DESIGN ADVENTURES
de•sign the unleashing of a creativity to find purpose and function
sydney•shell 712.269.2361
ad•ven•ture to go where you have never gone before and letting where you have been guide you
Ur Xx GOWANUS CANAL Contents
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| things featuredplaces adventures
Featured Adventures
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
Ur 01
CONFLUENCE
competition entry
Urban Park
02
WATERWORKS
internship
Pa
Ur LINCOLNWAY
Pa
04
urban retrofit
ADA HAYDEN
05 research
03
outdoor recreation
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
01
competition entry
Gowanus by Design is a competition focused on the post-industrial development of a contaminated site in the canal water shed that offers the challenge of rethinking how a new community resource can become an agent for remediation within a diverse urban context. The design brings the Gowanus Canal’s rich history and diverse community together by creating a place that fosters interaction between people, native and urban ecologies, and the canal. Once overflowing with wetlands and wildlife, the Gowanus Canal flood plain has been industrialized and highly urbanized. The tides have turned and the canal is ready to rise to the occasion, offering a new way of living. By combining forces of the past and present, the Canal and Thomas Greene Park provide spaces for gathering, playing, and observing living systems. This park accommodates large celebrations, family traditions, numerous recreational activities, bird watching, outdoor markets, art festivals, and much more.
Context analysis | An overlay of historical Gowanus canal, landuse, drainage, and contaminates. Past and present merge revealing relationships and connections that create a foundation for new beginnings represented painting overlay.
Ecology
Community Water
Figure ground | Painting study as it relates to project boundries. The individual pieces start to read as one creating potential forms, boundries, and/or spaces.
Painting Analysis| To capture the site rich historical context and merge it with the exising condition, Acrylic on plexiglass was choosen to explore these relationships. The historical Gowanus canal and the native ecology is represented by blue and green , while orange speaks to proposed community programing.
Historical Gowanus Canal
Connect | Final arching connections among context painting. The canal reads disconnected from the existing park. Arcs lines have an opportunity to bring everything together as a whole. –
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
process | analysis
01
Channelized Gowanus Canal
Design Additions| To help with stormwater management, in addition to competition requirements, vegetation, topography, and infiltrations basins are incorporated to alleviate CSO systems and give water the opportunity to return to the ground.
NATIVE VEGETATION
WATER INFILTRATION & GRADING PLAN
Competition Requirements| Site axon breakdowns the components of the design competition. Recreational courts, Community center, and pool are all programs that need to be developed. During rain events the CSO system overflows. The site will have a CSO retention facility to take on 20% of the “first flush� to relieve the treatment plant till they can process the water. In addition facility, retention tanks need to be provided that can hold 4 million gallons of water.
WATER RETENTION
RECREATION
Preformance Area & Seating Playgrounds
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
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site axon
01
Degraw St
Basketball Courts Community Building
Community Pool
Douglass
Skate Park
Handball Courts
St.
Canal |Northeast view from Degraw Street low tide.
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
perspective
01
High Tide
Salt Grass | Distichlis spicata
High Marsh Vegetation Textures
Salt Meadow Cordgrass | Spartina patens
Black Grass | Juncus gerardii
Saltmarsh Bulrush | Scirpus robustus Sea Lavander | Limonium carolinianum Smooth Cordgrass | Spartina altinaflora
Rockweed | Fucus versiculosus
Low Marsh Vegetation Textures
Glassworts | Salicornia species
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
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tidal brackish salt marsh
Low Tide
RetentionTanks & Catch Basin| Retention tank is used as a stormwater management strategy, as well as a handball wall, an activity locals favor. By revealing the tanks we can start to inform the community of stormwater practices in a creative and clever way. 3rd Ave.
Native Trees & Wildflowers Handball Courts 1” = 20’
Catch Basin Retention Tanks Elevated Walkway
Native Trees & Wildflowers
1” = 20’ Basketball Couts
Catch Basin
Catch Basins|Below the recreational courts, water is captured and infiltrated back into the ground.
