Re-Imagining the Park at 2nd + Market Streets
18 JULY 2018 Public Meeting: Research Findings
Old City Values + Aspirations Be a world-class walking neighborhood Foster civic life through great public space Re-occupy vacant buildings and unbuilt parcels Clarify goals of the neighborhood for developers Cultivate people: more residents, workers, visitors Enhance + protect historic + creative character Attract neighborhood-serving retail (grocery!) Connect better to nearby neighborhoods Encourage car-free travel as the first choice of most
Proposed Civic Improvements
Our Project Review Committee National Park Service Christ Church Old City Green Philadelphia City Planning Commission Vestry Condominium Book Trader, Big Ass Slices, Millésimé, Old City Market Penn’s View Hotel Old City District
The Design Team
Tonight: Project Context: Vision2026 Understanding People to Design Public Space Today’s Park Design NPS Guidelines Centuries of Change How People use the Park Input Exercise + Informal Discussion
Market Street Transformation
Park Corridor Plaza
Street layout: Independence Mall
Street layout: Independence Mall
Street layout: 300 Block
Street layout: 300 Block
Tamanend Square
Today
Curbless Shared Space Plaza Free Pedestrian Movement
Updating the Park within the Square
Updating the Park within the Square
* Integrated with, but not contingent upon the plaza *
Updating the Park within the Square
* Integrated with, but not contingent upon the plaza * **or even roadway redesign**
Discover.
MAY – JULY
Diagram.
AUGUST – SEPTEMBER
Draw.
OCTOBER - DECEMBER
Understanding People To Design Public Space
// What is Urban Anthropology?
// Spatial Ethnography (Ethnography of place)
// Phenomenology
// Behavioral observations
Spatial Ethnography: Direct Observations of People + Behavior • Methodology • Spatial Ethnography overview • Indicators to observe
• Key observations • • • •
Observed Activities Design + Behavior Design Details Park + Approach
• Comparative examples • Parks in the surrounding area
• Conclusions
OBSERVABLE ELEMENTS OF PUBLIC LIFE • Direct observations:
Activities (staying/sitting, mobility) Behavior (social and physical) Group size and dynamic Demographic identifiers (age, ethnicity, gender, etc.) • Non-observed (all of the above) • Informal activity (busking, merchants) • • • •
• Indirect observations:
• Remnants of behavior (trash, clothing) • Human-made marks (desire lines, graffiti, alterations to the space) • Literal signs of past human activity (chalk, notes to neighbors, etc.)
INDICATORS OF HEALTHY PUBLIC LIFE • Visible activities of sense of place
• Self-initiated activities at various times of day (self-programming) • Mix of sedentary and active behavior • Mix of solitary and group dynamics • Photographing self/others/space • Physical affection
• Indirect indicators of ownership of place • Modification of place (addition of furniture, beautification, etc.) • Literal signs of care (lost keys, etc.)
// Patterns of behavior
// Indirect observations
// Direct comparisons
NEARBY PARKS
CHRIST CHURCH YARD • Physical characteristics: • • • • • •
Closed off Small Shaded Abundance of vegetation Well-maintained Formal
• Implied characteristics: • • • •
Contemplative space Sacred space Exclusive space Cared for
WASHINGTON SQUARE PARK • Physical characteristics: • • • • • • • •
Large Shaded Mix of hard scape and green space Maintained Formal Water feature Historic attractions Permeable
• Implied characteristics: • • • • •
Neighborhood park Pass-through Open Well-loved Safe
Independence Square • Physical characteristics: • • • • • • •
Large Shaded Mix of hard scape and green space Maintained Formal Historic attractions Permeable
• Implied characteristics: • • • • •
Controlled Touristy Pass-through Quiet spot Secure (but maybe not safe)
Nearby National Park Service Land • Physical characteristics: • • • • • •
Large Shaded Mix of hard scape and green space Somewhat maintained (varies) Formal Historic attraction
• Implied characteristics: • • • •
Touristy Pass-through Quiet spot Potentially unsafe
Today’s Park Design, Layout, and Materials
National Park Service Guidelines
Independence National Historical Park Landscape Design • Independence Park’s new National Register nomination lists the landscapes as significant, contributing to the historic district. Stipulated in enabling legislation. • Landscape Vocabulary.
Independence National Historical Park Properties Next to Churches
• Protection from fire. • View of Church • St. Joseph’s Church, St. George’s Church, and Christ Church.
Independence National Historical Park General Guidance 1. The National Park Service is the owner of Wilson Park (Christ Church Park). 2. Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] Section 2.15 (2) prohibits dogs off leash on federal land. 3. The parking lot west of Wilson Park is not part of this exercise. We are not able to explore alternative 4. No commercial activities are allowed on federal property. 5. The parks to the north and south of Christ Church are a unified whole. Both parks follow the design of the church’s original walls and wrought iron gate. They buffer the church from fire and preserve views of the church.
