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Figure 1. Population of Miami, FL and Buffalo, NY Population
Miami, FL
Buffalo, NY
Source
2010 Population
399,457
261,310
U.S. Census Bureau 2010 5-Year Population
2017 Population
443,007
259,574
U.S. Census Bureau 2017 5-Year Population
7 year growth rate
10.90%
-0.66%
Growth Rate = 100* ((Current) - (Previous)) / (Previous)
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Figure 2.1 Characteristics of Population (2017) – Buffalo, NY Sex by Age
Population
Male
Female
Male(negative)
Under 5 years 17,641 8,984 8,657 -8984 5 to 9 years 16,240 7,713 8,527 -7713 10 to 14 years 15,582 8,190 7,392 -8190 15 to 19 years 18,294 9,119 9,175 -9119 20 to 24 years 24,355 11,683 12,672 -11683 25 to 29 years 25,486 12,947 12,539 -12947 30 to 34 years 20,089 9,803 10,286 -9803 35 to 39 years 14,924 6,993 7,931 -6993 40 to 44 years 13,776 6,745 7,031 -6745 45 to 49 years 14,525 6,826 7,699 -6826 50 to 54 years 15,627 7,217 8,410 -7217 55 to 59 years 16,991 8,107 8,884 -8107 60 to 64 years 14,493 6,765 7,728 -6765 65 to 69 years 10,355 4,778 5,577 -4778 70 to 74 years 7,312 3,069 4,243 -3069 75 to 79 years 5,193 1,981 3,212 -1981 80 to 84 years 4,338 1,623 2,715 -1623 85 years and over 4,353 1,310 3,043 -1310 Total population 259,574 123,853 135,721 -123853 Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 2.2
Age Range (In Years)
2017 Population of Gender - Buffalo, NY 85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 15,000
10,000
5,000
0 Population
5,000
10,000 Male
15,000 Female
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 3.1 Characteristics of Population (2017) – Miami, FL Sex by Age
Population
Male
Female
Male(negative)
Under 5 years 27,322 13,898 13,424 5 to 9 years 20,023 9,672 10,351 10 to 14 years 19,926 10,216 9,710 15 to 19 years 19,686 10,331 9,355 20 to 24 years 28,130 14,264 13,866 25 to 29 years 35,496 17,312 18,184 30 to 34 years 37,423 19,335 18,088 35 to 39 years 33,745 17,925 15,820 40 to 44 years 33,326 18,360 14,966 45 to 49 years 32,413 17,123 15,290 50 to 54 years 31,133 15,002 16,131 55 to 59 years 27,024 13,415 13,609 60 to 64 years 23,948 11,114 12,834 65 to 69 years 20,037 9,082 10,955 70 to 74 years 17,990 8,343 9,647 75 to 79 years 13,174 5,577 7,597 80 to 84 years 10,369 3,971 6,398 85 years and over 11,842 4,069 7,773 Total Population 443,007 219,009 223,998 Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
-13898 -9672 -10216 -10331 -14264 -17312 -19335 -17925 -18360 -17123 -15002 -13415 -11114 -9082 -8343 -5577 -3971 -4069 -219009
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Figure 3.2 2017 Population of Gender - Miami, FL 85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years
Age Range (In Years)
70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Population Male
Female
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 4.1 Race – Buffalo, NY Race
Total
White (47.6%)
123,613
Black or African American (37.1%)
96,374
American Indian and Alaska Native (0.4%)
1,139
Asian (5.2%)
13,604
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (0%)
86
Other (5.8%)
14,971
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 4.2 Race - Buffalo, NY
White (47.6%)
Black or African American (37.1%) American Indian and Alaska Native (0.4%) Asian (5.2%) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (0%) Other (5.8%) Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 5.1 Race – Miami, FL
Race
Total
White (75.4%)
333,912
Black or African American (18.4%)
81,512
American Indian and Alaska Native (0.3%)
1,141
Asian (0.9%)
4,172
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (0%)
213
Other (3.3%)
14,433
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 5.2 Race - Miami, FL
White (75.4%) Black or African American (18.4%) American Indian and Alaska Native (0.3%) Asian (0.9%) Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander (0%) Other (3.3%) Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 6.1 Educational Attainment 25 Years and Older – Buffalo, NY
Educational Attainment for Buffalo
Male
Female
Less than 9th grade
3,857
4,837
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
8,526
9,731
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
23,884
22,056
Some college, no degree
16,223
18,964
Associate's degree
5,693
10,473
Bachelor's degree
12,116
12,757
Graduate or professional degree
7,865
10,480
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 6.2 . Educational Attainment 25 Years and Older - Buffalo, NY
Graduate or professional degree
Educational Attainment
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Some college, no degree
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
Less than 9th grade
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
Population Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
Female
Male
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Figure 7.1 Educational Attainment 25 Years and Older – Miami, FL
Educational Attainment for Miami, FL
Male
Female
Less than 9th grade
22,103
25,077
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
16,751
16,192
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
48,738
48,857
Some college, no degree
19,986
20,853
Associate degree
10,765
12,221
Bachelor's degree
25,762
27,669
Graduate or professional degree
32,946
16,423
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 7.2 Educational Attainment 25 Years and Older - Miami, FL Graduate or professional degree
Educational Attainment
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Some college, no degree
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
Less than 9th grade 0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Population Female
Male
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 8.1 Unemployment Rate for Years 2010- 2017 – Buffalo, NY Year
Rate (%)
Numbers of Unemployed
2010
10.8
1,666
2011
10.6
1,721
2012
10.9
1,557
2013
9.7
1,658
2014
7.9
1,227
2015
6.6
907
2016
6.4
768
2017
6.7
720
Data Source: Bls.gov Local Area Unemployment Statistics
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Figure 8.2 Unemployment Rate for Years 2010 - 2017 - Buffalo, NY
2,000
Number of Unemployers
1,800 1,600 1,400 1,200 1,000 800 600 400 200 0 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years 2010 - 2017 Data Source: Bls.gov Local Area Unemployment Statistics
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Figure 9.1 Unemployment Rate for Years 2010 – 2017 – Miami, FL Year
Rate (%)
Numbers of Unemployed
2010
10.9
1,886
2011
9.2
2,006
2012
8.2
2,129
2013
7.4
2,037
2014
6.9
1,836
2015
5.7
1,370
2016
5
1,051
2017
4.4
814
Data Source: Bls.gov Local Area Unemployment Statistics
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Figure 9.2 Unemployment Rate for Years 2010 - 2017 - Miami, FL
2,500
Number of Unemployed
2,000
1,500
1,000
500
0 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years 2010 - 2017 Data Source: Bls.gov Local Area Unemployment Statistics
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Figure 10.1 Means of Transportation to Work – Buffalo, NY Means of Transportation to Work
Male
Female
Drove Alone
36,072
36,974
Carpooled
5,706
6,427
Public Transportation
5,653
6,812
Walked
3,553
2,637
Bicycle
807
384
Taxi, Motorcycle, Other
592
439
Total
53,839
54,940
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 10.2 Means of Transportation to Work - Buffalo, NY Total
Means of Transportation
Taxi, motoroycle, other
Bicycle
Walked
Public Transportation
Carpooled
Drove Alone
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
Commuters Female
Male
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 11.1 Means of Transportation to Work – Miami, FL Means of Transportation to Work
Male
Female
Drove Alone
80,268
64,891
Carpooled
9,423
8,158
Public Transportation
10,899
11,721
Walked
4,427
3,844
Bicycle
1,475
562
Taxi, Motorcycle, other
1,930
1,031
Total
113,534
93,774
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Figure 11.2 Means of Transportation to Work - Miami, FL
Total
Means of Transportation
Taxi, motoroycle, other
Bicycle
Walked
Public Transportation
Carpooled
Drove Alone
0
20,000
40,000
60,000
80,000
100,000
120,000
Commuters
Female
Male
Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year Estimates
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Appendix Population… (1) Population Table – Buffalo, NY… (2) Population Graph – Buffalo, NY… (3) Population Table – Miami, FL… (4) Population Graph – Miami, FL… (5) Race Table – Buffalo, NY… (6) Race Chart – Buffalo, NY… (7) Race Table – Miami, FL… (8) Race Chart – Miami, FL… (9) Educational Attainment Table – Buffalo, NY… (10) Educational Attainment Graph – Buffalo, NY… (11) Educational Attainment Table – Miami, FL… (12) Educational Attainment Graph – Miami, FL… (13)
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Unemployment Rate for Years Table – Buffalo, NY…(14) Unemployment Rate for Years Graph – Buffalo, NY…(15) Unemployment Rate for Years Table – Miami, FL… (16) Unemployment Rate for Years Graph – Miami, FL …(17) Means of Transportation Table – Buffalo, NY… (18) Means of Transportation Graph – Buffalo, NY … (19) Means of Transportation Table – Miami, FL… (20) Means of Transportation Table – Miami, FL… (21)
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MEMORANDUM Rotary and Intersection Comparison: Buffalo, NY
Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO - 2019
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To: City Board of Planning Authors: Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis Cc: Professor Jonathan Bleuer, Andrew Schaefer Date: October 18th, 2019 Subject: Buffalo Rotary and Intersection
Executive Summary A concise Memorandum comparing and contrasting the rotary intersection of Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo New York, with the nearby standard fourway intersection of Franklin Street and Court Street. The data on the two intersections was gathered on a busy weekday in the middle of the day, using observation. The main comparison made is between the amenities available for pedestrians at both locations, as both are in an area frequented by pedestrians, and in the safety, usability, and traffic flow of each intersection. The conclusions reached are that although the four-way intersection at present seems safer, the rotary is actually a safer design due to its lack of high impact crash points. However, it is currently made unsafe by the lack of proper signage or direction. This safety concession, coupled with the fact that the rotary provides significantly more amenities to pedestrians, Niagara Square is the superior intersection, and deserves more consideration.
Introduction The memo concerns the comparison of two intersections in downtown Buffalo, New York. One is a large traffic circle, the Niagara Square rotary, which sits directly in front of city hall, and is the root of Buffalo’s radial grid system, designed by Joseph Ellicott. It speaks to the legacy of both of Buffalo’s great designers, Joseph Ellicott who initially laid out the radial grid, and Frederick Law
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Olmsted, who built on that grid with a system of parks, parkways, and circles. In the center of the rotary there is a large statue, surrounded by a public square and park; on the outside of this park is a wide traffic circle into which 7 surrounding streets converge. The second Intersection discussed is much simpler. Nearby, Franklin, a two-lane road bisects Court Street, a four-lane road, in a standard fourway intersection controlled by traffic lights. We observe this intersection in conjunction with the rotary in order to compare methods of traffic control, amenities for pedestrians, and how the rotary might be re-thought why retaining its historical and geographical significance. This issue is of relevance because downtown Buffalo, and Buffalo as a whole, is starting to bounce back from its rust belt legacy. Canal Side, the Theater District, the silo’s, Allentown, and other areas are beginning to see new life. In order to continue this development, inspire new population growth, and keep Buffalo on a list of cities to visit and live in, we must ensure that all of our public space work for everyone in the city. Especially in a location as important as right in front of City Hall.
Data Sources and Methods of Analysis The data source we used was a navigational system (google maps), and our data collection analysis form. The data we collected from google maps was the directions to get to the location of the Niagara Square rotary, and Franklin/Court Street intersection from Hayes Hall of the University at Buffalo’s South Campus. This allowed us to commute to our destinations in a safe and timely manner. It consisted of critical comparisons of a signalized intersection to a rotary through observation. Our team collected and analyzed data by firsthand account and counting. We observed site conditions and behavior analysis for pedestrians and various transportation modes; vehicle, bicycle, skateboard, wheelchair, etc.
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There were different types of behavior analysis data for pedestrians we collected for such as; walking and crossing speed, waiting time, visual acuity, route and crossing choice, perception reaction time, and gap acceptance. For behavior analysis for vehicles and other modes of transportation we analyzed; speed, behavior, reaction time, etc. The purpose of the data was to analyze the differences in traffic flow, size, safety, and design efficiency. The limitations of our research was that we only went to the sites once and only for an hour. The data collected was solely based on observation and counting. Because we only went for a limited time, the amount of pedestrians, cars, and traffic/speed on the streets would be meaningfully less compared to visiting the sites more than once. The day of the week and time we observed was the middle of a working business day. There would be a higher amount of data to collect compared to a weekend. If we stayed at the sites longer, or visited multiple times, we would have collected more data.
Findings After doing field work on two sites, a large quantity of data was collected to identify which site is safer and has greater quality than the other site. The two sites were Niagara Square rotary and an intersection between Franklin & Court Street in Buffalo, New York. The goal for this field work was to spend an hour at each of these locations to see what was good about them, what changes could be done to make them better, and which were better for both drivers and pedestrians (with their current conditions). While visiting each site there were notable similarities but also notable differences. One similarity they both have was controlled traffic. Controlled traffic is signalized or unsigned traffic that has signs and/or traffic lights to keep traffic controlled. Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court Street intersection have qualities about them that makes them great but some of those qualities make some better than the other.
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The first site we travelled to was Niagara Square. Niagara Square is, as discussed, located in Buffalo, NY directly in front of City Hall (See Figure 1). Visiting this site from 1:15 PM to 2:17 PM was an excellent choice as we were able to collect enough information in order to identify why this could potentially be a safer option for both pedestrians and drivers. This site is known as a rotary which is much bigger than the roundabouts frequently seen while driving around the city. A rotary is large and fast while a roundabout is small and slow. The reason the type of site Niagara Square is, is brought up, is because while walking around Niagara Square rotary and seeing the problems it has, turning this rotary
into
a
roundabout
could
potentially be better for everyone. However, turning this rotary into a Figure 1: Niagara Square, North towards City Hall
roundabout could remove what makes Niagara Square attractive. This rotary
resembles a park; it’s beautiful landscaping, statues, and greenery. While observing this site, there were 5 information boards about the city and a time capsule that was put into the ground in 1999. The area is a beautiful site (See Figure 2), so in turning this rotary into a roundabout keeping the park-like aspect of the site, it is ensured that it will not lose all of its historic value.
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The second site travelled to was the Franklin/ Court Street intersection. The Franklin/ Court Street intersection is a 4way intersection near both City Hall and Niagara Square in Buffalo, New York. This site was visited the same day as the Niagara
Square
trip
on
October 11th, 2019 and going Figure 3: Franklin and Court, facing south west.
to this site around 2:23 PM was
a great time because traffic was relatively busy and there were many pedestrians walking down the streets. Unlike Niagara Square rotary, this intersection had street parking. There was street parking available on both sides of each street and a parking lot near as well. (See Figure 3). There were lots of surrounding land uses such as a bike rack, bus stops, street lights, pedestrian lights, and meter parking. There was some greenery at this site like potted trees but it was not as grand as the rotary (See Figure 4). Adding more greenery to this site could make it feel more welcoming. Sidewalk was present on every street on both sides which means pedestrians can walk up and down these streets without worrying of mistakenly crossing the fog line. Both the Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court
intersection
have a few problems that needs to be fixed in order for them to become better sites.
Figure 2: Niagara Square from above, facing south.
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As
previously
stated, the two sites have
similarities
differences
&
that set
them apart from one another.
A
few
similarities they have are multiple trash cans in sight but they both do not have recycling Figure 4: Franklin and Court facing North towards Niagara Square.
bins (See Figure 5 & 6).
Recycling bins are just as important as trash cans, as putting recyclables into a recycling bin can help reduce the load on the United States landfill. Putting more of these bins around sites like these helps reduce mining which contributes to air pollution. Not having any of those bins in sight was a nonsensical move by planners, as this increases the carbon footprint of many citizens, which is not healthy for the environment (Bliss, 1.). That alone makes these sites not as safe as it could be because air pollution
causes
damage
to
a
pedestrian’s brain and lungs. Damage is more likely to happen to those who are more vulnerable to air pollution like the elderly (bodies are weaker) and children (they breathe faster) (Moms Clean Air Force, 2.). Recycling Bins are more useful than most people realize, it’s a safety hazard to not have them around.
Figure 5: Amenities at Niagara Square
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Figure 7: Behavior Analysis 40
Miles Per Hour (mph)
35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Rotary 4-Way Intersection
Drivers Speed 35 30
Rotary
Walking Speed 2 3
Crossing Speed 3 3.2
4-Way Intersection
Figure 6: Amenities 14 12
# OF AMENITIES
10 8 6 4 2 0 Rotary 4-Way Intersection
Benches 12 1
Recyle Bins 0 0
Trash Cans 4 2
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In Addition to the recycling similarity, the two sites also have similar pedestrian and vehicle behavior (See Figure 7). The vehicles go 30 mph at each site and most of the time the car comes to a stop when a red light comes. Drivers typically waited less than 30 seconds for pedestrians to walk across the street and then the light turned green and they sped off. Another great thing these sites have in common is the fact that they both have cross lights and cross walks. However, the 4-Way Intersection utilizes them better. Niagara Square rotary and the Franklin/Court Street intersection designs are completely different and altercations to one of these sites can immediately make it the superior design. Niagara Square is a rotary and changing it to a roundabout will make it safer for drivers as well as pedestrians. Something the intersection has on the square is size; the 4-Way intersection is much smaller than the rotary so it doesn’t take up as much space where greenery can be placed. Although it is smaller, it doesn’t have as much greenery as the rotary which already makes it inferior to the rotary despite its size. The rotary has 2 less lanes than the intersection but also less crosswalks (See Figure 8). The few crosswalks are a disadvantage because of how large the rotary is. With this site being as large as it is means there
Figure 8: Crossing Saftey Number Of Crossing Lights
Number Of Crosswalks
0 4-Way Intersection Rotary
1
2
3
Number Of Crosswalks 4 2
4
5
6
7
8
9
Number Of Crossing Lights 8 4
8
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are only 2 ways for pedestrians to get onto/off the square when there is an opportunity for it to be at least 4 ways. Adding more crosswalks would be beneficial to this site because it will give non-drivers more ways to get onto the square which will lower the amount of J-walking done to get across the street. Another difference between the sites would be their lanes. Neither site has turning or bike lanes (See Figure 9). Although this isn’t much of a problem for the intersection, it’s a problem for the rotary because it causes confusion. There may be yield signs but there are no arrows or turning lanes that let drivers know how to remove themselves from the rotary (See Figure 10). Installing more signs could make driving safer and less of a headache for those driving within them.