1” = 20’ Nevins St. Observation Deck Walkway to Green Space
Native Trees & Wildflowers
Community Resource Building
Open Green Space Infiltration Basin
Infiltration Basin | During rain events the open green space collects runoff and allows for water to be infiltrated back in to the ground
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
stormwater sections
01
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
places | things
01
Ur Confluence
02
internship
Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, and Planning firm located in Des Moines, Iowa with offices in four other locations throughout the Midwest, was my home for a spring and summer internship. I was given many opportunities to express my creative skills through, but not limited to conceptual design, digital modeling, and graphics. This experience increased my pace and quality of work to the level that is expected in the real world. I worked on construction document sets of various sizes, set up presentations for meetings, selected samples from distributors for projects, and much more you do not experience in academia. While feasibility and practically may run the show, that will not stop me from creating fearlessly. Followed is a small collection of projects I designed and/or modeled while interning at Confluence.
Reflection Pools| A calming statement. With running water, the pools become therapeutic area in comparison to daily demands of the users.
Interpretative Art Piece| Panels line the main axis displaying soldier’s uniforms as the have changed throughout history.
Ur Confluence
usstratcom | command and control facility
02
Schematic Site Plan| Overall plan highlights the formal tree grid along with strong geometric programed areas.
Three Pillars of Defence Interpretive Area| Mimicking form of the missiles, navy ships, and submarines this area has symbolic meaning.
ALTOONA, IOWA
Illustrative Planting Plan| Oak Hickory Forest inspired plantings.
Ur Confluence
villas at foxpoint | knoxville, ia
02
Technical Planting Plan| Overall tree placement.
Detail Sheets| Plant schedule and planting details.
Conceptual sketch| Layers of decks serving a variety of purposes (plants, floating deck, outdoor bar & grill) will be the focus of a vibrant public space.
Beach Perspective | Sand beach within close distance to business is hard to come by in Iowa. Users can grab lunch and head to the beach or launch to kayak.
Bar & Grill Perspective|After a day at the beach or shopping relax and watch the sun set as it passes through tinted glass behind the bar.
Ur Confluence
prairie crossing | altoona, ia
02
Conceptual sketch| Layers of decks serving a variety of purposes (plants, floating deck, outdoor business) will be the focus of a vibrant public space.
SITE PLAN
PRAIRIE CROSS
Entry plaza Sculpture Concrete paving Retaining wall
Floating planter area with LED Lights
ADA ramp to lower plaza
Paddle boat/canoe garage Planter and seat wall Floating planter area with LED Lights Seat wall
Sand beach
Floating wood pier
Annotated Plan|Materiality, program, and feel of space was taken into consideration to move forward with creativity.
Floating planter area with LED Lights Floating wood pier Floating planter area with LED Lights
Dock Perspective | The dock system works with the water levels of the detention pond. Planter docks float at water level. Pedestrian docks ramp down to water level for access. The main spine is remains at ground level , serving as an outlook bar and grill.
SING - OPTION C
Floating planter area with LED Lights
Floating wood pier
Center spine TBD: Bar, Restaurant, Boardwalk with Cafe, shops, and vendors, art attraction with glass wall, planted peninsula w/ walking trail and benches, solar charging station w/solar panels, salt water viewing tank under walkway, Infiniti pools with overhead sun shade.
SCALE = 1:200 0'
50' 100'
200'
400'
CONCEPTUAL DATA CENTER GRADING CONCEPT
MADISON LEE PROPERTIES WEST DES MOINES, IOWA
SCALE = 1:200 Purposed Grading Plan|Final grading for the business park.200' All stormwater is 0' 50' 100' 400' MARCH 2014 collected on site with a detention pond.
CONCEPTUAL DATA CENTER GRADING CONCEPT
MADISON LEE PROPERTIES WEST DES MOINES, IOWA
MARCH 2014
pg 9
Cut Fill Analysis|Engineers provided analysis. The initial report led to regrading the so building at grade would be 8’ higher. This would save exporting excess soils costs.
