I have a park now. What do I do with it?

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

time. Making people understand the human consequences of unsafe driving rather than just giving people speeding tickets can make them aware of the risks that surround it.

SAFER EQUIPMENT IN THE PARK

The park equipment used in the parks decades ago were exciting but were not safe. The play equipment used in parks in old times had edges with low rails, they were fast and lacking any safety precautions. If we think about it, they were hazardous. In addition, the traditional playground equipment did not accommodate children with disabilities. Compared to the playgrounds now, where we can see children playing in huge slides, are perceived to be unsafe but these play equipment are much safer with higher edges, where the old equipment had lower edges and were faster. Installing equipment such as merrygo rounds with built in speed governors, or slides with higher edges will be safer compared to the traditional playground equipment. These would help the kids experience playground equipment as their parents did but comparatively will be safer.

For Reference, Gathering Place, Tulsa.

SPACES FOR CREATIVE PLAY- “CREATING A SENSE OF PLACE”

The kids now are engulfed in digital world. The virtual games are taking over every child’s play time. Getting the kids to the parks and allowing time for creative play can be a way to move their focus from virtual world into natural playgrounds. Designing spaces for nature play, discovery areas will allow these kids to indulge in playgrounds. Along with space for creative play leverage the opportunity to induce participation from all user groups through introducing activities such as paddle boarding, fishing, or kayaks. Include fast-growing activities such as adventure racing, footgolf, e-sports, drone racing, etc. Install stage for performances can impact on the flow of people into the parks.

Create adventure trails or corridors from one community to a nearby community, making parks the major attraction or transition point. Give the community the opportunity to develop their park as an adventure destination.