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JEREL COWAN | THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
I HAVE A PARK NOW. WHAT DO I DO WITH IT? Jerel Cowan Assistant Professor University of Central Oklahoma
Jerel Cowan, PhD., is a professor in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO), where he coordinates the Outdoor & Community Recreation program. He serves as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Recreation and Parks Society (ORPS), is on the board for the Oklahoma Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation & Dance (OAHPERD), and is involved with additional organizations that promote recreational activities in public spaces. Jerel has been involved with trail development in the state of Oklahoma for the last 15 years. When he is not spending time with his family you can find him engaged in backpacking, climbing, or trailrunning.
If we build a park within a town, will the people come? How do we get people to come to the parks and keep them actively engaged? What activities can be incorporated to pull more people into the parks? Another question arises on the safe access to the parks. Transportation corridors vary from 4-lane roads and sidewalks to forest pathways that move people to these parks. So, how are these transportation corridors affecting the access of our citizens to our parks? How do we make sure that the citizens and the kids have safe access to the parks? How do we help the visitors navigate around park edges? Dr. Jerel Cowan presented some important aspects of park design and some safety rules that can be made around parks. Following are few insights on creating safer routes to parks, and activities that may pull in public to the park. In addition, he addressed the fact that how the current generation of kids are infatuated with digital media, games, and suggested ways on how we can incorporate activities that might be helpful in engaging kids into the natural setting of playgrounds.
SAFE ACCESS TO THE PARK The traffic surrounding the parks should incorporate speed limitations. As an example, a car going 25 mph will require 148 ft to stop the car which is 120 ft shorter compared to a car going 40-45 mph. In addition, getting hit by a car at a speed of 25 mph has a much lower injury or mortality rate compared to a car going 40-45 mph. Slowing down the traffic at least forty yards before approaching the routes to parks will allow safer access to the residents and importantly the kids into the park. More drivers should be educated about speeding reaction