Cut Fill Analysis 8’ Rise| Adjusting the topography provided the same amount surface space for buildings but pg 10 minimizing the amount of soil needed to import.
ENT EASEM ILITIES 100’ UT
PROPERTY
LINE
108.000 SF 108.000 SF 108.000 SF
OFFICE
108.000 SF
35.000 SF
S.
56.000 SF
TH
88
88,750 SF
.
ST
BOONEVILLE
RD
MID AMERICAN ENERGY SUBSTATION
LEGEND 16” WATER MAIN
W 100’ RO ROW 50’ 1/2
GAS LINE
PROPERTY LINE
OVERHEAD ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION LINE
FIBER LINE
WATER MAIN
0'
50'
100’
200’
MIDWEST TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS PARK JULY 2014
WEST DES MOINES, IOWA
Utilities Plan| With an utilites easement cutting through the owners parcel it was important to show how the site grading and composition utilized the space to its greatest potential with out interference.
Ur Confluence
midwest technologies business park | west des moines, ia
02
Day Perspective |Colby Park hosts many events with an ever growing farmers market, and many bike events. The arc overhead structure serves as the main market walk and entrance to Des Moines trail system. It includes an area to sit and savor fresh food for the market and food trucks. Also a bike repair station. The structure is equipped with solar panels to provide energy for events.
Night Perspective |Movie at the park is big event at Colby park. You also get a lot of cyclist on the trail for riding events. The structure provides lighting and place to rest at night. Parents can relax as their children watch the movie feature.
Ur Confluence
trail hub | windsor heights, ia
02
Ur Confluence
places | things
02
Pa WATERWORKS
03
outdoor recreation
Inspired by microbiology and the idea of capillary action. Capillary action allows water to move through spaces, like water that plants absorb, works its way through the roots to the end of the leafy greens. The journey of water at Water Works Park has as its unique process as well. Des Moines feeds off water that flows down that Raccoon River. The river water is pumped in to retention ponds then goes through intense filtration with in the plant. It is distributed to approximately 500,000 people everyday. Imagining a person being a object filtered through the site, the processes previously described hold true at a bigger scale. While transitioning through the site something new is revealed or achieved. Once revealed or achieved, a person can see their own, and city wide connection to Water Works Park.
Wooded Landscape Open Space
Residential
Fluer Drive
railroad water filtration ponds racoon river
Gray’s Lake
500’
Urban Landscape| A section through the park shows the various funcitons the site has from transportation to heavily wooded forest. Water is playing a mulitple roles from a public lake to filtration ponds that supply water drinking water.
Pa WATERWORKS
site & context analysis | section
03
2000’
Concept Model | Model represents the process water goes through on site as well as the experience one has in a urban park. The transition from structured enviornment to a restorative natural one.
Permeable Filtration
Organic
Perspective Exploration | Exploring views on site, bringing the concept to life.
Structured
Connection
Parti | Early sketch of space organization and flow.
Pa WATERWORKS
concept | generation
03
Concept Basics | Diagram for water and user expeirience at Waterwork Park.
Pa WATERWORKS
perspective | bridges & walkways
03
A hierarchy of walkways, which include the existing paths, starts to develop an understanding of the different scales of connection to the site. Arced bridges set up the base connection of the site. With the Northeast-Southwest showing relationship of the city to the river, and the East-West bridge filtering a person through the site.
Water Usage | The design details in the bridge start to address the larger scale of Water Works Park. They become and interactive water feature at a citywide scale. The amount of water used everyday varies. In addition, the water feature’s water pressure will correlate directly to the amount of water being used by the city. This gives people an ever-changing feature that will entice them to return.
Pa WATERWORKS
perspectives | details
03
Planter | Planter and water feature drived from intial concept model.
Water Walkways | These floatinig paths add an appealing opportunity to get closer to the retention ponds and connect with the site more closely.
