SusieCarlson,Carlson Printing

RyanKirk,Kaleidoscope

CecilSmith, Cornerstone Property Professionals, Ventura Village Board Member

MarkOreld, Best Apartments, Ventura Village Board Member

JeriNelson, Director, Center for Changing Lives

GinaCiganik, Vice President, Aeon

BillVanderwall, Vanderwall Associates

CityofMinneapolisPoliceDepartment

RickDuncan, Former 3rd Precinct Lieutenant, Minneapolis Police Department

LucyGerold,Inspector, 3rd Precinct

CatherineJohnson, Lieutenant, 3rd PrecinctRyanHughes, Crime Analyst

DaveGarman, Ofcer

CarlaNielson,Crime Prevention Specialist

JamesMenter , Intern

MinneapolisParkandRecreationBoard

ScottVreeland,Commissioner District 3

AlBangoura, Recreation Supervisor

LonnieNichols,District Planner

Cordell“Corky”Wiseman, Assistant Superintendent of Recreation

D.FredMcCormick, Minneapolis Park Police

SteveZimmer , Recreation Supervisor

GeuXiong, Recreation Supervisor

MetroTransitPolice

MichaelLaVine,Captain

CityofMinneapolis

NimcoAhmed, Policy Aid, Ward 6

JodiFurness, Assistant City Attorney, 3rd Precinct

PaulMogush, Principal Planner

HennepinCounty

GailBaez,Senior Attorney

ResidentsofthePhillipsNeighborhood

ShirleyHeyer , Midtown Phillips Neighborhood

DavidBoehnke, Ventura Village Neighborhood

METROPOlITAN DESIGN CENTERIgnacioSanMartin, Dayton Hudson Professor, Chair of Urban Design and

Director of the Metropolitan Design Center

MichelleBarness, MLA, Research Assistant

AdrienneBockheim, MLA, Research Fellow, DDA Program Coordinator

PeterCrandall, MArch, Research Assistant

SatokoMuratake, MLA, Research Fellow

A SPECIAl ThANKS

Funding for this Direct Design Assistance project is provided, in part, throughgenerous support from the McKnight Foundation, the Ventura VillageNeighborhood Association, and the Dayton Hudson Endowment.

bIblIOGRAPhY

Te Geograpy of Crime

• Colman, Steve. “The Invisible Park: Revitalizing the Ten Invisible Landscapes” Parks and People’s

publication Places: A Forum of Environmental Design , 2003.

• Crowe, Timothy. Crime Prevention through Environmental Design: Applications of Architectural Design

and Space Management Concepts. National Crime Prevention Institute, 1991.

• Hilborn, Jim. “Dealing with Crime and Disorder in Urban Parks” Problem-Oriented Guides for Police

Response Guides Series, No. 9, U.S. Department of Justice, Ofce of Community Oriented Policing

Services, May 2009.

• Pendleton, Michael, and Thompson, Heather. “The Criminal Career of Park and Recreational Hotspots”,

Parks and Recreation, 35 (7), July 2000.

• “Shared Wisdom: Stone Soup”. Landscape Architecture, June 2005.

• Taylor, Ralph, and Gottfredson, Stephen. “Environmental Design, Crime, and Prevention: An Examination

of Community Dynamics”, Crime and Justice, v. 388, 1986.

• Thompson, J. William. The Rebirth of New York City’s Bryant Park . Spacemaker Press, 1997.

• Whyte, William. The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. The Conservation Foundation, 1980.

Puic-Private Partnersips

• Project for Public Spaces, Inc. Public Parks, Private Partners, 2000.

• Walker, Chris. “Partnerships for Parks: Lessons from the Lila Wallace-Reader’s Digest Urban Parks

Program”. The Urban Institute, 1999.

• De Magalhaes, Claudio. “Public Space and the Contracting-out of Publicness: A Framework for Analysis.”

Journal of Urban Design, 15:4 November 2010.

• Madden, David J. “Revisiting the End of Public Space: Assembling the Public in an Urban Park”. City &

Community , 9:2 June 2010.

peavey park redesign plan

Documents

phenomena of crime

usability of peavey

minneapolis park board

geography of crime

direction of crime

crime levels

neighborhood boys

neighborhood parents