Figure 9: Site Conditions NUMBER OF BIKE LANES NUMBER OF TURNING LANES NUMBER OF LANES CONVERGING STREETS 0
4-Way Intersection Rotary
Converging Streets 2 7
1
2
3
Number Of Lanes 4 2
4
5
Number Of Turning Lanes 0 0
6
7
8
Number Of Bike Lanes 0 0
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After travelling to the two sites, from reading what was discovered on the field study, it would seem the 4Way intersection is the better design. In reality, it is not. The intersection is jolting with all the traffic lights it has and it is Figure 10: Niagara Square Rotary, note lack of crossing.
statistically not as safe as a rotary or roundabout. There is a huge reduction in overall
collisions and by changing the rotary to a roundabout it will reduce at an even faster rate (Intersection Safety, 3.). Niagara Square rotary has a more welcoming environment than the intersection does with its beautiful landscaping and warm atmosphere. In its current state, Niagara Square rotary is a better design than the Franklin/Court intersection but with the changes that were previously mentioned, it would become the superior design.
Conclusions and Recommendations It should be acknowledged that these two intersections work in their placements for a reason. Franklin and Court is a much smaller area than Niagara square, so a traffic circle would likely not be the best for anyone, and the intersection there does not need to be as grand or complicated. Niagara Square combines too many streets to be a standard intersection, and having a light at the mouth of every street would likely bring traffic grinding to a halt which is the opposite of what any planner intends. Although the four-way intersection at present seems safer, the rotary is actually a safer design due to its lack of high impact crash points. However, it is currently made unsafe by the lack of proper signage or direction; coupled with
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the fact that the rotary provides significantly more amenities to pedestrians, Niagara Square is the superior intersection, and deserves more consideration. It is the heart of the design of the city of Buffalo, stands in front of one of the most Iconic and important buildings in the city, and could be improved so easily it seems pointless not to take that step. This is not to say the Franklin and Court is perfect. It needs to be repainted at some point soon, and the lack of bike lanes on a major Buffalo road should be remedied to make the environment more welcoming to cyclists. Additionally, the bus stops near the intersection should be equipped with at least benches, preferably benches and some sort of structure for shelter. Sensitive to real world budgets and schedules, these intersections do not need to be completely redesigned, just tweaked slightly to work better with the needs of the traffic that each zone observes. Buffalo is once again a city on the rise, and it is imperative that the infrastructure of the city reflects that reality.
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References Bliss, H. (2018). “Advantages of A Recycling Bin”. Sciencing. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/about-5380850-advantages-recycle-bin.html Intersection Safety - Safety: Federal Highway Administration. (2019). “Roundabouts and Mini Roundabouts”. U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved from: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/ Moms Clean Air Force. (2017). “How Air Pollution Harms Your Body”. Moms Clean Air Force. Retrieved from: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/how-pollutionharms-body/ Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
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Appendix: Data Collection Form (Intersection) Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names
Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis, Becky Szeto
Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time
Franklin Street and Court Street Control (Four Way Intersection) 68 Court Street Buffalo, NY 14202 10/11/2019, 2:23 p.m.
Description of Site
A busy four-way intersection in Downtown Buffalo, experiencing moderate levels of both automobile and pedestrian traffic. Surrounded by mostly multi-story buildings, right in the finance/government area of downtown, a few blocks from the metro.
Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc. Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes
Two streets converge. Four way intersection. Traffic lights and crossing lights. Four lanes (Court Street), crossing two lanes (Frankilin Street). No turning lanes or turning lights All sides of the streets have sidewalks, there are no bike lanes.
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presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking
Four crosswalks, one at every corner, all have crossing lights.
presence of landscaping, amenities
Benches, trees, a hot dog stand, one bike rack, street lights and pedestrian walking lights are present. Multi-story office and government buildings, a parking lot, a parking garage, and a few store fronts surround the intersection.
surrounding land uses
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration
turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance
Two bus stops, one on Court, one on Franklin; all sides of the street have metered parking. The bus stops do not have benches or cover, just the sign indicating a stop.
Speed limit for the City of Buffalo is 30mph, most cars obsereved this. Due to the stop start nature of the traffic at the intersection, vehicles generally went between 15 and 35 mph. No turning lanes, so most vehicles have to wait at least a few minutes to turn as traffic passes. Each light is on a three minute cycle. There's not much space in or around the intersection in which to change lanes, it would likely be necessary for the driver to know ahead of time if a turn was necessary.
braking behavior
Brake 20 feet before the intersection. Soft brake, most vehicles just came out of another intersection not far away. perception reaction time Quick, but a few close encounters. distance to leading vehicle and Three to four feet of distance, 2-3 seconds of headway headway. Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time
Brisk but relaxed pace for the most part, pedestrians feel relatively safe in the daylight. Again, brisk but relaxed, with the crossing lights there is reduced risk. Average waiting time between 30 seconds and two minutes.
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visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
Most elements clear and easy to read, road paint fading. At the crosswalk, during crossing time or with a lull in traffic. Quick, not even any near misses. Room to mauver around cars.
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed No bicycles, skateboards, wheelchairs, ect. were observed. crossing speed N/A waiting time N/A visual acuity N/A route and crossing choice N/A perception reaction time N/A gap acceptance N/A Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability
The four way intersection is the standard intersection in the U.S., thought to control traffic efficently while providing safe windowns for pedestrians to cross. Same as above.
Traffic is jilting, most collisions are at the deadliest angles. Due to the stop start of the lights, traffic is not smooth. Colliosns at the deadliest angles, cars often do not slow enough Intended to be safe, in reality are often unsafe. Easy to use, lights and sinage clear for the most part. Ease of use mostly because people are used to this type of intersection.
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Appendix: Data Collection Form (Rotary) Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site
Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis, and Becky Szeto Niagara Square Rotary 1 Niagara Square Buffalo, NY 14202 10/11/19 ---- 1:12 P.M. Time Capsule, 5 information boards, lampposts, statues, and fountain were located inside the rotary.
Sketch of Site:
Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes
7 Rotary Traffic Lights, Crossing Lights, Yield Signs 2 No Turning Lanes Wide Brick Pedestrian Walkway and no bike lanes
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presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior
2 Crosswalks and 2 Crossing Lights There were several bus stops located around Niagara Square. Peripheral parking 4+ trashcans, trees, flowers, benches, lampposts Street lights, Share Bike Lots,
30 to 40 mph No turning signs 20 seconds 3 seconds Brakes were only done at traffic lights when on red 5 seconds
perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and 3 seconds headway Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
3.1 miles per hour 14-15 seconds 25 seconds Normal Some may J-walk, but most will wait for crossing lights to give the right to walk 5 seconds Some people walked closed together so 1-10 seconds
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other No one riding a bicycle, skateboard, or in a movement speed wheelchair crossing speed N/A waiting time N/A visual acuity N/A route and crossing choice N/A perception reaction time N/A gap acceptance N/A
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Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control
To enter and weave within a rotary in a controlled manner To manage a yield system for performance with traffic/crossing lights Crosswalks help prevent pedestrians from getting hit No arrows on the streets to direct traffic
Flow of users
We went to the site at a calm time so the flow was pretty great and calm.
Safety of users
Crosswalk countdowns are loud for those who are deaf. Yield Signs are visible
Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability
Intention was to be a controlled fast circle, Reality is it needs more direction The Rotary could be very confusing for newer drivers
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Appendix: Charts and Graphs Amenities Benches Recyle Bins Trash Cans
Rotary 12 0 4
4-Way Intersection 1 0 2
Behavior Analysis Drivers Speed Walking Speed Crossing Speed
Rotary 35 2 3
4-Way Intersection 30 3 3.2
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Crossing Safety Rotary Number Of Crosswalks 2 Number Of Crossing 4 Lights
4-Way Intersection 4 8
Site Conditions Converging Streets Number Of Lanes Number Of Turning Lanes Number Of Bike Lanes
Rotary 7 2
4-Way Intersection 2 4
0
0
0
0
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Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019
Figure 1
Figure 2
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Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019
Figure 3
Figure 4
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Appendix: Site Photos All Photos: Popp, 2019
Figure 5
Figure 10
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Rotary and Intersection Comparison: Buffalo, NY Becky Szeto, Sara Popp, Shameeq Willis 10/18/2019
ROTARY V. INTERSECTION Site Comparisons Franklin Street and Court Street V. Niagara Square Rotary Willis, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”
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DATA COLLECTION Niagara Square
Franklin/Court Street
Location
Location
1 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY, 14202. Directly in front of City Hall
68 Court Street, Buffalo, NY, 14202. Near Niagara Square & City Hall
Time: 1:12 PM to 2:17 PM
Time: 2:23 PM to 3:30 PM
Date: 10/11/2019
Date: 10/11/2019
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
Data collection Niagara Square Rotary
Franklin and Court Street Intersection
These Sketch's give a wider view of how the traffic sites look. There’s a lack of crosswalks in the Niagara Square Sketch Szeto, B. (2019). Niagara Square Sketch.
Szeto, B. (2019). Intersection Sketch.
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Findings: Intersection GREAT CONDITION
MEDIOCRE CONDITION
• Trash Bins • Street Lights • Street Parking
• Bus Stops • Greenery • Crossing Walks
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
Findings: ROTARY GREAT CONDITION
MEDIOCRE CONDITION
• Trash Bins • Abundant Greenery • Statue
• Crossing Lights • Cross-Walks • Traffic Signs
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
Popp, S. (2019). “Field Study Photos”.
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NOTABLE OBSERVATIONS Intersection:
Rotary: • Lack of signs like Yield, which creates confusion for drivers • Not enough crosswalks to get to Niagara Square. Have to walk all the way around the rotary to get to one
• Despite Restaurants being there, there are no recycling bins present which could lead to litter (Bliss, 2018) • No Biking Lanes were present
conclusion Inspire New Growth In order to resolve development issues, to inspire new population growth, and keep Buffalo on a list of cities to visit and live in, we must ensure that all of our public space work is for everyone in the city.
Relevance There is an issue of relevance in downtown Buffalo, as Buffalo (as a whole), is starting to bounce back from its rust belt legacy. The rotary (Circle) and intersection (Yellow Lines) whereabouts downtown Maps Data. (2019). Niagara Square . Google Maps.
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recommendations Intersection:
Rotary: • Split single lane into two • Proper signage and paint in the rotary • More cross walks across for pedestrians
•Voice signals for crosswalks for blind walkers •Improve bus stops by giving them a cover so pedestrians won’t have to stand in bad weather
references Bliss, H. (2018). “Advantages of A Recycling Bin”. Sciencing. Retrieved from: https://sciencing.com/about-5380850-advantages-recycle-bin.html Intersection Safety - Safety: Federal Highway Administration. (2019). “Roundabouts and Mini Roundabouts”. U.S Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved from: https://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/intersection/innovative/roundabouts/ Moms Clean Air Force. (2017). “How Air Pollution Harms Your Body”. Moms Clean Air Force. Retrieved from: https://www.momscleanairforce.org/how-pollution-harms-body/
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Table of Contents History...................................................3
Observations
Frederick Law Olmsted
Recommendations............................25
Front Park
Maintenance A Sense of Community
Background..........................................4 Olmsted Park Conservancy Neighborhood Resources Mid-Century Decline Recent Efforts Context..................................................6 Conditions............................................8 Challenges............................................10 Opportunities......................................12 Heritage
Lungs of the City Best Practice......................................32 Community Lodge Community Involvement Landscape Architecture Pedestrian Connections Conclusion..........................................37 Future Appendix.............................................39 References..........................................53
Waterfront International Crossroads Demographics....................................15 Ethnic Surroundings Wealth Distribution Transportation Age Diversity of Visitors Park Users..........................................23
Authorship: Lindsey Bruso, Becky Szeto, John Draksic, Yunchao Han
Survey
History
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Frederick Law Olmsted Frederick Law Olmsted (1822-1903), often referred to as the father of landscape architecture, imprinted his legacy into the urban fabric of Buffalo as he developed his first park and parkway system. He is most well-known for his design of Central Park in New York City, though his work spans across the United States. Olmsted was invited to Buffalo, NY in 1868 by then District Attorney, William Dorsheimer, following their selection by New York’s Central Park commissioners. Dorsheimer, among the other elites of the city, sought a design of a large park in order to provide greenspace for a rapidly industrializing city in its prime. After visiting the city and investigating each site, Olmsted purposed three parks in three different parts of town. Each park would be linked into a network with a tree lined parkway connection; Delaware Park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and Front Park. In later years the park system would add three more parks, stretching to further towns, and additional parkways. Buffalo became the first city in America to be enclosed in a park and parkway network as it was Olmsted’s first implementation of this concept. In the words Olmsted: Buffalo is “The best planned city in The United States, if not the world (Buffalo Olmsted Park System Map & Guide).” Olmsted’s vision of a series of parks linked by parkways led him to define his philosophy of designing “Cities within a park,” rather than placing them individually throughout an urban space.
Front Park Front Park was designed in 1868-1870 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, located on Porter Avenue and Busti Avenue in Buffalo’s Lower West Side. Front Park, known to locals to as “The Front,” is one of the first three parks Olmsted designed in Buffalo, but with a different intention and vision than Buffalo’s other parks (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, Front Park). The original purpose of Front Park was to create a place for public ceremonies. As Olmsted once remarked, “A river effect such as can be seen, I believe, nowhere else – a certain quivering of the surface and a rare tone of color, the result of the crowding upward of the lake waters as they enter the deep portal of the Niagara (Buffalo Olmsted Park System Map & Guide).” The original plan called for various sport fields including a baseball diamond. Front Park is home to historic monuments such as The Oliver Hazard Perry Monument, commemorating the American victory over The British Navy in the War of 1812. The monument is placed in the middle of a semi-circular
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terrace with the intention of highlighting the view of the Niagara River. Despite its popularity in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Front Park has since become defined by a rather barren, urban landscape.
Background Olmsted Parks Conservancy The most successful summation of the goals for Buffalo’s Olmsted Parks, Front Park among them, is found in its current Five-Year Plan for 2020-2024. Organized by the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, its goals have been laid out in the acronym CARES. The first issue of focus is user Comfort. Improvements are to be made to seating, restrooms, and other park facilities. Access refers to signage, user interpretation of the site, and gateways to the park. Recreation simply implies that athletic fields, playgrounds, and trails are to be provided and maintained. Environment considers the historic landscape and ecology of the site. Finally, Safety refers to the well-being of park users ensured by traffic control, lighting and other security measures. It is through this framework that this historical organization has begun community engagement in preserving and building upon Buffalo’s Olmsted parks. To refine their goals, members of this organization surveyed park users to identify their most pressing concerns. Among the over five hundred individuals surveyed in Front and Prospect Park, a majority 37.4% felt that continued tree planting was the top priority, followed by 19.9% most concerned with pathway construction (Figure 1). This suggests that locals feel the park is most lacking in these two amenities. Future projects should, therefore, be driven by these two factors.
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Figure 1: Olmsted Park Conservancy 5 Year Plan - User Survey Results, John Draksic
Neighborhood Resources At the peak of its use, Front Park saw as many as five to seven thousand visitors per day. Front Park alongside the other Olmsted Parks together constitute over 60% of the city’s park space. As envisioned by Olmsted, these parks function as the “lungs” of the city providing a space for leisure and an escape from the bustling urban life. They often have direct effects in improving the health of citizens by scrubbing airborne pollutants. To cite one example, a 2005 study of Washington, D.C.’s park system estimated that park vegetation removed 244 tons of pollution from the air. As a vital resource to more population-dense neighborhoods, parks across the country encourage the development of more desirable housing surrounding them. The areas surrounding parks tend more often to be areas undergoing gentrification. Nationwide studies found that urban parks increase nearby real estate values by roughly 15% (PPG 2011). Front Park and nearby Columbus and Prospect Park are lined with a series of stately homes built by wealthy Victorians.
Mid-Century Decline Front Park is certainly far less popular in the present day. As the I-190 was constructed over the Erie Canal in the 1950’s, the park experienced a dramatic drop in the number of visitors. The views which once made Front Park Buffalo’s physical “front” edge along its coastal border with Canada have since been obstructed by ramps and overpasses. The original inspiration of the park, which depended primarily on its views of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, was lost. One may assume that traffic noise and vehicle exhaust polluting the air served a crucial role in rendering the park unattractive to users. Studies have shown that air polluted by vehicular emissions is directly connected to higher rates of respiratory disease in surrounding Buffalo neighborhoods (PPG 2011). Residents of this
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area suffer higher rates of lung cancer and other such diseases. The park is far from the “lungs” of fresh air for its residents as intended
Recent Efforts There have been measures taken in the past decade to revitalize Front Park. Between 2008 and 2009, fifty-five trees were planted throughout the park, costing $19,250. The Buffalo Arts Commission utilized a budget of $30,000 to conserve the Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry statue at the park’s center. In 2011, Erie County announced that Buffalo’s Olmsted parks were to be provided a budget of $50,000 for park restoration. This would allow the Conservancy to improve many of its amenities prior to the National Historic Preservation Conference held in October of that year. Those in the conference agreed that among their priorities regarding Front Park, the first was to take advantage of the park’s location along the Niagara River Greenway trail. Yet, there is no direct connection between this trail and Front Park without detouring through road crossings along Porter Avenue. Much as the City of Tonawanda has been able to capitalize on the regional Greenway Plan, Front Park may attract visitors to this area of Buffalo’s Lower West Side (PPG 2011). Trail users would be attracted to the Front Park area through amenities including benches, shelters, picnic tables, and drinking fountains. They would potentially become economically engaged with nearby commercial spaces and, those in the meeting speculated, would come across interpretative displays telling the history of the City of Buffalo, particularly its close ties to Olmsted and the War of 1812.