Pa WATERWORKS
perspective | waterwalks
03
Pa WATERWORKS
perspective | bridges & walkways
03
Ur LINCOLN WAY
04
urban retrofit
The City of Ames is disconnected between Campustown and Downtown Historic District. Imagining Lincolnway, an arterial connector, as a corridor can bridge the two through urban design with a focus on streetscapes. Converting the old highway to three lanes would dramatically improve conditions along this roadway such as circulation, usability, and stormwater management. Lincoln Way passes through many different zones commercial, residential, school, ect. Each area has their own unique context. By starting with an overall strategy, we can dive in to each zone and design for each areas needs. Campustown has high traffic among cars and pedestrians. It also has shops and resteraunts which are directly across from the university and dorms.
Existing
Proposed
Bus Stops
Bus Hubs
Intersections
Stoplight Intersections and FullI Intersections
4 Wide Lane
3 Lane w/ Turning lanes
The Works Studies have shown positive result in 4 lane to 3 lane conversions. Roadwasy that have a Daily Average Traffic between 13,000 and 23,000 are perfect candidates. An incresease in traffic volume and decrease in delay time, make the conversion more efficient. Also, a decrease speeding, accidents, noise makes a safer environment for bicyclist and pedestrians. Separate lanes for turning allow less stress on vehicles and easier flow.
Ur Lincoln Way
context | analysis
04
Stormwater Management Porus pavements comes with the immediate concern of maintence, especially in the Midwest region. Some strategies that have been successful include lining city utilities underneath sideswalks. The heat generated from the utilities keep ice from forming, and eliminates the use of sand and salt which damages and clogs permeable pavement. Attacking areas with higher volume of water funneling into the drains,by implementing bioswales (green strips) and using porus paving were applicable will grealty reduce impacts to our streams and floodplain.
Drain Inlet College Creek
Floodplain Squaw Creek
Ur Lincoln Way
campustown| site plan
04
Generous sidewalks and clearly define crosswalks provide a safe zone for pedestrians. A detached bicycle lane aligned north of Lincoln Way makes for a safe and effecient transit route. Street Trees, Planting Strips, and Bioswales have ecological, fuctional, and visual benefits. They provide habitat for many bird and inscect species. They contribute to stormwater management and can create a distiction between corridor usage such as roadways and sidewalks.
Ur Lincoln Way
perspective | sections
04
Critical Dimensions We devote a lot space to vehicles, why give them more than they need? Lane diets get rid of the excess and give you an opportunity to make a space use for many uses. The benefits greatly out weigh the cons. Green space over a concrete slab, not to mention green spaces give a spot to push our snow so we can use our precious roads.
Existing 4’
3 lanes
6’
6’ median
16’
15’
2 lanes
8’ parking
Proposed
10’
6’
8’
10’ 5’ bike lanes
o’
1o’
3o’
12’
6’ 10’ turning lane & emergency lane
25’
Ur Ur GOWANUS Lincoln Way CANAL
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places | things places | things
intentionally left blank
Pa ADA HAYDEN PARK
05
winter research
Ada Hayden Heritage Park is located in north Ames off of Grand Avenue (US Highway 69). The park, itself is 437 acres including and old rock quarry and constructed wetlands that now serve as Ames water supply. It has approximately 5 miles of trail 3 of which are ADA accessible, and amenities that support activities such as fishing and picnicking. Wetlands and prairies have been established to support natural water filtration, wildlife habitat, and nature observation. The park has no problem filling its parking lot. Despite the temperatures, Ada Hayden is always full of activity late afternoons and on the weekend. Parks are typically perceived as space users would utilize heavily in warmer temperatures; they are hubs for recreation, social interaction, and wildlife/nature observation, which have health, economic, social, and environmental benefits. How is Ada Hayden used in cold temperatures? Does it still provided the same benefits it does in warmer temperature? What makes Ada Hayden successful “cold weather� park?
WINTER MAPPING | ADA HAYDEN HERITAGE PARK
SYDNEY SHELL
How is the park used in the winter? • Does it provide the same benefits as it does in warmer temperatures? • What makes it successful?