Historical Context Dynamic Change over Centuries
1702 c. 1700
SECOND STREET
DOCK CREEK
1702
1702
1712
1776
1728: Peace Treaty a the Friends Meeting House “We will be brethren, my people and your people, as the children of one father. All the paths shall be open to the Christian and the Indian. The doors of the Christian shall be open to the Indian and the wigwam of the Indian shall be open to the Christian. […] We will transmit this League between us to our children. It shall be made stronger and stronger, and be kept bright and clean without rust or spot, between our children and our children’s children, while the creeks and rivers run, and while the sun, moon, and stars endure
1835 1800
1740: Great Awakening preacher, George Whitefield, preaches to 30,000
1835 1800
1812: Academy of Natural Sciences holds its first meeting on the second floor of this apothecary
1835 1800
1835
1875
SUBWAY CONSTRUCTION
1907
1907
1910
“A congested, depressed neighborhood� - INPH National Historic Landmark Nomination
1942
“A congested, depressed neighborhood� - INPH National Historic Landmark Nomination
1907
“A congested, depressed neighborhood� - INPH National Historic Landmark Nomination
1910 1959
Saint Albans Street 1937
N 2nd Street 1935
FRANCE LONDON BERLIN
1939 World’s Fair: Futurama
1939 World’s Fair: Futurama
1939 World’s Fair: Futurama
”A new kind of PEOPLE STREET… “… paralleling and reinforcing a … “VEHICLE-LADEN MARKET STREET”
“VEHICLE-LADEN MARKET STREET”
1960: Trolleys on Market Street
1960: Trolleys Removed by General Motors
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
1910
1948: Independence National Historical Park established by Congress To preserve certain historic resources "of outstanding national significance associated with the American Revolution and the founding and growth of the United States."
1948: Independence National Historical Park E established by Congress D C
F
A
B
1910
E
4,790,758 Visitors in 2017 “stimulated one of the country's first and most effective urban renewals� - INHP National Historic Landmark Nomination 2014 4th + Library Streets
1857 (Demolished, 1957) South Side of Chestnut, 200 Block
2009 South Side of Chestnut, 200 Block
2017 South Side of Chestnut, 200 Block
1899 (Demolished) 4th + Library Streets, East Side
The Park's numerous open spaces [‌] do not represent Philadelphia's urban scene in the Revolutionary and early national period - INHP National Historic Landmark Nomination
2014 4th + Library Streets
Urban Renewal in Old City City, State, and Federal
1940 1910
Urban Renewal in Old City City, State, and Federal 1966: Congress passes the Historic Preservation Act
1970 1910
1835 1800
1907
This property was acquired by the National Park Service in order to PROTECT CHRIST CHURCH FROM FIRE and to forestall development of the site, and thus MAINTAIN A VIEW OF THE CHURCH from along Market Street - Superintendent’s Compendium
1910 1959
1910 1964
1910
1959
1959
1929
1947
1947
c. 1835
c. 1910
c. 1965
Today
Design Intent
How People Use the Park: A Spatial Ethnography
METHODOLOGY • Spatial ethnography
• Qualitative vs. quantitative data • Direct observations on site • Participatory observations
• Convenience samples
• Observations during the month of June • Mostly during good weather • Included weekdays and weekends, variety of times during the day • Hot temperatures may have impacted results
• Deductive behavior based on comparative examples
• Nearby parks in Old City and Society Hill • Other parks observed from past experience
KEY OBSERVATIONS
ACTIVITIES • Primary activity is walking dogs
• Socialization opportunities between dog owners and non-dog owners on benches are common • Desire lines showcase common usage patterns onto grass at two entry points from dog-walkers • Lack of additional desire lines indicates little activity inside the park
• Children are occasionally seen inside the park but rarely playing freely • Very few informal activities other than the above
BEHAVIOR + DESIGN • Behavior is determined in part to design parameters
• Benches are used for seating alone or in small groups due to size • Green space is used by dog walkers for short amounts of time • Hard space is used as a pass-through for travel behavior and little else • Lying and/or sleeping also present • Pan-handling was observed
• Dogs help create weak social ties
• Some socializing if dogs are used as an entry point to brief social interaction • No other significant opportunities for socializing due to shared experiences
SPACE: INTERIOR vs. EXTERIOR • Interior: Park as stage
• Lack of secluded corners from onlookers on benches • Prevents most from venturing too far into the park or for too long
• Exterior: Park as void
• Surrounding environment turns its back on park • The benches around the park are facing away from it • The sign for Christ Church is even pointing towards the church • Informal vendor/s set up on sidewalk to capture foot traffic (as opposed to inside the park)
DESIGN DETAILS • Wear patterns
• Closest to entrances, caused by dogowners and their dogs
• Refuse
• Very little larger items • Smaller items like cigarette butts more common around benches
• Additional seating
• Internal brick barrier wide but too low to the ground to sit on • Internal fence wide enough for brief pauses • External fence on South end too shallow for seating
APPROACH • Legibility
• No wayfinding in or around park • Walls obstruct entrance from certain angles at both entrances • Fences and other structures block clear understanding of entrances
• Uncertainty on approach
• Due to funnel effect, some users opt not to venture inside in the first place and instead use perimeter
• Non-direct pathway
• Pass-through directionality is parallel to street
CONCLUSIONS
LOW PERFORMANCE • The number and variety of activities is limited, especially compared to adjacent streetscape and public spaces • Little evidence for ownership of space or sense of place • The low permeability and legibility is inhibitive to positive behavior • Unknown identity of space due in part to dominant usage and proximity to Christ Church
HIGH POTENTIAL • Design changes could improve permeability and open it up to the community and passers-by for additional use • Programming could showcase what is possible in the space to encourage community to selfprogram • There is a potential for a higher level of activity with additional amenities
NEXT Public Survey: www.oldcitydistrict.org/parksurvey Open Design Workshop: Farmers Market at Christ Church: 8/8, 2pm-7pm
Tonight: Informal Discussion Board Exercise + Comment Cards