Context Front Park is situated as a central node for gathering within its neighborhood along Porter Avenue. Front Park is thought of more within the context of the neighborhood itself rather than the Greater Buffalo Region. Front Park can be considered a main attraction on Porter Avenue as it is a predominantly residential area with sparse pockets of cheap commercial venues. Situated nearby the park is D’ Youville College and D’ Youville Porter Campus (PK-8). Student athletes comprise a sizeable portion of the visitors of the park. They visit not only for their own recreational use, but school sporting events are held at the park on some occasions. Though it is primarily an area of single-family homes, they are
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packed tightly together within the urban fabric. Residents escape the high population density at the nearby Prospect and Front Parks. As it is, the commercial strip consists of low-income services including laundromats and fast food restaurants, suggesting that it is a relatively low-income area despite the revival of other areas of the West Side. Around the park perimeter, there is no barrier separating from the residential and commercial areas. Being that the park is not gated, this allows and draws more visitors into the neighborhood park. As there isn’t more than a population of 7,000 people in Allentown (Figure 18), this can attract people even from other neighborhoods. This gives a welcoming entrance and allows it to be easily accessible to many people.
Figure 2: Google Maps, satellite view of Front Park, generated by Becky Szeto on November 1st, 2019.
As a large sum of the neighborhood’s locals live below the poverty line, leisure is spent primarily in park space rather than, say, window shopping along Elmwood Avenue’s many boutiques. For a population group which relies on blue collar and other service jobs to make an income, leisure provided by park space is crucial to balancing one’s mental and physical health. Economic stress is most prevalent in disadvantaged neighborhoods because of disinvestment. Well-maintained park space has proven to be a driving factor in raising nearby real estate values. Access to park space is considered a right to those of any class by activists associated with the conservancy, as parks are meant to be an egalitarian space by Olmsted’s ethos. As a free opportunity for leisure, a park of this sort is far more inclusive than the many leisure activities which require a large, expendable income. Here, Buffalonians of a diverse range of backgrounds interact as equals to break down these divisions. Ideally, this concept of Olmsted’s permeates past the borders of the park space, capturing his vision of a city being built within a park, rather than the other way around. Buffalo is, therefore, intended to develop as such a space free of prejudice among its people as it is situated within a greater park space itself.
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Front Park has benefited greatly from its place by the waterfront, though this has been diminished by its place near the Canadian border following the 1927 construction of the Peace Bridge and its customs area. Though Front Park is often an afterthought among the rest of Western New York’s park space, its significance lies in its location with several proposed plans regarding Canada, and its historic Olmsted legacy. Front Park’s proximity to local universities provides opportunity for it to be a cosmopolitan space. Front Park is not a major attraction for tourists by any means as it mostly draws locals. The park’s proximity to the border may provide it with the potential to track foreign visitors.
Conditions Overall, Front Park’s appearance is well maintained. The park is certainly kept clean of litter. There is no trash lying on the ground, trash cans are available at every corner, and they are moved to places of shelter in the event of high winds to avoid spillage. Fallen leaves are consistently raked and packed in bags by the city’s maintenance workers and the grass are taken care of as well. There was not one instance of vandalism such as graffiti on the walls or statue. However, if Front Park is to reclaim its image as a prestigious, historical park, it needs renovation. The park is surrounded along the full
lengths of its north and west perimeter by the I-190, Peace Bridge, and U.S customs. Though the park is currently raised above water level,
Figure 3: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019.
these infrastructures block a large portion of its view of the Niagara river and Lake Erie. There are no planned renovations for the parking lot in the plaza for visitors. Most people choose to park at the corner or the edge of the plaza and using it as an informal parking lot. The two exceptions were the cars parked right next to the statue. As children used this paved area for roller blading and practicing hockey, it could be a dangerous space for play. One may argue that there is lack of a necessary separation between this concrete pad and
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the historic terrace as the painted hockey lines may detract from the dignity of the historical portion of the site. Several plants that surrounded this plaza are either missing or dead. On the sidewalk, there were two broken light poles with exposed, cut electric wire. In one instance a traffic cone had been used a covering for the exposed wire but was blown off by the wind. The net attached to the tennis court is still in good condition, but there were no lights above the tennis courts. People are not able to use the tennis courts to its fullest potential in early morning or evening. The soccer field appeared to be abandoned as though it has not been used in a long time. There were no nets attached to the goals, no
Figure 4: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019.
guidelines on the ground that make it a soccer field, and the grass was less than perfectly healthy. The picnic shelter remains a vital amenity to the park as it has since its construction in 1898, and it is still well maintained. As far as amenities near or within the picnic shelter, there was a water fountain and a barbeque rack. The water fountain was out of order as it had a dysfunctional water dispensing button. Though the park does not have any permanent restrooms, a single portable restroom was provided nearby the shelter.
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Challenges The main challenge Front Park is faced with, along with its lack of users, is the confusion regarding its identity and
Figure 5: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019.
desired function relative to the other Olmsted parks. At present, the park functions as a simple area of greenspace local low-income families while there are aspects which remain of Olmsted’s legacy, intending the park to be a place for ceremony and city-wide gathering. There is, however, no reason to believe that these visions of the park’s future are mutually exclusive. As an area with a majority population of young families raising children, sports related amenities and playground spaces best serve the community. The late nineteenth century military displays from the nearby Connecticut Street Armory would seem out of place in its present context. It is the park’s programmatic origins, however, which leave multiple monuments or memorials and a large circular paved terrace. This area of the park may be alienating to the modest families of low-income and minority origin who visit most frequently. The park is lacking any indication that, as Buffalonians, this is their history as much as it belongs to anyone else. To be a park designed for the people of the surrounding neighborhood would call for more activities, like more sports fields and pavilions for people to gather, while integrating these historical elements. A Front Park for public ceremony is still achievable should it host community gatherings of relatively newer Buffalonian communities, such as the Hispanic Heritage Corridor. Their annual parade and festival, to cite one such example, could utilize Front Parks open green spaces, though this would have to be balanced with serving sporting events. Front Park will find its identity by remaining conscious of Buffalo’s history while becoming conscientious of its cultural redevelopment leading up to the present.
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The site at Front Parks possesses the opportunity to become a landmark for visitors entering in the US through the Peace Bridge. However, the obstacles that are the I-190 and the Peace Bridge interfere with the potential of attracting Canadian visitors. The Peace Bridge, U.S. Customs, and the expressway cause a consistent influx of pollutions and noise from vehicular traffic next to the park. The outside surrounding roads, Porter and Busti Avenue, are also consistently busy with vehicular traffic as well. Heavy, high-speed traffic flow can draw pedestrians away from attending the park as it limits the safety of the users within the park. The amount of traffic simply waiting and emitting emissions into the nearby atmosphere from Customs detracts the park’s ability to serve as “lungs” (Figure 6). The only barrier
Figure 6: Photo taken by Lindsey Bruso on October 30th, 2019.
between the expressway and Front Park is a chain-link fence and the guard rail to the I-190, while the only barrier between US Customs and Front Park is a tall brick fence. These barriers do not suffice, and if the noise of traffic is not dealt with accordingly, it will easily deter most people from visiting. A high volume of automobile traffic and the consequent challenges this creates regarding pedestrian accessibility is potentially a reason for the lack of park users. Front Park can be easily overlooked as passersby focus on high-speed driving, bypassing the park as they move to their destination. Providing cycling and pedestrian connections would require some method of traffic calming to address safety concerns. Slowing traffic in this area could potentially help introduce visitors to Front Park, particularly those who have crossed the border with Canada. In order to make the park a more user-friendly space, the role of the Peace Bridge and I-190 must be gradually transitioned from deterrents of visitors entering the park to sources of improved accessibility to this space. A focus on pedestrian accessibility may help to reduce travelers’ dependence on freeways in the city, therefore lessening the highway’s influence on the urban fabric surrounding Front Park. Currently, Front Park consists of one soccer field, one picnic shelter, tennis courts, a playground, and a few trails that outline the edge of the park. These amenities
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themselves present the challenge of updating and maintaining them. The need of updates to park amenities is itself an indication that the park is not being used to its full potential. This issue may be compounded by the fact that there are very few visitors, reducing the pressure to maintain this space, creating a sort of snow-balling effect. There are certain park amenities that Front Park is lacking all together. There are, for instance, no permanent structures providing public bathrooms or other accommodations, such as a functioning water fountain. If guests are unable to access basic park necessities, they are far less likely to use existing amenities. A visitor practicing soccer, for example, would perhaps be less willing to utilize the grounds at Front Park if there is not a working drinking fountain. Providing properly maintained park amenities is a necessity for the success of Front Park.
Opportunities Heritage The Lower West Side neighborhood provides a unique landscape as it is one of the most culturally diverse areas of the city. Front Park could do well to capitalize on its proximity to the Historic Hispanic Heritage District to its south. Though it lacks the facilities in its current incarnation, Front Park is a possible venue for the ethnic festivals which give the city its character. The existing traditions of Puerto-Rican and Hispanic Day, to cite the most relevant example, could be expanded upon as Front Park becomes a place of cultural celebration. The community is already organized through local officials with a website planning these special events. The park is visited by teenagers and young adults from around the Buffalo Area as they gather at the nearby rowing club and Front Park’s sports facilities. Therefore, Front park may become the vehicle through which existing class and ethnic divisions are dismantled. As the surrounding neighborhoods, a diverse gathering space may help heal the divide among Buffalonians. The city may, in future, be able to take advantage of Olmsted’s Parks so that it might actively desegregate through the coalescence of different ethnic communities.
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Front Park serves as an introduction or reminder to the visitor of Buffalo’s early American history. The depth of the city’s connection to the War of 1812 is perhaps best made apparent by the presence of the statue honoring naval commander Oliver Hazard Perry, placed at a central focal point at Front Park. The physical proximity of the park to Lake Erie connects one visually to the Great Lakes and their history. Front Park has the potential to commemorate the bravery of Americans in this area who sought to protect their new nation’s sovereignty from an aggressing major world power of the time. A focus on the importance of the War of 1812 in the development of Front Park would serve to connect Americans to their shared past and inform visitors of their nation's history. Front Park may reshape itself by capitalizing on the historical importance of the site, much as what was done at Canalside. This can be achieved through the construction of additional signage or informational panels, as well as other historical facilities.
Waterfront Though it is seen more as a neighborhood park, in the context of the regional Greenway Plan, Front Park has the potential to be a major gathering space for the Greater Buffalo Area. The park is near to the shoreline bike trail but lacks direct access. A connection with this pathway could provide a link between Front Park and the greater Erie-Niagara coastline. As cyclists continue to take advantage of the regional connectivity provided by the trail, Front Park could become a hub as people from the Greater Buffalo Area comingle. One of Front Parks potential strengths is its proximity to the Buffalo Rowing Club. Though it is cut off from this site by the I-190 Highway, the rowing club is a regional gathering space as athletes, their friends and families come to participate in their seasonal competitions. The nearby Buffalo Yacht Club attracts more affluent residents seeking lakefront leisure. With improved connectivity these recreational spaces have the potential to develop a symbiotic relationship with one another. As it is a part of the Olmsted Park System, Front Park benefits from the local focus on preserving Buffalo’s park and parkway system. The care of such sites is considered crucial by those conscious of the city’s health. The Olmsted Parks Conservancy at Buffalo seeks to maintain these parks as historical sites while emphasizing their continued importance in the present as “lungs” of the city. Should Front Park expand its pedestrian infrastructure and accessibility to the waterfront, there is a potential to create additions to the existing Olmsted Park and
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Parkway systems by creating a link to other waterfront greenspaces, namely the Rotary and LaSalle Park. This would encase the West Side of Buffalo with a series of parks which would bring Buffalo closer to the “city within a park” envisioned by Olmsted. As is the general trend in the deindustrialized cities in the United States, waterfronts are becoming less a place of industry and more a place for protected greenspace.
International Crossroads Though Front Park’s place near the Peace Bridge separates it physically from its waterfront, this may allow the park to become a link to Canada. Recent renovations have been done on customs facilities while the Porter Avenue roundabout provides more consistent traffic flow. Integrating Front Park into the broader scope of border improvements would connect facilities dependent on state money to those which can generate revenue themselves. A dialogue between operators of the customs facilities and the park conservancy would do well to develop a relationship between spaces, allowing them both to thrive and do so not at the expense of the other. Despite their historical link, Canada’s Fort Erie is currently not connected to Front Park in any way. Their place in commemorating the War of 1812 provides a deep, overlooked bond between the sites. Finding a way to connect these spaces through a redesign would mean restoring Perry’s unobstructed gaze across the lake to a fort which he and his men defended against. The relationship between the United States and Canada in the Niagara Region has been economically one-sided regarding tourism. Creating a tourism-focused transportation hub inclusive of Front Park could begin to balance this dynamic between these two sides of the border.
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Figure 7: Data Pulled from Google Maps and Buffaloah, mapped by John Draksic
Demographics Ethnic Surroundings In one of the most segregated cities in the nation, the Lower West Side neighborhood surrounding Front Park is by far the most ethnically diverse. The park is bordered to the South by the Historic Hispanic Heritage District. It comes as no surprise that the dominant language spoken by one third of the neighborhood’s population is Spanish. It is surpassed only by English speakers who comprise little more than one half of the population. This corresponds to the ethnic backgrounds of nearby households, implying that the area has had a growing Hispanic population for multiple generations with new arrivals continuing into the present.
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Figure 8: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1603, ACS Characteristics of People by Language Spoken at Home, generated by John Draksic using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Figure 9: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0701, ACS Geographic Mobility by Selected Characteristics in The United States, generated by John Draksic using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
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There is a far greater diversity of ethnic backgrounds within the surrounding neighborhood than one would typically observe at the park. The number of white and black visitors is roughly proportional to their representation in the Lower West Side. There is a lack of Hispanic visitors to the park despite the proximity to the park of their cultural center within the City of Buffalo. As one sees in their community gatherings, Buffalo’s Hispanic community focuses elsewhere not only for special events but also daily park visits. Those newly moving into the area were observed to be predominately white. Census data reports that they are also least frequently placed below the poverty line. As white visitors are observed visiting the park in proportionally higher numbers than the white residency in the neighborhood, it is reasonable to conclude that the area is experiencing a similar trend to that which took place in the Elmwood Village. The area is experiencing gentrification as a more affluent, predominantly white Elmwood population is spreading into the mostly working-class Asian and Hispanic Front Park Neighborhood. This has occurred almost exclusively in the Richmond Avenue area or right along the more desirable lots along Front Park itself. Though more Asians are observed visiting the park than are represented by the local population, it may be that a portion of Canada’s large Asian population has been in Buffalo during hockey season. They may also be among those in the gentrifying Elmwood Village community visiting from a few blocks deeper into the city. The race ratio of park users is largely dependent on the race ratio in the surrounding neighborhood. Race-specific events included participation of those of other ethnic groups, representing the diversity of the area in its entirety. Viewing the success of the park through the lens of race rather than cultural heritage is less helpful to the development of the park as this area has been thriving on its diversity.
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Figure 10: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0701, ACS Geographic Mobility by Selected Characteristics in The United States, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Figure 11: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0601, ACS, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
The location of Front Park near the eclectic Allentown neighborhood and Hispanic Heritage district is directly responsible for the diversity of its visitors. Most residents in the
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area are young families with few single individuals above the 34 and age group. This could be a result of the nearby colleges within the city, the closest one being D’Youville College. As an aside it is interesting to note that few park visitors observed were not below middle age. The lack of elderly users may be an indication of incoming winter weather, though it does raise the concern that the park may be lacking the amenities necessary to be accessible to this age group. The population structure of this neighborhood is consistent with observations the most common demographic of visitors, namely young adults, often with their toddler children. Though households in the area are mostly composed of young families, there is a proportionally low rate of adult men in these families. This would suggest that the Front Park neighborhood has high number of single-mother households in a relatively impoverished area. The park is, therefore, an important resource for struggling families seeking to raise children in a safe environment with a venue for physical activities crucial to their health and development.
Figure 12: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0101, ACS Age and Sex, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Wealth Distribution About half of the households in the Front Park neighborhood have an annual income below $25,000 (Figure 13). The median household income in the Front Park neighborhood is
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far below average in the city of Buffalo, particularly for the West Side, which indicates that the neighborhood surrounding Front Park is a relatively poor neighborhood within the city. This has a direct correlation with why there are not many people in Front Park, as people generally with lower household income have less time to visit parks, as it is assumed that they spend majority of their time working. A larger proportion of their income is spent on the necessities of transportation as they commute to work, educating their children, and other non-leisure activities. Creating more personal expense-free and fun attractions within Front Park would attract more users as it could be an inviting place gathering. This would allow the space to create a strong sense of community.
Figure 13: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, ACS Income in the Past 12 Months, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Transportation When measuring the relative accessibility of Front Park within the Olmsted system, the modes of transportation the surrounding neighborhood utilizes most frequently inform one as to who among them has access to this space. Most visitors are using a personal car, truck, or van for their main means of transportation and very few people are walking and taking public transportation. A possible reason for the lack of users within Front Park could be it is not easily accessible to those reliant on public transportation and pedestrian travel. The park is potentially overseen as people drive by it and private automobile users
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comprise most of its visitors. Having a park that is more easily accessible through other means of transportation, could potentially bring more users to Front Park. This is easily achieved through the implementation of pedestrian friendly infrastructure and, for instance, simply placing a nearby bus stop.
Figure 14: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0802, ACS Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Age Diversity of Visitors Though there is a considerable population of children and young families, relatively few among this number visits Front Park consistently. There is rarely an instance of children visiting themselves with friends rather than their parents and siblings alone. It is possible that local parents feel the park lacks in security and safety for their children. For the elderly, who comprise most of the physically disabled population, security is a crucial component of accessibly to the park. The population of locals with a disability is significantly higher than their numbers observed visiting the park. Although the park follows basic disability regulations, it is suggested that space is not perfectly inclusive of those with disabilities by their low numbers among Front Park visitors.