SUMMARY
x5 WALKER
x2 SPORT
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8
x7 x5 x7
Mapping data and trace measure confirm Ada Hayden is highly used cold weather park. While cold temperatures might reduce the amount of time spent a park, the same brings users, such as ice fishers and sledders, to the park. Ada Hayden continuously provides health, economic, social, and environmental benefits year round. Users participate in activities at different levels of intensity ranging from sedentary to vigorous, which concludes that people are using the park for more than physical health benefits but mental health benefits as well. Maintenance of paved trail and amenities are consistent and well kempt, which contributes to subjects using the space rather than local sidewalks and streets.
Cognitive maps are collected onsite and offsite. Subjects are approached along the paved trail on site while subjects off site are chosen based on gaps in variety of users and familiarity of site. Seven total cognitive maps were collect 5 on site and 2 off site.
x1
x9
LONE WOLF
SOCIAL BUTTERFLY
x8 REGULAR
x3 PEACE SEEKER
x3 NATURALIST
x10 DOG WALKER
x12 ADVENTURER
x14 OBSERVER
Mapping is used to collect data for demographics, activities, behaviors, path, and perception of environment. Two methods of behavioral mapping will be used to collect data, place oriented and subject oriented. This will provided a mix of quantitative and qualitative data. Cognitive mapping will be used to collect users awareness of surroundings. Subjects will be asked to draw Ada Hayden as they see it (by route, activities, landmarks, etc.). The strategies used here are similar to a research study in Cary, North Carolina. They collected their data at Walnut Street Park to answer the following research question. What is the relationship users’ characteristics and diverse settings in the park? What is the pattern of social interaction in the park settings? Their goal was to
reveal how subject see public parks and to understand the relationship between behavior and their environment. Behavior mapping included user profile, behavior, level of physical activity, group size, group characteristics, and shade. Cognitive mapping was pair with interview questions to collect user preferences and actual use. According to Zamani, Lee and Pipp’s, Diverse Park Settings and Users' Behaviors and Preferences, “the results of the behavior mapping combined with other methods of data collection revealed difference between the pattern of use and preference for setting while in some aspects they confirmed each other. Many studies have researched desires lines in landscapes such as campuses, parks, and urban areas.
Desire lines are a form of trace measures used for better trail, sidewalk, and/or pathway design. A study conducted in Edmonton, Canada, Drawings We Have Lived Mapping Desire Lines in Edmonton, maps these desire lines in recreational park, neighborhoods, and urban areas. Trace measures that left evidence of activities user part take included dog wastes that owners did not dispose of, while others owners used dog bags that were place in trash receptacles. Off path trails and desire line were the most abundant for of trace measures. Ice fishing show prominence with traces of paths across the iced over lake, bait left over dumped near shore, and holes left in the ice. Other activities identified by trace measure included biking, sledding, and hiking.
Desire Lines
Winter Users| Through behavior and cognitive mapping, an understanding of how people perceive and use the park in the winter reveal social, economic, environment, and health benefits.
Pa ADA HAYDEN PARK
research | mapping
05
Photograph Credit:Wolf. Oesterreich
RESEARCH | RESULTS
Behavioral Mapping data collection consisted of 21 subjects. From that pool of users behavior types were established. Each behavior type has certain characteristics the subjects fall under and subjects can obtain more than one behavior type. Below are the Behavior types and descriptions.
WINTER OBSERVATION | ADA HAYDEN HERITAGE PARK
SYDNEY SHELL
How is the park used in the winter? • Does it provide the same benefits as it does in warmer temperatures? • What makes it successful?