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Figure 15: Visitor Data Observed at Front Park
Figure 16: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1810, ACS Disability Characteristics, generated by John Draksic using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
Park Users Survey To gain a better understanding of the park and its users, a 2019 survey has been put together of several concise questions, asking users what issues they saw as most relevant regarding improving and maintaining the park. Questions range from the most common type of park usage to what they view as the priorities for improvement. Though there is a
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scarcity of visitors available to engage with in this survey, their answers provide insight as to why there is a low rate of park use. Overall, it was not a lack of amenities that was responsible for this or even the few instances revealing minimal attention to maintenance of park amenities. Rather, it was that Front Park has lost its sense of place as it has been disconnected from the waterfront by the encroachment of city infrastructure. In fact, this was the source of much of the criticism from the few locals encountered there. Despite its relative decline there are times in which there are many more visitors than average, primarily for special events, though this is limited almost entirely to sporting events. The time users are most likely to visit Front Park was surveyed to identify times of peak usage. The site visits made for survey data collection have been spaced out sporadically throughout the week and there has yet to be an observed increase in users on any given day or time. In fact, no more than five surveys have been conducted successfully in a two-week period during early November. The question of user safety was raised and received mixed results. Often visitors were deterred by automobile traffic as the area between Porter Avenue and the U.S. Customs facility is less than entirely pedestrian conscious in its design. This is a far more pressing concern regarding increasing the number of visitors. If people simply do not feel safe within the park, no one will visit, and changes must be made. Users were also questioned as to what the park is lacking in amenities. These answers can be enhanced by the sense of community expanded upon by increased local involvement in the design process. The most frequent use of the park space is for exercise, as most people cycle or jog through the park. This observation emphasizes the need for a connection to the Shoreline Trail. The park receives its greatest volume of visitors, however, from people driving in to attend special events. The number of visitors more than doubled the day that a soccer game for the nearby school was held on its fields. Front Park functions more as a sports facility than the space for leisure as Olmsted originally envisioned. Its potential role as a daily use park and cultural event space would, therefore, require additional amenities. For those who do not live directly within walking distance of the park, they rely heavily on private automobile use. There is a space for informal parking around the Perry statue plaza which creates an awkward or even a potentially dangerous environment for those visiting the space as a historical site. Ideally, parking will be relocated but provided nonetheless elsewhere on the site as users depended on driving.
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Observations Data was first collected on Wednesday October 30th, 2019 at 3:45 pm to acquire a general feel for the park. During this time, multiple cars were observed driving into the park, many of which left briefly after parking and even without its occupants exiting the vehicle. This implies that it was the parking area itself that they were there for, rather than visiting Front Park itself. Multiple teenagers were seen practicing some manner of martial arts with each other on the playground, while a nervous father of toddlers monitored the situation cautiously. The way cars were suspiciously parking and driving away within ten to fifteen minutes leads one to believe that questionable activity may have been going on, particularly like drug use. The teenage boys fighting also make one question the safety and security of the play space for toddlers placed only a few feet from the larger playground. These events imply that there is justification for parents avoiding letting their children roam freely through the park grounds. Upon visiting Front Park for the first time, two young females, possibly in college, were enjoying a late lunch in the pavilion. After they ate, they started to teach themselves a dance routine, suggesting that they might be in a dance team at a nearby school. Two cyclists rode past alongside the park limits having exited the Shoreline Trail. Far from stopping to observe a historical space, one individual sped past hastily, breaking around The Oliver Hazard Perry Statue. Among those at Front Park were a father and two kids enjoying the playground. One may conclude that there are amenities at present which attract visitors, despite the rather barren atmosphere most frequently observed. There was no sense of concern regarding one’s safety when visiting the park, however, there were aspects of the park which were less than optimal as far as deterring questionable activity. Certain paved areas and other spaces segregated from the main focal points of the park by surrounding freeway infrastructures were not easily observed from other areas of the park, lacking any form of lighting. It is suspected that one individual used the space to “hot box� as activities in this area are shielded from public view, despite being a public space. The most striking observation was the lack of users at Front Park. Following multiple trips, one on Sunday November 3rd at 1pm, no visitors were available to complete a user survey. This could have been due to the weather, which was cloudy and cold, with temperatures ranging from 45 to 50 degrees. Another potential factor was the home game
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that was taking place for The Buffalo Bills. One might assume most potential visitors chose to stay at their homes and watch the game. However, these factors alone would not deter a healthy number of visitors from visiting a park that they enjoy. The fact that no one visited within over 45 minutes of the first visit is alarming and provides a clear sign that the park is not performing at its greatest potential.
Recommendations Along with the long-term goals in redeveloping Front Park, there is a lack of basic park necessities that are essential. The vision of the park is to be well maintained, more user friendly, and feel more like a park, as well as providing a safe space for community activities and guests to feel comfortable. Front Park at present, despite its history, appears more as an extension of a parking lot for the Peace Bridge Customs area rather than a hub for community gathering. With the proper changes involving maintenance, ecology, cultural event space, and human health and infrastructure, Front Park can become a landmark for The City of Buffalo.
Maintenance Front Park has the opportunity to be a populated public park, but existing attractions need updating in order for this to happen. Front Park, as previously mentioned has one soccer field. By enhancing the existing soccer field to a multipurpose recreational field with proper amenities like painted field lines and nets, this can become a place for teams to utilize or guests to get exercise. The field would be turf, requiring less maintenance and include sports like soccer, football, a track, field hockey, and lacrosse. Front Park also lacks permanent bathrooms and washrooms and an indoor area for the winter months. By building an indoor lodge with picnic tables, a fireplace, and permanent washrooms/bathrooms, Front Park can be utilized in the winter seasons. This indoor lodge can also be used for public events and can be rented out as well as be opened to the public. Inside the lodge will also house a 24/7 Park Ranger, in order to increase visitors' levels of safety. This way the park will be watched over and taken care of. Easy improvements, like a working water fountain and more lighting around the park can enhance the parks appeal to guests, increasing the number of users that use the park.
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A Sense of Community The revitalization of Front Park is directly dependent on the strength of the surrounding community. It is impossible to create a sense of place within a park space without the participation of locals in its development. A lively Front Park will capitalize on local heritage, whether it be the region’s early American history or the story of the immigrant groups who developed the city’s character. If one seeks to create a sense of community, it is imperative to identify who constitutes a participant as well as what participation entails (Kahn). The most successful design solutions for a public space are developed not through large scale projects with sizeable financial backing, but rather by allowing locals to build the space they desire. In some cases, this meant locals going so far as to construct portions of a project itself. In 2007, local New York City design studio C.D.R. invented a new building material, inspired by tape-lace crochet, out of disposable cups and zip ties to construct a pavilion structure and sculptural decoration (Kahn). The current model for development of Olmsted Park systems, as laid out by the conservancy’s five-year plan is limited to monthly community meetings. Though attendance has been strong, the Lower West Side already has the advantage of existing community organizations. The conservancy must begin a dialogue with its leaders. When the annual Hispanic Heritage Day Parade is being organized, for instance, it would behoove the conservancy to enter into conversation with its organizers. Such a dialogical space would best be created in some manner of community gathering structure at Front Park. The Oliver Hazard Perry Monument is the historical note from which one can develop an understanding of the War of 1812’s impact on the area. There is a dangerous lack of protection for a monument found within what is currently being used as parking space. Widely spaced bollards and a series of single chains linking them are the only protection from any instances of careless driving. Installing a protective barrier around the parking space and raising the cannons, memorials, and perhaps even the monument would spare these artifacts from serious damage. Preservation of the monument is directly dependent on its perceived value. Historical signage, similar to the timeline panels at Canalside, would be most effective in this venture if the timeline can show the link between Buffalo’s early history and the development of its present cultural composition. Successful interpretive signage will include the background period of the War of 1812 while setting the stage for the development of an ethnically diverse Lower West Side of the present, particularly the
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story of Puerto Rican immigration. These histories will highlight each other's importance to the community through their connection in that they are fundamentally Buffalonian. Local involvement will be the key factor influencing the development of Front Park in the future. The levels of local demand for a large community gathering space versus a quiet, neighborhood park will determine the extent to which it is used as a festival space. However, the conflict between commuters and those participating in local festivals on blocked roads suggest that such a demand exists in the area. The Allentown festivals provide a venue for local business to market their product to the city as a whole. Buffalo’s local craft breweries and food venders would do well to get involved in such a gathering space and could provide a source of funding.
Lungs of the City A park is the equal balance between the greenery one is deprived of in an urban context, and necessary infrastructures for transport or utilities. At Front Park, the park doesn’t feature enough natural area because there is a lack of decorations. There needs to be more trees, flowers, and grass added. Around the playground area, there were many large trees but towards the large grass area, there was a lack of trees. Adding trees in a designated space can look more organized and would make it feel more like a professional and useful park, rather than looking chaotic. Many spots throughout the grass were dead or missing, so maintaining the greenery would be beneficial in attracting more visitors. Revitalizing the landscape would also make visitors feel more comfortable and inviting, making the park a place where people want to stay and enjoy themselves. Adding more trees and maintaining greenery would provide more shade for visitors on the hot summer days and make them feel comfortable in the sun. During the winter time, the trees would block the winds in the cold months. For the natural elements, trees would provide more habitats for wildlife. Also, trees would help with our water management. By adding green spaces, it creates more natural environment and restores more natural ecosystems. It would also improve the air quality for the visitors and residents around Front Park. Front Park has lost its place as a waterfront park following improved automobile infrastructures. The Peace Bridge Customs and I-190 traffic bring unwanted noise and air pollution as high volumes of international and interstate traffic converge. This can distract visitors seeking an enjoyable visit at the park. Concerns regarding one’s health and the lack of calm one expects from a park are perhaps the greatest deterrents of potential visitors.
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The space could be vastly improved by the construction of a simple barrier between the park and the I-90 expressway. Installing a sound barrier would itself provide an escape from urban activity that Olmsted intended. This barrier may also go beyond noise pollution reduction and improve the health of park visitors.
Figure 17: Wind Patterns, Image Source: Atmospheric Environment Journal, U.S. E.P.A., Office of Research and Development. Accessed 8 November 2019 by John Draksic.
A 2011 study found that there was a direct relationship between the height of a highway barrier and the horizontal distance past it which would be protected by vehicle emissions and noise (Figure 18). In the context of this study’s findings, researchers used
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“H� as a placeholder for a unit of six meters. They were able to conclude that the movement of wind would be redirected upwards upon hitting a solid obstacle, in this case the barrier, carrying with it most airborne pollutants. This would create a sort of whirlwind effect as clean air approaching the wall from the opposite side pushed the diverted polluted air further along a horizontal course above the wall height. The ratio between barrier height and the diverted horizontal distance traveled was found to be nearly 3:4 with a theoretical three meter per second wind.
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Figure 18: Air Pollution. Image Source: Atmospheric Environment Journal, U.S. E.P.A., Office of Research and Development. Accessed 8 November 2019 by John Draksic.
The levels of exposure to harmful air contaminants, namely vehicle emissions, were greatly reduced within immediate and near proximity to a barrier once it was placed. As the height of the barrier was increased, wind circulation provided pocket of cleaner air nearest the wall. Regarding air pollution, reductions of contamination beyond the barrier were seen to increase exponentially in contrast with noise pollution which was halved at meter intervals. Vehicular pollution, as it was carried vertically through the troposphere, began to dissipate further the longer it was kept moving horizontally above the wall height. At a height of roughly six meters, or just under twenty feet, the barrier reduced exposure to detected polluted air to a nearly negligible amount as far as evaluating health risks. The lifeblood of Front Park was its link to the Niagara River and Lake Erie. As the I-190 separates the river and the park, a trail accessible from the park would bring visitors of the park back along the river. Front Park would benefit greatly by a direct connect to the Shoreline Trail of the Niagara-Greenway Plan (Figure 19). The recent Gateway Project has successfully created a crossing of the expressway which allows cyclists to continue along Buffalo’s coastline from the northern suburbs. Local visitors would be given the ability to connect to the greater region through the Niagara River while others from the Greater Buffalo Area would interact far more with the Lower West Side of the city. The addition of bike lanes along Porter Avenue create a pedestrian connection to the waterfront. However, there is not much of anything that would direct one to or from Front Park in terms of signage. There is a scarcity of users as cyclists tend to feel uneasy sharing space with entering and exiting freeway traffic at a roundabout. As there is a lack of signalized crossing, cyclists tend to cross this area of high-speed and heavy traffic volume at their peril. A direct connection from the bridge crossing to the park is less than entirely feasible. There may yet be additional work needed to physically separate cyclists or pedestrians and provide safer crossing. Though one observes little to no traffic congestion along Porter Avenue due to the constant flow of traffic through the roundabout, this comes at the price of optimal pedestrian safety. Signalized crossing would be ideal to ensure a safe connection and encourage travel patterns between Front Park and the trail.
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Figure 19: Buffalo Rising: The Gateway Project 2016, Accessed 14 November by John Draksic
Best Practice Community Lodge Looking at local trends is important as it can better relate design solutions to the demographic composition of the city. The issue of security necessitates construction of a community center consisting of an information office with park supervisors and security, a gathering hall for private and public use, and permanent facilities such as bathrooms and washrooms. Westwood Park, a park in Lancaster, NY, a suburb within Buffalo, has a lodge the Front Park lodge could possibly resemble, as seen in Figure 20. Having indoor seating and community gathering spaces can increase the usability of the park in the winter and create space
Figure 20: Google Images, Westwood Park
more events to happen or just for relaxing and enjoying the park. Creating space for
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bathrooms and washroom will make the park more attractive and comfortable for visitors. By having a bathroom and washroom in the community lodge, visitors are more likely to make use of the space and host events. Also, having 24/7security will help enhance people's level of safety within the park.
Community Involvement Another area within The City of Buffalo, that could be a place of reference for Front Park is Larkin Square. Larkin Square is most well known for their Food Truck Tuesday, as it is a place for public events to be held and it can be identified as an urban park. Larkin Square has a place for people and bands to perform as well as many places for people to sit and gather (Figure 21). Larkin Square also has many activities for people to do, like hula-hooping, pickleball, and fitness
Figure 21: Buffalo Rising
classes. As previously stated, Front Park was intended to be a place for public ceremony and gathering. To keep the park as authentic and realistic as possible to the original plan, it is important that this becomes a place for community events. Front Park already has a large paved area for events to happen, it's just the means of getting the events happen in it. One step could be moving the Hispanic Day Parade into the park, instead of closing off busy city streets. Another potential event could be local farmers markets, and art festivals, as Front Park is located in such a culturally rich neighborhood. As the City of Buffalo experiences a revival, local art characterizes reclaimed areas within the city. The use of local talent to create pieces of art, particularly murals, on what would otherwise have been barren urban space is one of the most effective tools used at placemaking within an urban context. The character of each neighborhood is brought to life
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as an artist is commissioned to reference its cultural backgrounds. The Freedom Wall is one such example, as it commemorates black leaders in a part of the city that is predominantly African American (Figure 22). One can contextualize the neighborhood within the role it played in the city’s history as it was a community defined by the individuals within it. As the more diverse and trendier Allentown earns itself a reputation for its local artists, blank walls provide a canvas for local expression (Figure 22). Following the construction of a barrier at Front Park along the interstate, one such blank canvas would be found at the park. This would provide an opportunity for this area of the city to define itself. With the nearby thriving Hispanic neighborhood, Front Park could take cues from the many precedents throughout Buffalo. One could, for example, paint a derivative of the Freedom Wall focusing on Hispanic-American leaders. This would allow the Front Park area of the Lower West side to identify itself as Hispanic Buffalo much like the African American Heritage corridor has been coming into its own in recent years. Much as it was done in in New York City by CDR, a generation of young designers is available to contribute to the identity of the park space as SUNY design students. The School of Architecture and Planning has constructed numerous projects at Art Park and Silo City, in some cases tearing down projects as it is too difficult to access from UB campuses for student maintenance. Front Park, a much more accessible site in need of innovative design, would provide a venue for such activity.
Figure 22: Buffalo Rising
Landscape Architecture As mentioned in recommendations, expanding the parks ecology and landscape is essential to creating a safe and inviting park. Based on the journal article Advances in
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Meteorology, studies have been made to show the importance of roadside trees by investigating university students commute to campus. Results show that students are more likely to walk along paths with roadside trees, and then naturally lengthen their travel time which extends their clean air exposure time (Amorim & etc. 2013). Implementing this idea into Front Park will encourage more people to walk through Front Park, creating a safe and travel route for people who are commuting to nearby attractions or who are visiting to see the waterfront. Planting more trees can create a clean atmosphere that will appeal to more users. One step in trying to decrease the amount of pollutants being emitted into the air from the nearby highways and customs Front Park experiences is planting more trees within the park. In the newspaper article, How planting trees in cities can save thousands of lives, mentions how trees can be a barrier to cleanse and provide healthy emissions into the air. Trees can act as shade and redirect the sun’s heat energy to reduce surface temperatures in cities. Trees also create healthier psychological impacts on the people residing in the cities, as they promote social connectivity, decrease stress levels, and encourage exercise (Harvey 2016). Planting trees within the city also gives the environment a nicer aesthetic, drawing more people outside to the street. Front Park with the right landscaping design can draw appeal to more people and overall create a healthier and popular park within The City of Buffalo. An example of a successful park that can relate back to Front Park is High Line Park, in New York City. High Line Park is most famous for its unique character of taking an old abandoned train track and letting plants naturally take over to stem the idea of turning it into a park and community gathering space, as seen in Figure 23. The idea of having plants become a natural barrier is an idea that should be implemented into Front Park as Front Park needs more than a chain fence as a barrier. Also adding plants and trees as a barrier, along with the fence, will act as a noise barrier from the surrounding traffic, making the park more relaxing and attractive. Along with the natural grown plants,
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it is necessary to incorporate the surrounding community with the park and in order to do that, community tree plantings can showcase what community means and also make people more familiar within the park, increasing their sense of security.
Pedestrian Connections
Figure 23: Curbed, The High Line Park located in New York City
The successes of other parks across the country provide precedents which help to guide the redevelopment of Front Park. The I-190 and Peace Bridge customs remain the most apparent obstacles to the success of Front Park. This draws in high-speed vehicular traffic in very close proximity to the park. Based on our recommendation to find a suitable way to make visitors safe and secure away from fast moving traffic and have a connection with surrounding parks and the waterfront, we can reference Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. Millennium Park is like Front Park as it is in the middle of the city, close to the waterfront, and has a highway running along the edge of it. One thing they did to the park was incorporate public art into the park that gives the park an inviting atmosphere and unique character. Having public art in Front Park can draw guests in and encourage them to appreciate the space and The City of Buffalo. Another important artifact of Millennium Park is their BP Pedestrian Bridge also known as the Snake Bridge because of its design. This
Figure 24: Wikipedia, BP Pedestrian Bridge City
is one of their public art pieces that acts as a human connection over the highway that is
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potentially cutting the park in half and connecting Maggie Daley Park with Millennium Park. The bridge is just as functional as it is an art piece. In Figure 24, is an aerial view of the bridge and how it connects the parks together to make essentially one large park. In the book, Landscape Infrastructure, it explains a case study made in Houston, Texas for The Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge that runs over the Buffalo Bayou. In this case study they are taking a low maintained water way, referred to as an “eyesore” and figuring a way for it to become a populated area and potentially an urban park for the city. By creating pedestrian connections, bike paths, and a network of trails Houston is able to capture the importance of an urban park while still having a waterfront connection. “Strategic points along both sides of the Buffalo Bayou Promenade allow for easy access to the greater bayou for different types of water-based recreation (Hung & etc. 2013).” This case study showcases the same disconnect Front Park experiences with The Niagara River, however the pedestrian bridge will run over the I-190, but overall connect it with the waterfront. Creating this connection will not only benefit Front Park, by creating easier access for visitors, but also leave the opportunity for Buffalo to reconnect and take advantage of the waterfront the city is fortunate to have.
Conclusion Future Overall, Front Park is an essential feature to The City of Buffalo because of its rich Olmsted history and in its current condition, it is lacking the opportunity it was created for. Front Park runs right next to the I-190 and The Peace Bridge, making the park feel disconnected from the city, as it also feels out of place within the context of the surrounding neighborhood. Working with the high traffic flow and creating pedestrian connections and attractions can draw people into the park, reconnecting it back with its surroundings and unique neighborhood. Updated park amenities and more accessible attractions will draw in a wide range of visitors and users. Also, establishing a sense of security and comfortability can increase the number of park users which right now is the parks biggest struggle. By following the stated recommendations and relating them to the best practices mentioned previously, the park can grow and become a landmark for The City of Buffalo, which is what is was always intended to be. Front Park has the potential to be a place for community, sports, and events, which will only further The City of Buffalo overtime.
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Appendix
Contents Park Observation Photos Demographic Charts Maps Case Study Photos Front Park User Survey
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Park Observation Photos
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Demographic Charts
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Maps
Case Study Photos
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Front Park User Survey
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References American FactFinder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml
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Amorim, J. H., Valente, J., Cascao, P., Rodrigues, V., Pimentel, C., Miranda, A. I., & Borrego, C. (2013). Pedestrian exposure to air pollution in cities: modeling the effect of roadside trees. (Research Article) (Report). Advances in Meteorology, 2013(2013). doi:10.1155/2013/964904
Bice, L. (2011, October). Partnership for the Public Good: Front Park's Past and Future. Retrieved from https://ppgbuffalo.org/files/documents/environment/ parks_gardens_green_spaces/environment-_front_park.pdf
BP Pedestrian Bridge. (2019, September 14). Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Pedestrian_Bridge
Buffalo Olmsted Park System: Map & Guide [Brochure]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bfloparks.org/mapandguide/
Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy: The Olmsted City: Five Year Plan 2020-2024. (2019, October). Retrieved from https://www.bfloparks.org/ planning-the-future-of-your-olmsted-parks-5-year-plan/5-year-plan-report/
Catanzaro, C., & Ekanem, E. (2000). 397 Assessment of Community Tree Planting Project Reveals Social and Psychological Benefits. American Society for Horticultural Science, 53(3), 461C-461. https://doi.org/10.21273/ HORTSCI.35.3.461C
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Chelsea, H. (2016). How planting trees in cities can save thousands of lives.
Divisions of Parks and Recreation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from City of Buffalo website: https://www.buffalony.gov/332/
Erie County Parks Master Plan Update. (2018, October). Retrieved from http://www2.erie.gov/environment/2018-parks-master-plan-update-0
Explore Maps. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from Maps - Social Explorer website: https://www.socialexplorer.com/explore-maps
Front Park. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from Buffalo as an Architectural Museum website: https://buffaloah.com/h/front/tc.html
Hagler, G. S.W., Tang, W., Freeman, M. J., Heist, D. K., Perry, S. G., & Vette, A. F. (2011). Model evaluation of roadside barrier impact on near-road air pollution: Atmospheric Environment (15th ed., Vol. 45). Retrieved from https://www-sciencedirect-com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/science/article/pii/ S1352231011001646
Hung, Y.-Y., Aquino, G., & Waldheim, C. (2013). Birkhäuser Generalstandingorder : Landscape Infrastructure: Case Studies by SWA (2nd ed.). Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
Niagara River Greenway Commission: Niagara River Greenway Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. (2007, April). Retrieved from
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https://ppgbuffalo.org/files/documents/data-demographics-history/plans/ datademographicshistory-_niagara_river_greenway_plan__part_i_.pdf
Rising, B. (2018, March 21). Holy Guacamole! Larkinville Releases Line-up for 2018 Food Truck Tuesdays. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved from https://www.buffalorising.com/2018/03/ holy-guacamole-larkinville-releases-line-up-for-2018-food-truck-tuesdays/
Scherer, J. (2019, May 7). The ultimate guide to the High Line. Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Curbed New York website: https://ny.curbed.com/2019/ 5/7/18525802/high-line-new-york-park-guide-entrances-map
The Olmsted City: The Buffalo Olmsted Park System: Plan for the 21st Century. (2008, January). Retrieved from http://regional-institute.buffalo.edu/ wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/11/The-Olmsted-City-TheSystemPlan2008.pdf
Westwood Park. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Google Maps website: https://www.google.com/maps/
Landscape Professionals Learn Environmental Practices through the FYN/CLIP Program
Through their service, our students gained insight into the creation of public gardens, specifically ones for children. This project created a template through which elementary educators could then work with their communities to develop children’s gardens at their schools
A community tree planting project was conducted on the border of an urban Nashville, Tenn., neighborhood in Autumn 1994. In Jan. 2000, a written survey was developed to assess residents’ perception of this site. Descriptions of the site’s appearance prior to planting (turf only) included barren,
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boring, and lacking character. Comments regarding the site with trees suggest that trees provide cover and shade, are aesthetically pleasing, and represent positive human involvement. The average rating of the site’s appearance prior to planting was “fair,” while its recent appearance was rated “very good.” respondents stated that they benefitted from the soothing aesthetics of the landscaped site, and that the site added value to the neighborhood and implied the qualities of belonging and leadership. An unintended outcome of the survey was its educational aspect.
396 Children’s Gardens in Which to Learn and Grow—A Service/ Learning Project David Hillock, Matthew Kirkwood, Douglas Needham*, and Brenda Sanders; Dept. of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture,
Educates non-English speakers through experiential learning
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12/13/2019
Front Park Mini Master Plan Busti Avenue & Porter Avenue Presented By: Becky Szeto, Yunchao Han, Jack Draksic, & Lindsey Bruso
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Front Park's History
An Olmsted Park • Olmsted was invited with Calvert Vaux to Buffalo, NY in 1868 by William Dorsheimer, following their selection by New York’s Central Park commissioners. • Buffalo became the first city in America to be enclosed in a park and parkway network as it was Olmsted’s first implementation of this concept.
Image Source: Front Park, Google Maps
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Context
Park Background •
Front Park is situated as a central node for gathering within its neighborhood.
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At the turn of the last century, the park saw as many as 7,000 daily visitors attracted to the Front's location at the waterfront.
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Front Park is certainly far less popular in the present day.
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The I-190 was constructed over the Erie Canal in the 1950’s, the park experienced a dramatic drop in the number of visitors.
Image Source: Peace Bridge Post Card, circa 1930, Buffaloah.org
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Conditions
Overall, Front park is well maintained •
Grass is trimmed
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No trash on the ground
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No graffiti on the wall or statute
Image Source: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019
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Conditions
• I-190, Peace Bridge, and U.S. customs Blocks the view of Niagara river and Lake Erie. • No Planned Parking lots • Hockey lines on the ground. • Missing plants
Image Source: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019
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Conditions
• Broken light poles with exposed electric wire • No lights above the tennis courts
Image Source: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019
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Conditions
• Abandoned Soccer field • Water fountain missing button • Only portable restroom
Sources: Photo taken by Yunchao Han on October 30th, 2019
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Challenges
Identity
I-190
Amenities
The Front was a place of pomp and ceremony
The interstate creates a barrier between the park and waterfront
Lack of space for community gathering
Now it's just a greenspace for lowincome, minority neighborhood.
High traffic volume deters visitors
Not enough accessibility for pedestrians and disables
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Opportunities
Heritage • The Lower West Side neighborhood provides a unique landscape as it is one of the most culturally diverse areas of the city. • Front Park could do well to capitalize on its proximity to the Historic Hispanic Heritage District to its south.
Image Source: Puerto-Rican Day Parade, BuffaloRising.com
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Opportunities
Waterfront • The park is near to the shoreline bike trail but lacks direct access. • Front Park could become a hub as people from the Greater Buffalo Area comingle.
Image Source: Buffalo Rowing Club Boathouse, BuffaloRising.com
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Demographics Ethnic Surroundings • In one of the most segregated cities in the nation, the Lower West Side neighborhood surrounding Front Park is by far the most ethnically diverse. • The park is bordered to the South by the Historic Hispanic Heritage District.
Image Source: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1603, ACS Characteristics of People by Language Spoken at Home, generated by John Draksic using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
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Demographics Wealth Distribution • About half of the households in the Front Park neighborhood have an annual income below $25,000. • A larger proportion of their income is spent on the necessities of transportation as they commute to work, educating their children, and other non-leisure activities.
Image Source: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, ACS Income in the Past 12 Months, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http:// factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
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Demographics Means of Transport • Most visitors are using a personal car, truck, or van for their main means of transportation and very few people are walking and taking public transportation. • A possible reason for the lack of users within Front Park could be it is not easily accessible to those reliant on public transportation and pedestrian travel.
Image Source: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0802, ACS Means of Transportation to Work by Selected Characteristics, generated by Yunchao Han using Census Lookup; http://factfinder. census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
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Demographics Age Diversity of Visitors • Park visitors are comprised primarily by young adults and young families with few elders. • The adult and particularly elderly population account for the majority of the local disabled. • They are underrepresented among park visitors, suggesting inaccessibility.
Image Source: US Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1810, ACS Disability Characteristics, generated by John Draksic using Census Lookup; http://factfinder. census.gov; (data retrieved on November 1st, 2019).
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User Observation Observations • The most striking observation was the lack of users at Front Park. • Cyclists using the Shoreline Trail tended to bypass Front Park altogether. • Pedestrians moved hastily through dangerous volumes of nearby traffic. • Few visitors showed any interest in memorials marking the historical significance of the site.
Image Source: Personal Photo taken by Lindsey Bruso on October 30th, 2019.
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User Survey Survey Results • The most frequent use of the park space is for exercise, as most people cycle or jog through the park. • Most common criticism of park was its lost connection to the waterfront. • Often, pedestrian visitors were deterred by automobile traffic as the area between Porter Avenue and the U.S. Customs facility.
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Front Park Mission Statement
The vision of the park is to be well maintained, more user friendly, and feel more like an Olmsted park, while providing a safe space for community activities and guests to engage in leisure activities.
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Goals
Providing a Sense of Community
Health Improvements
Landscape Architecture
Maintenance and Updating
Creating Pedestrian Connections
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Providing a Sense of Community
Become a place for community events. Chance to hold city parades and festivals. Incorporate local art and innovative design elements. Capitalize on local heritage. Image Source: Freedom Wall, Buffalo Rising.
Image Source: Larkin Square, Buffalo Rising.
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Landscape Architecture
Add more trees, flowers, and grass. Have plants become a natural barrier, as well as a noise barrier. Trees also create healthier psychological impacts like promoting social connectivity, decreasing stress levels, and encouraging exercise.
Image Source: High Line Park, People and Places that Inspire Me.
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Health Improvements
Image Source: Atmospheric Environment Journal, U.S. E.P.A., Office of Research and Development.
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Maintenance and Updating
Create a community gathering lodge open to users and private parties. Create a permanent bathrooms and washroom. Create a park office providing 24/7 Security. Multi-recreational sports field with appropriate amenities. Update existing structures and make sure everything is in working order. Image Source: Photo by Lindsey Bruso, taken on November 24th, 2019.
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Creating Pedestrian Connections
Encourage more visitors and users by more entrances. Create a connection with surrounding parks and the waterfront. Direct connection to the Shoreline Trail of the NiagaraGreenway Plan.
Image Source: Buffalo Rising, The Gateway Project 2016.
Image Source: BP Bridge in Millennium Park, Wikipedia.
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Conclusion
Front Park has the potential to redevelop become a landmark for The City of Buffalo, as it was intended to be. "The Front" can become a place for community gathering, sports, and special events, which will contribute the Renaissance of Buffalo in the coming decades.
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Conclusion
Questions?
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References American FactFinder. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/index.xhtml Amorim, J. H., Valente, J., Cascao, P., Rodrigues, V., Pimentel, C., Miranda, A. I., & Borrego, C. (2013). Pedestrian exposure to air pollution in cities: modeling the effect of roadside trees. (Research Article) (Report). Advances in Meteorology, 2013(2013). doi:10.1155/2013/964904 Bice, L. (2011, October). Partnership for the Public Good: Front Park’s Past and Future. Retrieved from https://ppgbuffalo.org/files/documents/environment/ parks_gardens_green_spaces/environment-_front_park.pdf BP Pedestrian Bridge. (2019, September 14). Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Wikipedia website: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BP_Pedestrian_Bridge Buffalo Olmsted Park System: Map & Guide [Brochure]. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bfloparks.org/mapandguide/ Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy: The Olmsted City: Five Year Plan 2020-2024. (2019, October). Retrieved from https://www.bfloparks.org/ planning-the-future-of-your-olmsted-parks-5-year-plan/5-year-plan-report/ Catanzaro, C., & Ekanem, E. (2000). 397 Assessment of Community Tree Planting Project Reveals Social and Psychological Benefits. American Society for Horticultural Science, 53(3), 461C-461. https://doi.org/10.21273/ HORTSCI.35.3.461C
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References Chelsea, H. (2016). How planting trees in cities can save thousands of lives. Divisions of Parks and Recreation. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from City of Buffalo website: https://www.buffalony.gov/332/ Erie County Parks Master Plan Update. (2018, October). Retrieved from http://www2.erie.gov/environment/2018-parks-master-plan-update-0 Explore Maps. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from Maps - Social Explorer website: https://www.socialexplorer.com/explore-maps Front Park. (n.d.). Retrieved November 19, 2019, from Buffalo as an Architectural Museum website: https://buffaloah.com/h/front/tc.html Hagler, G. S.W., Tang, W., Freeman, M. J., Heist, D. K., Perry, S. G., & Vette, A. F. (2011). Model evaluation of roadside barrier impact on near-road air pollution: Atmospheric Environment (15th ed., Vol. 45). Retrieved from https://www-sciencedirect-com.gate.lib.buffalo.edu/science/article/pii/ S1352231011001646 Hung, Y.-Y., Aquino, G., & Waldheim, C. (2013). Birkhäuser Generalstandingorder : Landscape Infrastructure: Case Studies by SWA (2nd ed.). Walter de Gruyter GmbH.