Runner with headphones in no emotion focused on task at hand. • Subject and handicapable dog with wheels walked slowly. Dog had lots of energy, owner appeared delighted and caring. • Photographer slightly of the path timid and unsure. • Runner no emotion. Acknowledge others with the smile and nod. • Roller bladder with dog. Smiling with high energy. • Brisk walker focused but friendly with passer byers. • Two observers alert/amazed on the docks. Relaxed pacing the dock. • Group of three walking blank faced, focusing on their walk. • Two roller bladders content. Smiling chatting amongst themselves. • Couple happily holding hands walking. • Photographer walking off path through wooded area. • Man with two dogs off leash on the outskirts of the park away from the path. • Walker happy and focused assuming activity is for fitness. • Couple with binoculars and open body language and high energy. • Older subject on brisk walk with a constant smile on face. • Friends chatting with high energy on a walk. • Volunteer on bike alert. • 2 men walking facing inward holding conversation using hand gestures • “ I started my walk heading west. The paved path had been plowed and maintained. The temperature was approximately 20 degrees. Elderly couple are walking; both are alert they smile and greet passer-byers. There is a genuine sense of happiness and/or relaxation/release in posture and facial expressions. Two dogs meet and become tangle as owners struggle to untangle them. Owners are amused and exchange words with another till they are on their way again. Geese fly overhead noisily, some look up to observe while others keep trekking on. A runner wizzes by with headphone on focused. A lone walker alert and taking in his surrounding not much emotion in his face; he is quiet and reserved but nods and smiles as I pass. There are joggers across the lake in the distance along with a cyclist. Some ice fishers coming to view along the outskirts of the lake. The environment along the path becomes restorative and peaceful; there is high vegetation along stretch of path. Coming around a corner two ladies are chatting as the walk briskly. They have lots of facial expressions they smile and acknowledge me as I pass. Another elderly couple are walking leisurely watching all the activity taking place. They have outward posture getting that sense of happiness and relaxation again. Passing by another dog that comes up to check me out. I smile and scratch his ear and talk with the owner who seem very generous and happy to be here. A group of three gathered on the bridge look at the geese that rest in the middle of the lake. They are pointing and chatting in and cheerful mood as they observe. As I reach the far East section of Route1 there are people scatter up and down the trial some are starting there run headed south with a burst of energy. There are two people lollygagging towards the parking lot as their walk comes to the end a deep sigh and smile follows as they reach there car. A young lady runs by with earphones as enter the parking lot. A large group of guys head toward the ice and start an impromptu game of hockey; there voices carry as they blustering carry on with the game. Cars pulling in to catch the last bit of daylight as I exit the park.”
9%
WALKING
ICE FISHING
12%
11%
DOG WALKING
JOGGING
DRIVE
SUMMARY
Parks are typically perceived, as space users would utilize heavily in warmer temperatures. They are hubs for recreation, social interaction, and wildlife/nature observation, which have health, economic, social, and environmental benefits. By observing activities, moods, and behaviors of people in the cold months we can find gaps in the “typical” park norms. This could lead to better design choices and additional amenities to encourage more involvement during winter months. If a park is being utilized what are some factors in its success, so it can set as precedent for future parks. Two methods of observations were used at Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames, Iowa. First , a casual observation was carried out by walking along a paved route. This approach will allow for close proximity to
+ 40 YRS
subjects, which will aid in distinguishing facial expressions and body language to gather first impressions. Systematic observation was used through a series of site observations along routes and outlook points. A checklist was used togather users demographics and activites. The major activity subjects participate in is walking. Outlying activities include photography, tree climbing, and rollerblading. Majority of activities take place on the paved trail. Age groups 20 to 40 and 40 plus are largest user group.). Car was the dominant form of access while subjects that lived near by came by foot or bike. Facial expressions and body language display positive reactions to social interactions and the surrounding environment. Recurring moments of
OTHER
biking, sledding, photography
BIKE
20-40 YRS
*
25%
WALK
UNDER 20 YRS
genuine relief and relaxation. The majority of winter usage in Ada Hayden is confined to the trail system that facilitate multiple activities and the lake for fishing. Outlying activities such as sledding and photography lead the ambitious of trail and in to the snow. Ada Hayden still provides health, economic, social, and environmental benefits. Subjects are using the site for recreation and physical health. The lake and wetlands still serves as water source providing and economic benefit. Participants use the space to socially interact with friends, pets, and wildlife. The biggest factor what trail availability and access to the park. The trails were kept cleared and maintained so people were able to use the trail. The parking lot provided ample spaces for vehicles.