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References Niagara River Greenway Commission: Niagara River Greenway Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement. (2007, April). Retrieved from https://ppgbuffalo.org/files/documents/data-demographics-history/plans/ datademographicshistory-_niagara_river_greenway_plan__part_i_.pdf Rising, B. (2018, March 21). Holy Guacamole! Larkinville Releases Line-up for 2018 Food Truck Tuesdays. Buffalo Rising. Retrieved from https://www.buffalorising.com/2018/03/ holy-guacamole-larkinville-releases-line-up-for-2018-food-truck-tuesdays/ Scherer, J. (2019, May 7). The ultimate guide to the High Line. Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Curbed New York website: https://ny.curbed.com/2019/ 5/7/18525802/high-line-new-york-park-guide-entrances-map The Olmsted City: The Buffalo Olmsted Park System: Plan for the 21st Century. (2008, January). Retrieved from http://regional-institute.buffalo.edu/ wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2015/11/The-Olmsted-City-TheSystemPlan2008.pdf Westwood Park. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2019, from Google Maps website: https://www.google.com/maps/
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FRONT PARK MINI MASTER PLAN SCRIPT BECKY: Introduction: Good morning everyone, thank you all for coming as were all excited to be here. My name is Becky and this is; Yunchao, Jack, and Lindsey. Today, we will be talking about a Mini Master Plan for Front Park based off of observations and research. Front Park has the potential and opportunity not only for the City of Buffalo, but for the surrounding neighborhood and community. Front Park is located on the intersection of Porter and Busti Avenue in Allentown. Front Park History and Background: Front Park was designed from 1868-1870 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux. Frederick Law Olmsted is known as the father of landscape architecture, as he designed many parks throughout the United States, best known for designing Central Park in New York City. His purpose for parks was created through his philosophy: “Cities within a park”, creating a space for people to relax, enjoy nature, and for others to interact with each other while being away from busy street areas. Once he was invited into Buffalo by William Dorsheimer, he purposed 3 parks in three different parts of town: Delaware park, Martin Luther King Jr. Park, and Front Park. Buffalo then became the first city in America to consists of many parks and parkway networks. Front Park, also known as “The Front” was created with intentions of being a place of public gathering and ceremony. Front Park has multiple historic monuments, one being The Oliver Hazard Perry Monument, which commemorates the American victory over the British Navy in The War of 1812, which in placed in a large roundabout while having the views of the Niagara River. Context: Front park is considered more of a neighborhood park rather than a regional park. Front Park is in a residential and commercial area, having single family homes and apartments and fast food restaurants and a coin laundromat across the street. There are multiple schools nearby such as: D’Youville College and D-Youville Porter Campus School (PK-8). Front Park is located in a generally lowincome area and is a central node for gathering. At the turn of the last century, the park saw as many as 7,000 daily visitors attracted to the Front's location at the waterfront. Front Park is certainly far less popular in the present day. As the I-190 was constructed over the Erie Canal in the 1950’s, the park experienced a dramatic drop in the number of visitors. Ramps and overpasses have obstructed the views of the Niagara River and Lake Erie, creating many traffic noises and air pollution into the park. Here now is Yunchao to talk about the State of Affairs. YUNCHAO:
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Conditions: Overall, front park is still well maintained, the grass in the park is trimmed, you cannot find any trashes laying on the ground, there is no graffiti in the park. But there are some existing problems in the park. The I-190, peace bridge, and U.S. customs blocks a large portion of its view of the Niagara river and Lake Erie. There is no planned parking lot in the park, we saw people parked right next to the statue, it could be very dangerous for kids that playing around the statue. There are also some Hockey lines on the ground, several plants in the park are missing, leaves empty spots. On the sidewalk, there are two broken light poles with exposed wire, it could be very dangerous to children and animals. The condition of tennis court is actually pretty good, but it doesn’t have a light above the court, which means people are not able to use it in the early morning or evening. The soccer field in the park looks have not been used for a long time, there is no net attached to the goal. Water fountain is not working anymore, more important is the park doesn’t have a permanent restroom, there is only a single portable near the picnic shelter. Challenges: Confusion of its identity, front park used to be used as a place to held ceremony, but now it is just a green space for nearby low-income families. I-190 creates a barrier between front park and waterfront, and it also brought a high-volume noise to the park. Front park lacks a space of community gathering and needs updating for infrastructures. It does not have enough accessibility for pedestrians and disables as well. Opportunities: The community has a large percentage of Hispanic people, which makes having a Hispanic ceremony becomes possible. Also, the park is close to the shoreline bike trail but does not have direct access to it. It also could become a hub for people from Great buffalo area. JACK: Demographics: Hispanic Heritage: The neighborhood surrounding the park is one of the most ethnically diverse areas in the city. As such, the Historic Hispanic Heritage District is found just south of the park. The most common language spoken at home by locals is English, though Spanish comes as a close second. This suggests that a lack of signage in Spanish may leave areas like Front Park inaccessible to certain locals, particularly the elderly and newly coming immigrants of nonEnglish speaking origin. This cultural diversity is not entirely apparent when observing the park,
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suggesting that non-English speakers may be deterred from visiting. Despite their close proximity to Front Park, the many Hispanic Heritage celebrations which take place in Buffalo do so elsewhere, often in front of city hall. There is an overall lack of Hispanic visitors to the park despite the proximity of their largest ethnic enclave. Gentrification: Those moving into the area most recently are predominantly white. Census data reports that this group is far less frequently placed under the poverty line. One can surmise that the patterns of gentrification, often by suburbanites, which has taken place in the Elmwood Village and Allentown is making its way deeper into the Lower West Side. A more affluent, white population is spreading from this area of the city into the mostly working-class Hispanic neighborhood surrounding Front Park. In fact, as property values tend to be higher around publicly maintained greenspaces, it would come as no surprise that the blocks surrounding the park experience gentrification much more rapidly. The park is located within the convergence of the upper-middle class Elmwood Village, the eclectic Allentown district, and the Lower West Side’s sizeable Hispanic population. It is this context which is responsible for the diversity of its visitors. Viewing the success of the park through the lens of race rather than cultural heritage is less helpful to the development of the park as this area has been thriving on its diversity. Wealth Distribution: About half of the households in the Front Park neighborhood have an annual income below $25,000. The median household income is far below the average for the ErieNiagara Region, excluding the plight of the inner-city areas. For the revitalized West Side of Buffalo, it is significantly lower than other areas west of Main Street, suggesting that this is a relatively impoverished neighborhood. This has a direct correlation with why there are not many people in Front Park, as people generally with lower household income have less time to visit parks, as it is assumed that they spend majority of their time working. A larger proportion of their income is spent on the necessities of transportation as they commute to work, educating their children, and other non-leisure activities. Creating more personal expense-free and fun attractions within Front Park would attract more users as it could be an inviting place gathering. Transportation: The modes of transportation the surrounding neighborhood utilizes most frequently inform one as to who among them has access to this space. Most visitors are using a personal car, truck, or van for their main means of transportation and very few people are walking and taking public transportation. A possible reason for the lack of users within Front Park could be it is not easily
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accessible to those reliant on public transportation and pedestrian travel. The park is potentially overseen as people drive by it and private automobile users comprise most of its visitors. Age Diversity: Though there is a considerable population of children and young families, relatively few among this number visits Front Park consistently. There is rarely an instance of children visiting themselves with friends rather than their parents and siblings alone. It is possible that local parents feel the park lacks in security and safety for their children. For the elderly, who comprise most of the physically disabled population, security is a crucial component of accessibly to the park. The population of locals with a disability is significantly higher than their numbers observed visiting the park. Although the park follows basic disability regulations, data implies that the space is not perfectly inclusive of those with disabilities by their low numbers among Front Park visitors. Observations: Data was first collected on Wednesday October 30th, 2019 at 3:45 pm to acquire a general feel for the park. During this time, multiple cars were observed driving into the park, many of which left briefly after parking and even without its occupants exiting the vehicle. This implies that it was the parking area itself that they were there for, rather than visiting Front Park itself. Multiple teenagers were seen practicing some manner of martial arts with each other on the playground, while a nervous father of toddlers monitored the situation cautiously. The way cars were suspiciously parking and driving away within ten to fifteen minutes leads one to believe that questionable activity may have been going on, particularly like drug use. The teenage boys fighting also make one question the safety and security of the play space for toddlers placed only a few feet from the larger playground. These events imply that there is justification for parents avoiding letting their children roam freely through the park grounds. Upon visiting Front Park for the first time, two young women, possibly in college, were enjoying a late lunch in the pavilion. After they ate, they started to teach themselves a dance routine, suggesting that they might be in a dance team at a nearby school. Two cyclists rode past alongside the park limits having exited the Shoreline Trail. Far from stopping to observe a historical space, one individual sped past hastily, breaking around The Oliver Hazard Perry Statue. Among those at Front Park were a father and two kids enjoying the playground. One may conclude that there are amenities at present which attract visitors, despite the rather barren atmosphere most frequently observed. There was no sense of concern regarding one’s safety when visiting the park, however, there were aspects of the park which were less than optimal as far as deterring questionable activity. Certain paved areas and other spaces segregated from the main focal points of the park by surrounding freeway infrastructures were not easily. The fact that no one visited
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within over 45 minutes of the first visit is alarming and provides a clear sign that the park is not performing at its greatest potential. User Survey: Overall, it was not a lack of amenities that was responsible for this or even the few instances revealing minimal attention to maintenance of park amenities. Rather, it was that Front Park has lost its sense of place as it has been disconnected from the waterfront by the encroachment of city infrastructure. In fact, this was the source of much of the criticism from the few locals encountered there. Despite its relative decline there are times in which there are many more visitors than average, primarily for special events, though this is limited almost entirely to sporting events. The time users are most likely to visit Front Park was surveyed to identify times of peak usage. The most frequent use of the park space is for exercise, as most people cycle or jog through the park. This observation emphasizes the need for a connection to the Shoreline Trail. The number of visitors more than doubled the day that a soccer game for the nearby school was held on its fields. Front Park functions more as a sports facility than the space for leisure as Olmsted originally envisioned. The site visits made for survey data collection have been spaced out sporadically throughout the week and there has yet to be an observed increase in users on any given day or time. In fact, no more than five surveys have been conducted successfully in a two-week period during early November. Often visitors were deterred by automobile traffic as the area between Porter Avenue and the U.S. Customs facility is less than entirely pedestrian conscious in its design. LINDSEY: Front Park Mission Statement: Based on our observations we have come up with our own mission statement: Front park is to be well maintained, more user friendly, and feel more like a park, while providing a safe space for community activities and guests to feel comfortable. Goals: Based on our observations and studies of Front Park, we have come up with 5 key goals in order of least complex to most complex: Providing a Sense of Community, Landscape Architecture, Health Improvements, Maintenance and Updating, and Creating Pedestrian Connections. Providing a Sense of Community: With Front Park’s unique location, the park can become a place for community and city events. Larkin Square, in Buffalo, has a place bands to perform as well as many places for people gather and do many activities. Front Park already has a large paved area for events to happen, it's just the means of getting the events happen in it. One step could be moving the Hispanic Day Parade into the park, as Front Park is in such a culturally rich neighborhood.
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Incorporating the use of local talent to create art pieces within Front Park will also enhance the park. The Freedom Wall is one example, as it commemorates black leaders in a part of the city that is predominantly African American. A lively Front Park will capitalize on local heritage and educate park visitors. Landscape Architecture: Front Park needs to have more trees, flowers, and grass. An example of a successful park that can relate back to Front Park is High Line Park, in New York City. The idea of having plants become a natural barrier is an idea that should be implemented into Front Park as Front Park needs more than a chain fence. Also adding plants and trees as a barrier will act as a noise barrier from the surrounding traffic. In the newspaper article, How planting trees in cities can save thousands of lives, states how trees can create healthier psychological impacts on the people residing in the cities, as they promote social connectivity, decrease stress levels, and encourage exercise. Health Improvements: Installing a sound barrier would itself provide an escape from urban activity that Olmsted intended and improve the health of park visitors. A 2011 study was able to conclude that the movement of wind would be redirected upwards upon hitting a solid obstacle, in this case the barrier, carrying airborne pollutants. The levels of exposure to harmful vehicle emissions, were greatly reduced once the barrier was placed. Creating the proper barrier in Front Park can not only provide more safety but enhance health benefits. Maintenance and Updating: Creating an indoor lodge that can be used for public and private events can create a space for everyone. Inside the lodge will be a 24/7 Park Ranger and Park Office, in order to increase visitors' levels of safety. The indoor lodge will also be a space for permanent washrooms and bathrooms. Westwood Park, a park in Lancaster, NY, has a lodge that the Front Park lodge could possibly resemble. Having indoor seating and a community gathering space can create opportunities for more users within the park. Enhancing the existing soccer field to a multi-purpose recreational turf field with proper amenities and making easy improvements like a working water fountain and more lighting around the park can enhance the parks appeal to guests. Creating Pedestrian Connections: Creating more pedestrian connections can make Front Park more accessible to potential users. The BP Pedestrian Bridge is a bridge that runs over the highway that connects Maggie Daley Park with Millennium Park. This could potentially be a model for something that
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Front Park could use when thinking of ways to connect Front Park back with the Waterfront and other surrounding parks. In the book, Landscape Infrastructure, it explains a case study made in Houston, Texas for The Rosemont Pedestrian Bridge that runs over the Buffalo Bayou. In this case study they are figuring a way for the “eyesore” to become a populated area. By creating pedestrian connections, bike paths, and a network of trails Houston can capture the importance of an urban park while still having a waterfront connection. The recent Gateway Project has successfully created a crossing of the expressway which allows cyclists to continue along Buffalo’s coastline from the northern suburbs. Front Park would benefit greatly by a direct connect to the Shoreline Trail of the Niagara-Greenway Plan. BECKY: Conclusion: In conclusion, Front Park has the potential to redevelop become a landmark for The City of Buffalo, as it was intended to be. "The Front" can become a place for community gathering, sports, and special events, which will contribute the Renaissance of Buffalo in the coming decades. I would like to thank the stakeholders and special guests for coming today. Are there any questions?
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Front Park Mini-Master Plan
Community Building Landscaping Gathering Celebration
Accessibility Pedestrian Safety Waterfront Connection Visitor Health Security
History Heritage Olmsted City Preservation
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Future Projects Landscaping
Visitor Health
• Begin community gardening • Campaign for volunteer tree planting initiative • Engage in experiental learning nearby schools to incorporate contributions of young locals
• Provide barrier between idling truck emissions along Peace Bridge Customs • Consturct a barrier wall in place of fence along the I-190 • Create handicap accessible parking and seating
Gathering
Security
• Construct shelterd space for community functions and dialgoue following town hall model • Provide seating for spectators of local sports events • Improve upon and increase number of sheltered seating for more intimate, family and friend occasions
• Separate toddler and older child play spaces while providing seating with visibility for child guardians • Maintain presecence of park authorities through rangers or security cameras • Improve lighting throughout park
Celebration • Provide accomodations for festival activities within shelter • Accomodate mass visitation through well-maintained and abudnant park amenities
• Connect with community organizations of local ethnic enclaves, particularly for special events • Commerate story of nearby ethnic communities • Provide interpretive signage to educate the visitor on history of site and Buffalo
Pedestrian Safety
Olmsted City
• Provide signaled crosswalks • Install speed bumps and other traffic slowing measures in parking area • Lower speed with yeild signs at Porter Avenue roundabout
• Connect the Front to the greater Olmsted Park and Parkway system through pedestrian accessibility and historical commeration • Involve Conservancy to acquire grant money for future developments
Waterfront Connection • Reconnect park to Shoreline Trail pedestrian bridge • Create physical separation between highway traffic and bike lanes • Encourage roundabout crossing from park to trail through traffic calming of Porter Avenue and I-190.
Heritage
Preservation • Recconnect historical link to Fort Erie through signage, eventually through raised terrace or lowered I-190 • Restore some aspect of lost Fort Porter • Maintain existing memorials
U.B. School of Architecture and Planning Lindsey Bruso, Jack Draksic, Yunchao Han, Becky Szeto
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FINAL PORTFOLIO
Chen, Yumeng END 350 SECTION 2 December 7th 2019
Table of contents
Introductory essay
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Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography assignment
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Data Analysis Report assignment
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Data Analysis visuals
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Data Collection Memorandum assignment
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Data collection analysis form
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Memorandum PowerPoint
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Case Study assignment
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Master PowerPoint
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Speech script
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One-page handout
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Introductory essay
This Portfolio includes all assignments of End 350 section2, namely literature review and annotated bibliography assignment, data analysis report assignment with all data analysis visuals, data collection memorandum assignment with PowerPoint and case study assignment with PowerPoint. In this essay, I will analyze specific assignments and the skills I learned from these assignments. Firstly, I want to talk the literature review assignment, which is the first assignment of the semester. This assignment is about choosing a specific topic and giving the positive and negative examples of the topic with 20 relevant annotated sources to support our views. My topic is about cultural tourism and my views is people can learn the indigenous culture from the cultural tourism; in addition, cultural tourism also possesses a huge positive economic effect because cultural assets are prepared and put on the tourism market, that is, cultural resources are transformed into cultural tourism products. Moreover, the great wall in Beijing and the city of PÊcs in Hungary are taken as good examples to support my views, which shows the huge financial impact of cultural tourism. Other than that, I use the tourism industry in Kenya as the bad example to display a stark contrast in financial loss if a country does not have a good tourism industry. Additionally, I think this is a fantastic assignment for improving students’ ability of finding high quality relevant sources because students need to find 20 high quality relevant source to support their views, which would be highly beneficial to their future study and career. Secondly, I want to talk about data analysis report assignment. In this assignment we need to collect data by choosing one high-growth city and one no-growth city, which denotes the population change in a high-growth city is at least 10 percent and the population change in a nogrowth city is 0 or negative growth rate. So, I chose Denver city and Detroit city as my highgrowth city and no-growth city respectively from 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5Year estimates( Source).Then, I made some comparisons in population, characteristics of population, economics and transportation between these two cities by making different graphs. For instance, I made pie charts to show the sex by age and race in population category and bar charts also be used to display the Education attainment and line graph showed unemployment rate in these two cities; additionally, tables are showed means of transportation to work in these 2
two cities. After I collected those data, I also wrote a report to analyze those data, which is not only a simple data analysis because I not only analyzed the information from the graphs but also the information behind the graphs like why Detroit is a no-growth city and why the unemployment rate in Denver decreases progressively and so on. Moreover, this is a great assignment for me because I not only learned more history of some American cities but also I learned how to make different graphs in excel, which is a phenomenal method to graphically show the data and it is also utilitarian in my further study. Thirdly, data collection is also a great assignment for us, which comprised of two components, namely a memorandum and a PowerPoint. This is a group assignment each group has two or three students. Initially, we collect data from a signalized intersection and a roundabout in Buffalo city by filling a data collection analysis form, which includes site conditions, behavior analysis for vehicle and pedestrian and etc. Besides that, Minnesota avenue on Main Street and Harlem road on Cleveland Drive are the address of signalized intersection and roundabout our team chose. Then, we also did some site visiting to collet data and take some pictures for memorandum and PowerPoint assignment. In addition, I like the most in this assignment is it is the actual problem in real world and site visiting is a decent approach to solve these problems because it is more interesting than learning from books and it is also an effective way to find the problems. Finally, Park Mini-Master plan is the last assignment and it is also the biggest assignment in this course, which is also a group projects and each group has 4 students. The instruction of this assignment is that each group need to choose one of the parks in Buffalo they like and analyzing these parks with roughly 20 pages in length including 5 big components, namely history, conditions, demographics, recommendations and cover page. Furthermore, the park our team chose is one of the most prestigious parks in Buffalo called Delaware park, which is one of the most famous parks in the Father of landscape architecture Frederick Law Olmsted’s career because the city of Buffalo is renown for his park system and Delaware park is the biggest and most crucial part of the system. Thus, it was a huge project for our team to analyze Delaware park. The first thing we did is site visiting and we did it more than 5 times in total. I think that the most difficult part of this assignment is the recommendation part because Delaware park is a great park and that is why we went there a lot of times trying to find some details, which can be 3
improved. Other than that, I like the most in this assignment is the user survey in demographic part due to the fact that it is the first time I create user surveys and use them to interview people face to face and I was surprised about the quality of the surveys because most of the interviewers gave a vast number of great information about the park, which highly helped us to generate more ideas about the park. After that, we also use the graphing skills we learned from previous assignment to enhance our demographic part. Eventually, a 60-page Mini-Master Plan of Delaware park was created by us in about 4 weeks and we also had a great presentation for this plan. I think this is my favorite assignment in this course because there are a lot of important skills like user survey and the format of Mini-Master plan, which would be incredibly beneficial to my further study and future career.
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LITERA TU RE REV IEW
EN D 350 Section 2
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C hen,Yum eng
END 350 Section 2 Literature Review Chen Yumeng The Great Impact of Cultural Tourism Cultural tourism nowadays has become a popular topic for almost everyone and it also is a integrate part of the developing of countries. Cultural tourism is a subset of tourism related to the culture of a country or region, especially the lifestyle of people in those geographical areas, their history, their art, architecture, religion, and other factors that help shape their lifestyle (Ciccone,et.al., 2012). Cultural tourism includes Tours of urban areas, especially historical or large cities and their cultural facilities, such as museums and theatres (Stylianou, 2011). It can also include tourism in rural areas, showcasing the traditions, values and lifestyles of indigenous cultural communities. In addition, cultural tourism also possesses a huge positive economic effect because cultural assets are prepared and put on the tourism market, that is, cultural resources are transformed into cultural tourism products. The main objective is to meet the needs of tourists and to achieve positive results, including economic benefits. The economic impact of cultural tourism is very important because cultural resources are of inestimable value to local communities. According to the research, in Australia, the state government of Victoria's 2015-16 budget provides $29.4 million for the activities, programs and services of the creative industries (Torre, 2017). It is hard to believe that a country invests nearly $30 million for art activities. However, one of the big reasons is that arts' events are also tourist attractions, cultural activities and tourism are mutually beneficial activities the former expands the range of consumption and entertainment opportunities available to tourists, while the expanding tourism industry increases activity income through increased patronage and increases the financial viability of cultural and promotional activities (NADOTTI, 2019). Other than that, one of the great examples to show the importance of investing and building great tourist attractions in cultural tourism, namely the Great Wall in BeiJing. The Great Wall is one of the seven wonders of the world. The Great Wall also is an ancient defense project with the longest construction time and the largest construction amount in China and the world. 6
Since the western Zhou dynasty, the Great Wall has been continuously constructed for more than 2,000 years, covering a vast area of northern and central China with a total length of more than 50,000 kilometers (Jie Yun, 2017). The Great Wall resources are mainly distributed in Hebei, Beijing, Tianjin, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong, Henan, Qinghai, Ningxia, Xinjiang and other 15 provinces and cities. The emergence and development of the Great Wall is in step with the whole military development in ancient China (Jie Yun, 2017). Therefore, the Great Wall contains a great deal of history and it is a wonderful source of culture tourism if the Chinese government wants to pay attention and money to design and protect it. The fact is that, Chinese government actually invest a lot of money to repair Great Wall. To repair one meter of the Great Wall, Chinese government needs 6,000 bricks and seven cubic meters of mortar, they will set a brick according to the current prices, if four, then a cubic meter of mortar is four hundred, so the construction of one meter of the Great Wall will cost 60 thousand yuan (Bowen, 2003). However, the entire length of the Great Wall is more than 14,000 kilometers. It would cost more than 420 billion yuan to build, which is a skyhigh price for every country. Yet, the Great Wall also creates huge positive financial effect on cultural tourism. For instance, if people choose to visit the Great Wall in peak season, you will find it is full of people. It is said that the number of tourists can reach 50,000 on a single day in peak season, and it will receive more than 16 million people a year. However, the Chinese government has a policy that controls the number of people who visit the Great Wall, otherwise, the number of visitors a year will be more. With more than 16 million visitors a year, people still enjoy going there. And the Great Wall tickets compared to other places, is not very cheap. In the peak season, the adult ticket is 40 yuan per ticket, and 35 yuan per ticket in the low season (Lynch, 2011). Then, as we can calculate, the revenue from the Great Wall entrance fee can reach hundreds of millions of yuan a year. If there is no human control, there may be higher income. Thus, the income of the Great Wall is pretty profitable and it is a crucial part of the development of BeiJing. Furthermore, another great example of the positive financial impact of cultural tourism is that Pécs is the fifth largest city of Hungary, located on the slopes of the Mecsek mountains in the south-west of the country, close to its border with Croatia. Pécs tourism is based on the attraction of cultural tourism and urban tourism, which are the values of historical cities, monuments and planning. Prior to 2010, Pécs was relatively popular among domestic tourists, but relatively 7
unknown in the international tourism market (Debeş, 2011). The cultural city identity of Pécs has been reinforced by the diversity of investments and projects, so much so that the name of the city is now almost entirely associated with cultural tourism (AUBERT, 2015). How did it do that? They applied one basic method, 2010 a total of 2,500 thousands of domestic and international tourists were asked about their satisfaction with Pécs and the attractiveness of the city, the types of services they use or intend to use, the main motivations for the travel, and their thoughts on what can be done to improve tourism or Pécs to make Pécs more attractive to tourists. Then, Pécs won the title European Capital of Culture in 2010. After that, a huge increase showed on cultural tourism from nearly 20000 tourists to approximately 400000 tourists during the next 5 years (Richards, 2010). As for the financial effect of the cultural tourism in Pécs, checking the accommodation report is always a fantastic channel to show that. A tremendous growth of 328 million dollars from 2010 to 2014 occured. One big reason of the huge success in cultural tourism in Pécs is that the tourist attractions always meet travelers’ expectation. So, cultural tourism is the “flagship” product of Pécs. In stark contrast, if a country does not have a good tourism, it will be a gargantuan financial loss. When it comes to this topic, people have to mention Kenya's cultural tourism industry. Kenya is the earliest country in Africa to develop ecotourism and the pioneer of ecotourism. In the early 1990s, Kenya was listed as the most favorite country for eco-tourists in the world (Iordanova-Krasteva, 2008). Kenya earns a huge foreign exchange income from wildlife tourism, and no other African country can match that income. No industry can match the development impact of cultural tourism. Tourism has become the pillar of Kenya's national economy. The most important part of Kenya's tourism industry is wildlife-related ecotourism. However, in recent years many problems have begun to emerge, the most serious one is the indiscriminate catching of wildlife, which has seriously affected the growth and reproduction of wildlife, and the environmental situation of national parks and protected areas has deteriorated sharply. At the same time, the lack of scientific planning and good management has also led to the decline of tourism quality. This decline is caused by many complaints and discontents about quality made by tourists. In the early 1980s, Kenya's tourism industry continued to flourish. Surveys showed that about 79% of tourists chose to travel to Kenya on vacation because of Kenya's primitive natural environment and rich wildlife. Another survey also shows that more than 90% of visitors to Kenya travel to wildlife parks. But, now only about 60 percent of tourists travel to wildlife 8
parks. In addition, On September 21, 2013, the shopping center in west gate, Nairobi, capital of Kenya was attacked by terrorists for more than a year (SAARINEN, 2015). The Kenyan government focused on strengthening security to ensure that the national economy would not be affected by the security situation. In particular, one of the pillar industries of the economy, tourism, is in decline. Approximately 300 million dollars decreased in the past decade. That is a huge financial loss from cultural tourism. Under pressure, the government announced in 1977 that it would stop hunting games and ban hunting (Ballo, 2011). In order to protect Kenya's wildlife, the government has established national parks by forcing aborigines to emigrate. So far, Kenya has established 26 national parks, 28 protected areas and a natural reserve, accounting for 12% of the land area. That is to say, one tenth of the land in the country is for wildlife conservation (Morpeth, 2013). The Kenyan government and some groups have proposed "hunting Kenya with your lens" as an alternative to hunting tourism in the past (Robinson, 2006). So, it greatly shows cultural tourism plays a significant role in economy and development of a country. Overall, from the above examples, we can see the importance of cultural tourism to a country due to the fact that the development of cultural tourism is based on and restricted by the development level of the whole national economy. At the same time, it directly and indirectly promotes the development of relevant departments of the national economy, such as business, catering service industry, hotel industry, civil aviation, railway and highway, and urges these departments to continuously improve and perfect various facilities. With the development of society, cultural tourism is showing its important position in the national economy.
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Works Cited
1. AUBERT, A., MARTON, G., & RAFFAY, Z. (2015). Impacts of the European Capital of Culture Title of Pécs on the City’s Tourism. Geographica Timisiensis, 24(1), 25–36. Retrieved
from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=120021662&site= ehost-live&scope=site
Pecs was the first Hungarian city to become the European capital of culture. Prior to 2010, Pecs was relatively popular among domestic tourists, but relatively unknown in the international tourism market. The cultural city identity of Pecs has been reinforced by the diversity of investments and projects, so much so that the name of the city is now almost entirely associated with cultural tourism, while other forms of tourism -- exhibition tourism, ecotourism, etc. -- have been eclipsed. The success of the scheme remains controversial; It will take years to fully assess all the effects.
2. Ballo, M., Lagiewski, R., Jacobs, J., Jacobs, J., & Lagiewski, R. (2011). Cultural impacts of tourism: The case of the “Dogon Country” in Mali (ProQuest Dissertations Publishing). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/861740461/
This thesis describes in the late 1970s, cultural tourism began to be regarded as a unique product category by tourism marketers and tourism researchers who realized that some people travel for the sake of making money to have a deeper understanding of the destination's culture or heritage. In most regions worldwide, especially in Europe and North America, cultural attraction has become important to the development of tourism. At the global level, cultural attraction is often a symbol of what is considered to be an important trend in global culture. 3. Bowen, H. E. (2003). Cultural Tourism: The Partnership between Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management. Journal of Park & Recreation Administration, 21(3), 167–170.
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Retrieved
from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=32547378&site=e host-live&scope=site ďźˆBook review
4. Ciccone, A., Estrada, L., Derby, R., & Loukaitou-Sideris, A. (2012). Cultural Tourism for Salvador, Brazil: A Viable Means of Community Economic Development (ProQuest Dissertations
Publishing).
Retrieved
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http://search.proquest.com/docview/1021391406/
This paper reveals one obvious example of the persistence of negative consequences of slavery is that, as a socialist country, slavery is a socialist country. In a country where the average income of the top 10% of Brazilians is mostly "white", the average income of most non-whites is 28 times that of the bottom 40%. So economic inequality and race in Brazil are linked. White living standards are similar to those of French citizens, while black living standards are similar to those of Americans in the democratic republic of Congo.
5. Duhme, L. (2012). Cultural tourism case study Portugal / Laura Duhme. Hamburg: Diplomica Verlag.
The purpose of this study is to further understand cultural tourists. By investigating the general situation, motivation and level of interest of Portuguese cultural tourists, this study takes Silves as an example to explore Portuguese cultural tourists. Silves is a small town in the Algarve region, which left an Arab legacy as the former capital of Algarve during Arab rule. Cultural tourism literature shows that the relationship between social population/tourism characteristics dependent variables and cultural tourists' behavioral project motivation and preference needs to be further studied.
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6. Debeş, T. (2011). Cultural tourism: a neglected dimension of tourism industry. Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism & Hospitality Research, 22(2), 234–251. https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2011.593910
The purpose of this article is to highlight the cultural aspects of a country as a Mediterranean island (northern Cyprus) where tourism is the main economic sector. With tourists increasingly interested in experiencing and learning about different cultures, cultural products have also received great attention. The assumption is that if tourism decision makers do not clearly define their cultural values and appropriate strategies to restore their authenticity, it is likely that most of the cultural uniqueness will be fully utilized and eventually lost.
7. Ιορδανοωα-Κραστεωα, Ε., & Βαχτερ, Σ. Γ. (2008). International Tourism Conference 2008: Cultural and Event Tourism. Anatolia: An International Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Research,
19(2),
374–376.
https://doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2008.9687084（Periodical）
8. Jieyun Feng, Yanan Li, & Peng Wu. (2017). Conflicting Images of the Great Wall in Cultural Heritage Tourism. Critical Arts: A South-North Journal of Cultural & Media Studies, 31(6), 109–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/02560046.2017.1405455
This Journal displays regulations on the protection of the Great Wall. Data analysis is mainly based on quantitative and qualitative discourse semantics. The study found that domestic visitors to the Great Wall were far more impressed with modern facilities and services than with its history and culture, with a few tourism reviews praising the wonders of the world. The operator mainly USES the site as a tourist attraction and puts forward some practical questions about the protection of the Great Wall. By contrast, government regulators attach great importance to the protection of cultural relics. The study considered the complex interrelationships among the three stakeholders and explained their conflicting goals.
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9. Leslie, D., & Sigala, M. (2005). International cultural tourism management, implications and cases / [edited by] Marianna Sigala and David Leslie. Oxford ;: Elsevier Butterworth-Heinemann.
This book illustrates International cultural tourism: management, impact and case studies explores the management, operation and marketing of cultural tourist attractions and resources worldwide. Topics discussed include: the first assessment of the use and transformational impact of global media and new ICT in cultural tourism attractions and resource management and marketing. Changes in the nature of the global cultural tourism market (including demand, supply, product development and political changes). The consumption behavior, profile and motivation of cultural tourists. 10. Liu, Y.-D. (2014). Cultural Events and Cultural Tourism Development: Lessons from the European Capitals of Culture. European Planning Studies, 22(3), 498–514. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2012.752442
Cultural tourism is one of the largest and fastest growing tourism markets in the world (WTO, 2004) and has developed into an important phenomenon in the tourism industry. The increasing use of culture to influence market destinations also increases the pressure to distinguish regional identities and images. More and more cultural elements are used in brand and market areas (oecd,2009). By developing cultural tourism, cities or regions can increase their attractiveness as tourist destinations.
11. Lynch, M., Duinker, P., Sheehan, L., & Chute, J. (2011). The demand for Mi’kmaw cultural tourism: Tourist perspectives. Tourism Management, 32(5), 977–986. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2010.08.009 （article）
12. Morpeth, N., Griffin, K., & Raj, R. (2013). Cultural Tourism / edited by Razaq Raj, Kevin Griffin, Nigel Morpeth. Wallingford: CAB International. 13
the purpose of this book is to introduce the authors' experience and personal insights into the changing nature of religion in society and further arguments for policy makers and scholars consider the policy challenge in the future development of faith, tourism and pilgrimage ", its goal is to achieve by showing "a group of diverse learning section under the condition of personal expression of the author, the author of pilgrimage, insight into the theoretical and empirical studies of religion and tourism... Thus, one of the key strengths of this book is its current and diverse perspective on the empirical study of religious tourism and pilgrimage
13. NADOTTI, L., & VANNONI, V. (2019). Cultural and event tourism: an interpretative key for impact assessment. Eastern Journal of European Studies, 10(1), 115–131. Retrieved
from
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=137837550&site= ehost-live&scope=site
Impact assessment has increasingly become a key factor in screening projects/activities to be funded and monitoring the effectiveness of initiatives. In the academic world, this has been accompanied by a large amount of literature on impact. This paper analyzes the impact assessment of events related to tourism and culture, focusing on their impact on the economy, aiming to highlight several important key issues of impact assessment. This paper presents a critical analysis of the literature on the subject and Outlines the main ways to measure this phenomenon. There is also a section devoted to the analysis of these phenomena in Italy.
14. Richards, G., & Academy for Leisure. (2018). Cultural Tourism: a review of recent research and trends. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 36, 12–21.
This article reviews the development of cultural tourism as a research field in the past ten years and identifies the main trends and research areas. Recently, the United Nations world tourism
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organization reaffirmed that cultural tourism is an important part of international tourism consumption, accounting for more than 39% of the number of tourists. Cultural tourism research is also developing rapidly, especially in the fields of cultural consumption, cultural motivation, heritage protection, economics of cultural tourism, anthropology and the relationship with the creative economy.
15. Richards, G., & Munsters, W. (2010). Cultural tourism research methods edited by Greg Richards and Wil Munsters. Wallingford, Oxfordshire, UK: Cambridge, MA. （book）
16. Robinson, M., & Smith, M. (2006). Cultural tourism in a changing world politics, participation and (re)presentation / edited by Melanie Smith and Mike Robinson. Clevedon [England] ;: Channel View Publications.
The book provides an in-depth analysis of major political and social debates in the field of cultural tourism, and use a series of international cases to illustrate the issues raised. The author emphasizes the complexity of cultural tourism and its potential to change tourist destinations and tourists in a rapidly changing world. In addition, this book also is divided into thematic sections politics and policy; Community participation and empowerment; Authenticity and commercialization; It will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand how cultural tourism continues to evolve as a focal point for understanding a changing world.
17. SAARINEN, J., & ROGERSON, C. M. (2015). Setting Cultural Tourism in Southern Africa. Nordic Journal of African Studies, 24(3&4), 207–220. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=115129355&site= ehost-live&scope=site
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In southern Africa, cultural tourism is becoming increasingly important for both tourists and decision makers. The task of this paper is to outline the expanding opportunities and debates related to the development of cultural tourism in southern Africa. In addition, it also provides the "art status" of the existing cultural tourism research in the region.
18. Shieldhouse, R., & Silver, C. (2011). A jagged path: Tourism, planning, and development in Mexican World Heritage cities (ProQuest Dissertations Publishing). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/930806101/
Using the statistics of 7 world heritage cities in Mexico, this paper proves that joining the world heritage list has significant independent influence on the international tourism of world heritage cities. The effect can take between one and eight years to occur, with an average of 5.8 years and a median of 6.5 years. Of the seven world heritage cities, none had a statistically significant relationship between inscriptions and international inbound visitors. While the number of international visitors to the seven Mexican world heritage cities on the list typically increases after they are added to the list, a closer look at the data reveals a wide range of long-term visitor trends. The survey looked at case studies of two Mexican world heritage cities that were added to the list in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
19. Stylianou-Lambert, T. (2011). Gazing from home: Cultural tourism and art museums. Annals
of
Tourism
Research, 38(2),
403–421.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annals.2010.09.001
Cultural tourism is an extension of daily life.Support the overflow hypothesis. This study reconstructs and expands the existing cultural tourism typology, and at the same time provides a new model to help explain the subtle differences between different cultural tourists in art museums. Considering that museum visitors are different from visitors of other types of museums, and museum visits are not separated from daily life, we adopted in-depth and semistructured interviews in participants' countries to explore the museum's perception and memory 16
of past museum experiences. The main result of the study was to identify eight different ways of looking at art museums, whether at home or at a tourist destination. To demonstrate the need for a more inclusive and flexible typology, five case studies are presented.
20. Torre, A., & Scarborough, H. (2017). Reconsidering the estimation of the economic impact
of
cultural
tourism. Tourism
Management, 59,
621–629.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2016.09.018
This article describes from an economic perspective, the impact of hosting an event can be measured using an expenditure multiplier or cost-benefit analysis (CBA) approach. One of the difficulties of CBA is the data needed to estimate the relevant revenue function. By explaining how to parameterize the benefit function with minimum data, the possibility of using CBA is improved, and the limitation is solved. This case study compares economic impact assessments and finds that using our proposed benefit estimates provides a useful way to estimate limited data benefits. Estimate economic impact with minimal data. Ability to perform cost-benefit analysis with minimal data. Use different methods to compare economic impacts.