SKY COVERS
0˚-43˚ TEMERATURE RANGE
NOON -1PM 3PM-5PM TIME
Reimagining the Park | Through casual and systematic observation, I was able to collect data showing how a park is used in cold temperatures. The results can be used to inform design choices and consideration that encourage more outdoor involvement in colder areas and time periods.
Pa ADA HAYDEN PARK
research | observation
05
Photograph Credit:Wolf. Oesterreich
43%
WINTER INTERVIEWS | ADA HAYDEN HERITAGE PARK
SYDNEY SHELL
FITNESS | RECREATION
Subject #2: I walk my pup the most; we will explore and hike in different areas off trail. Otherwise I like to bike there as well. During warmer months I kayak.
ESCAPISM
Subject #1: It’s just tucked away and you can’t see civilization while up there and it is just nice to get away..
PLACE ATTACHMENT
Subject #1: . There is also in the in middle there is an old dredged out pond in middle of the property and that’s a nice place to go.
A few studies capture keypoints in this park research. The Central Park Conservancy collected a variety of data about park usage over a period of a year at Central Park, where as Tinsley focuses on an overlooked demographic, in terms of age and ethnicity, where in actuality the specific age demographic is using the park more frequently which is confirmed in the Central Park Conservancy data. Catrill plays a unique roll with regards to methodology and content analysis. He reveals embedded themes, which is important to understand when analyzing data for psychosocial benefits and also in my case park benefits through users activities and perception space.
The frequencies of theme descriptors, per subject shows convenience and recreation are the most prevalent. While recreation is the obvious theme, convenience is an underlying theme. Subjects knew what they came for i.e. running, fishing, dog walking. Convenience themes developed as a realization when questions such as, why they choose Ada Hayden over other parks and trails in Ames where asked. Subject denied cues that would lead to Escapism, but through Place Attachment signifiers the subject reveals that Escapism is an aspect that is special or important to them.
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x 10 x 6
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The subjects interviewed are male and female with ages ranging 20 to 60 years in age. Professions include in the sample are professor, student, and Ames parent. Subjects interviewed have close ties to Ada Hayden and visit the park often.
Ada Hayden has a variety of users. Through a series of interviews, a few users can reveal major themes that depict how parks are used in winter months. These themes can also explain what makes Ada Hayden a successful cold weather park. The park’s maintenance, programed and unprogramed areas encourage users to continually return to Ada Hayden during low temperatures. They also consistently provide health, economic, social, and environmental benefits that are exemplified in the transcript data. It is interesting to watch and listen to the subjects realize how the park really does benefit them and play a role in their lives.
Winter Themes | What makes a park successful in the winter? Through interviewing park user, the results are quite simple and overlooked. It also the first thing that gets cut from the budget. Maintenance.
Pa ADA HAYDEN PARK
research | interview
05
Photograph Credit: Kevin Kane
Subject #3: I come out and run here a couple times a week. They keep the trails maintained and I would rather drive a few minutes to run than to bank on my neighbors shoveling their sidewalks.
RESEARCH
CONVENIENCE
ANALYSIS
Interviewees were emailed and asked if they would be will to answer questions about Ada Hayden Heritage Park in a recorded interview format. A time and place would be chosen at the interviewee’s convenience. Questions were formatted with a semi-structure. The structure started with simple straightforward questions to collect basic information. The majority of questions required more thought and search for answers with substances. This section of question was more reactive to the subject’s answers. The final part of the interview taps into an area the users know best in hopes to reveal detail or hidden qualities.
RESULTS
PROCEDURE
How is the park used in the winter? • Does it provide the same benefits as it does in warmer temperatures? • What makes it successful?
thank•you
sydney•shell 712.269.2361
Ur GOWANUS CANAL
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places | things