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DATA ANALYSIS REPORT END 350 SECTION2
CHEN YUMENG
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A DEMOGRAPHIC COMPARISON OF DENVER AND DETROIT FROM 2010-2017
Chen Yumeng END 350 Introduction Following the 2010 census, the ongoing report presents a comparison of key demographic characteristics of Detroit, Michigan and Denver, Colorado. The report focuses on six spheres of the population; growth rate, sex by age analysis, race, educational attainment, unemployment rate, and means of transportation to work. Aside from presenting a comparison of
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the two cities, the current report also highlights key patterns and trends notable from the 2010 census to 2017. Population Growth Rate Comparison From 2010 to 2017, the population in Detroit declined by 4.75%. By contrast the population growth in Denver grew by 13%. Notably, the population in Detroit was higher than that of Denver in the 2010 census; however, by 2017 Denver’s population had grown to almost the size of Detroit. In fact, the difference between the two cities is meagre with only 1398 individuals. Table 1 below displays the population and growth rate comparisons.
Population Comparison 2010
2017
growth rate
Detroit
713777
679865
Denver
600158
678467 13.04806401
-4.75106371
Table 1: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Sex by Age Analysis The population distribution by sex and age shows a majority of the males and females in Denver are aged between 20 and 34 years. From the graph in Figure 1, the population of males and females in Denver is almost symmetrical with higher numbers of males and females below the 44 years. The number of individuals in both sexes declines as age increases hence implying
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the population is Denver is relatively young. In addition, the number of males and females under the age of 19 surpasses that of those aged above 60 years implying a growing population. Figure 1 below clearly highlights the details.
2017 POPULATION BY GENDER-DENVER,COLORADO
Age Range
85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000
0
10,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000
Population male female
Figure 1: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Even though Denver harbors a relatively young population, the population structure in Detroit indicates the city is younger. More definitively, the cohort of males and females aged between 20 and 34 years is the largest in Detroit like in Denver but, population of individuals below the age of 19 years is also high. The aforementioned fact contrasts the trend observed in Detroit where the number of males and females below 19 years is significantly lower than the 21
most populous age-set. Evidently, from figure 2 below the population in Detroit is more homogeneously distributed across different ages sets in both sexes except that of individuals aged above 60 years which is relatively low in comparison to other age sets. Detroit displays characteristics of a young population however; the city carries a larger older population in comparison to Denver.
2017 POPULATION BY GENDER-Detroit,Michigan
Age Range
85 years and over 80 to 84 years 75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years 55 to 59 years 50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years 25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years Under 5 years 40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
Population male female
Figure 2: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
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Race Denver’s population is predominantly composed of the individuals from the White race accounting for 71% of the population. The second most populous race is identified as “Other” with 12% followed closely followed by Black or African Americans at 11%. Asians account for 3% of the population. Figure 3 below displays the racial composition of Denver.
Denver, Colorado population in Race 14,550
31,888 2325 41,652
73,386
540,464
White
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Some Other Race
Figure 3: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Detroit, on the other hand, displays a sharp contrast in the racial composition. The dominant racial group in the city is Black or African American accounting for 84% of the population. The second most populous racial group is White. Individuals who identify with the
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“Others” racial group are only 3% in comparison to Denver where they accounted for 12% forming the second most populous group. Figure 4 below presents the racial composition of Detroit, Michigan.
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Detroit, Michigan population in Race 21,569
7,559 2,636
75,758
590,226
White
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Some Other Race
Figure 4: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Educational Attainment Denver displays high levels of educational attainment among its inhabitants above the age of 25. Most of the individuals in the city hold Bachelor’s degrees followed by those who hold professional or graduate degrees. Overall, only a small portion of the population has not achieved high school education indicating high literacy levels in the city. Notably, the differences in educational attainment between males and females in Denver is slim hence indicating educational attainment across all sexes.
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Denver, Colorado EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over
Education Attainment
Graduate or professional degree Bachelor's degree Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate (includes equivalency) 9th to 12th grade, no diploma Less than 9th grade 0
20,000 female
male
40,000
60,000
80,000
Population
Figure 5: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
The population in Detroit has lower levels of educational attainment for individuals above the age of 25. Unlike Denver, most individuals in Detroit assert to have attended some college but with no degree. Further, the assessed individuals are mostly high school graduates indicating lower levels of literacy in the city. The number of individuals declines as educational attainment gets higher after the high school level. Nonetheless, only a few individuals have not achieved high school education similar to Denver. Evidently, there are larger gaps between male and female educational attainment in Detroit than in Denver. Specifically, more females hold higher academic achievement in comparison to men in Detroit. The number of men surpasses that of female in the lowest three levels of educational attainment while women are more in number in higher levels of education. Figure 6 below shows the educational attainment by sex in Detroit.
25
Detroit, Michigan Educational Attainment population 25 years and over Graduate or professional degree
Education Attainment
Bachelor's degree Associate's degree Some college, no degree High school graduate (includes equivalency) 9th to 12th grade, no diploma Less than 9th grade 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
Population Female
Male
Figure 6: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Unemployment rate From the analysis, there is a significant decline in Denver’s unemployment rate from the 2010 census to 2017. The rate dropped from 9.4% in 2010 to about 2.6% in 2017 indicating that most of Denver’s population is employed. The decline is gradual but steady indicating the plausibility of further decline in unemployment rates. Figure 7 below displays the trendline of the unemployment rate in Denver.
26
Value
Denver, Colorado Unemployment rate for years 2010-2017 10.00 9.00 8.00 7.00 6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years Figure 7: Source: U.S. Bureau of labor statisitics,2010-2017 local area unemployment statistics, LAUCN080310000000003, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; www.bls.gov (data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Similar to Denver, the unemployment rate has declined from 11.6% in 2010 to 4.3% in 2017. The decline in the unemployment rate in Detroit from 2010 t0 2017 is larger compared to that of Denver implying increased opportunities for employment. The trendline is gradual and steady indicating the possibility for the trend to continue.
Detroit, Michigan Unemployment rate for years 2010-2017 14
Value
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years Figure 8: Source: U.S. Bureau of labor statisitics,2010-2017 local area unemployment statistics, LAUCN080310000000003, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; www.bls.gov (data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
27
Means of transportation to work Most of the residents in Denver reported using “Drove alone� to get to their jobs. Furthers, two other large groups used a car, truck or van and others drove alone. A few individuals worked at home while a small percentage used public transportation, bicycles and walking. The trend is consistent across all sexes except in the use of bicycles where the number of females is negligible. Figure 9 below further elaborates the findings.
Denver, Colorado Means of transportation to work 80.00% 70.00%
Percentage
60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00%
Transportation Male
Female
Figure 9: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
In Detroit, most individuals reported similar trends to those reported in Denver. A majority of the individuals either used drove alone. A few individuals walked to their jobs; others
28
used public transport. Unlike Denver, there were no statistics for individuals using bicycles to work in Detroit. In addition, from the transportation map of Detroit and Denver Figure 11 we can see Detroit and Denver have similar transportation lanes. For example, These two cities all have comprehensive network of interconnecting freeways including Interstate Highways Taxi services and rental cars are readily available at the airport and throughout the metropolitan area
Detroit, Michigan Means of transportation to work
Percentage
80.00% 70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Drove alone
Carpooled
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
Walked
Bicycle
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
Worked at home
Transportation Male
Female
Figure 10: Source: U.S. Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
29
Figure 10 Source: https://pasarelapr.com/images/street-map-of-denver-colorado/street-map-of-denver-colorado-15.jpg.
Conclusion The report presented the differences in key demographic features of Denver and Detroit. Notably, Denver is primarily composed of the White race while Detroit is dominated by Black or African Americans. The population in Denver is relatively young, however, Detroit attracts more young individuals and fewer older individuals. The populations in both cities are composed of individuals between the age of 20 and 34 even though the number of individuals below 19 in Detroit is significantly large. The analysis also observed high educational attainment across both genders in Denver with most individuals achieving a bachelor’s degree. In Detroit, the educational attainment is low as most individuals achieved high school graduate level and lower in comparison to those with higher qualifications. The unemployment rate declined significantly in both cities, but Denver has lower levels of unemployment. Further, the populations in both cities utilize similar means of transport to work.
30
END 350 Section 2 Chen Yumeng
Data Analysis Visuals 2010 Population, 2017 population, and 7 years growth rate Detroit Michigan Years
Population
2010
713777
Source 2010 census 2017 ACS 5-year Population
2017 Growth rate
679865
Estimate
-4.75106
Denver Colorado Years
Population
2010
600158
Source 2010census 2017 ACS 5-year Population
2017 Growth rate
678467 Estimate 13.04806
Poplation Comparison
Detroit
2010
2017
713777
679865
growth rate -4.751063708
31
Denver
600158
678467
13.04806401
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 1
Sex By age Denver, Colorado Male
Male(negative) Female
Under 5 years
22182
-22182
21504
5 to 9 years
20970
-20970
19926
10 to 14 years
17829
-17829
17679
15 to 19 years
16108
-16108
16132
20 to 24 years
20977
-20977
22032
25 to 29 years
38748
-38748
38640
30 to 34 years
38406
-38406
36071
35 to 39 years
29713
-29713
27666
40 to 44 years
26101
-26101
22764
45 to 49 years
21986
-21986
19540
50 to 54 years
19398
-19398
18082
55 to 59 years
18368
-18368
18242
60 to 64 years
15821
-15821
17623
65 to 69 years
12551
-12551
14288
32
70 to 74 years
8047
-8047
9800
75 to 79 years
5097
-5097
6909
80 to 84 years
3645
-3645
5087
85 years and over
3453
-3453
7082
339,400
-339,400
339,067
Total Population
2017 POPULATION BY GENDER-DENVER,COLORADO
85 years and over 80 to 84 years
75 to 79 years 70 to 74 years 65 to 69 years 60 to 64 years
Age Range
55 to 59 years
50 to 54 years 45 to 49 years 40 to 44 years 35 to 39 years 30 to 34 years
25 to 29 years 20 to 24 years 15 to 19 years 10 to 14 years 5 to 9 years
Under 5 years 50,000
40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
Population male
female
33
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S0101 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Detroit, Michigan Male
Male(negative)
Female
Under 5 years
25327
-25327
24552
5 to 9 years
22504
-22504
22877
10 to 14 years
24055
-24055
23042
15 to 19 years
23611
-23611
24102
20 to 24 years
27252
-27252
29351
25 to 29 years
26366
-26366
28284
30 to 34 years
19771
-19771
20759
35 to 39 years
18433
-18433
21201
40 to 44 years
18764
-18764
22078
45 to 49 years
19422
-19422
21720
50 to 54 years
20126
-20126
22259
55 to 59 years
21582
-21582
23523
60 to 64 years
17912
-17912
22056
65 to 69 years
13296
-13296
17568
70 to 74 years
9055
-9055
11577
34
75 to 79 years
5868
-5868
8235
80 to 84 years
4192
-4192
7008
85 years and over
3805
-3805
8332
Total Population
321,341
-321341
358,524
2017 POPULATION BY GENDER-Detroit,Michigan
80 to 84 years 70 to 74 years 60 to 64 years
Age Range
50 to 54 years 40 to 44 years 30 to 34 years 20 to 24 years 10 to 14 years Under 5 years 40,000
30,000
20,000
10,000
0
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
Population male female
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S0101 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
35
Race Denver, Colorado Race 2017
Number
White
540464
Black or African American
73386
American Indian and Alaska Native
14550
Asian
31888
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
2325
Some Other Race
41652
Denver, Colorado population in Race 31,888
2325
14,550
41,652
73,386
540,464
White
Black or African American
American Indian and Alaska Native
Asian
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander
Some Other Race
36
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 201
Detroit, Michigan 2017
Number
White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some Other Race
75758 590226 2636 7559 129 21569
Detroit, Michigan population in Race 2,636
7,559
129
21,569 75,758
590,226
White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 201
37
Educational attainment for population 25 years and older Denver, Colorado Male
Female
Less than 9th grade
15,898
15,697
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
16,384
16,377
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
43,844
41,104
Some college, no degree
42,585
40,806
Associate's degree
13,230
12,577
Bachelor's degree
68,140
68,912
Graduate or professional degree
41,253
46,321
38
Denver, Colorado EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT Population 25 years and over Graduate or professional degree
Education Attainment
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree
Some college, no degree
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
Less than 9th grade 0
10,000
20,000
female
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
Population
male
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S1501 2017, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 201
Detroit, Michigan Male
Female
Less than 9th grade
12949
12061
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
31961
30878
equivalency)
71696
69735
Some college, no degree
46796
64378
Associate's degree
10620
20466
High school graduate (includes
39
Bachelor's degree
15505
21260
9065
15822
Graduate or professional degree
Detroit, Michigan Educational Attainment population 25 years and over Graduate or professional degree
Education Attainment
Bachelor's degree
Associate's degree Some college, no degree
High school graduate (includes equivalency) 9th to 12th grade, no diploma Less than 9th grade 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
Population Female
Male
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S1501 2017, EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019
Unemployment Rate for years 2010-2017 Denver, Colorado Year
Value
2010
9.40
2011
8.50
2012
7.84 40
2013
6.65
2014
4.82
2015
3.68
2016
3.06
2017
2.63
Denver, Colorado Unemployment rate for years 2010-2017
10.00
Value
9.00 8.00 7.00
6.00 5.00 4.00 3.00 2.00 1.00 0.00
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years
Source: U.S. Bureau of labor statisitics,2010-2017 local area unemployment statistics, LAUCN080310000000003, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; www.bls.gov (data retrieved on September 18, 2019
Detroit, Michigan
Year
Value
2010
11.6
2011
9.6
41
2012
8.4
2013
8
2014
6.3
2015
4.8
2016
4.5
2017
4.3
Detroit, Michigan Unemployment rate for years 20102017 14
Value
12 10 8 6 4 2 0 2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Years Source: U.S. Bureau of labor statisitics,2010-2017 local area unemployment statistics, LASBS260000000000003, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; www.bls.gov (data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
Means of Transportation to work Denver, Colorado Means of transportation to work
Male
Female
42
Drove alone
69.40%
70.50%
Carpooled
8.00%
8.20%
Public transportation
6.60%
7.10%
Walked
4.50%
4.20%
Bicycle
2.90%
1.40%
1.20%
0.90%
7.50%
7.70%
Taxicab, motorcycle Worked at home
Denver, Colorado Means of transportation to work 80.00% 70.00%
Percentage
60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00%
20.00% 10.00% 0.00%
Male
Transportation
Female
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S0801 2017, COMMUTING CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019
Detroit, Michigan Male
Drove alone
67.50%
Female 71.10% 43
Carpooled
13.00%
13.00%
Public transportation
8.30%
6.90%
Walked
4.20%
3.20%
Bicycle
1.20%
0.40%
Taxicab, motorcycle
1.60%
1.90%
Worked at home
4.10%
3.50%
Detroit, Michigan Means of transportation to work 80.00%
Percentage
70.00% 60.00% 50.00% 40.00% 30.00% 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Drove alone
Carpooled
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
Male
Walked
Bicycle
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
Worked at home
Transportation
Female
Source: U.S.Census Bureau,2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-yeare estimates, Table S0801 2017, COMMUTING CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX, generated by Yumeng Chen using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on September 18, 2019)
44
2019
Data Collection Memorandum END 350 SECTION 2 CHEN, YUMENG
45
Data Collection Memorandum
Yumeng Chen, Yunchao Han, Letao Shen. End 350 Section 2, 19 Fall
46
Memo To: Brendan R. Mehaffy, Buffalo city Planning executive Director Authors: Yumeng Chen, Yunchao Han, Letao Shen. CC: Jonathan Bleuer, Andrew Schaefer Date: October 18, 2019 Subject: Studies of intersections of Main St. & Minnesota Ave. and Harlem Rd & Cleveland Dr.
Executive Summary Our team collected data at two sites in the city of Buffalo, one is signalized intersection of Main St. and Minnesota Ave. and another is a roundabout of Harlem St. and Cleveland Dr. Our team spent roughly one hour on each sites to observe the behavior of pedestrians and vehicles. We determined out that pedestrians who attempt to cross the Main St. needs to have a long wait, and drivers go across the roundabout have trouble figuring out whether the pedestrians are waiting for the bus or going across the street. To solve these problems, we believe it’s better to replace street parking with driving lanes for intersection on Main St, and for the roundabout on Harlem St., the bus stations on Cleveland Dr. should be moved farther away from the pedestrians crossing route.
Introduction Does the city of Buffalo have a great street design? it is always a thorny issue for citizens in Buffalo. It is because “Our roadway system was really built in an early time with one vehicle 47
in mind,” Atherton says（Liu 187). “The federal highway systems and state roads were designed for transporting cars, not pedestrians.” Thus, designing decent streets is not an easy thing due to the fact that good street design is a key element of sustainable development. Streets are considered to be the place where land use and transportation connect. The major components of street design are the Width of the street pattern of the street network physical elements along the streetscape. One of the sites we choose is a signaled intersection on Main Street & Minnesota Avenue Buffalo city and the other one is a roundabout on Harlem road and Cleveland Drive Buffalo. A vast number of data we collected and analyzed. We also find some details of the sites can be enhanced and We really hope these sites can be improved by our analysis. Data Sources and Methods of Analysis:Findings Data sources: Field work, Transportation planning agency(GBNRTC) Methods of analysis: Our team visited and collected data from two sites in the city of Buffalo, one is signalized intersection of Main St. and Minnesota Ave. and another is a roundabout of Harlem St. and Cleveland Dr., we spent about an hour on each sites to observe the behavior of pedestrians and vehicles. Limitations of research method we used: It was a sunny Friday, we arrived at the intersection on the Main street first and that was about 11 a.m. And after roughly one hour of data collecting, we departed for the other intersection on Harlem street and we arrived about
48
12:20. We used our smartphones as the device to record how much time pedestrians and drivers spend on waiting and going through the road.
Findings
Main St. & Minnesota Ave.(Signalized Intersection)
The intersection between Main st. and Minnesota Ave is a busy intersection, there are three approaches on this signalized intersection, surrounding areas are used as transportation station, small business, and resident neighbourhood. Main street is a four lane street with two streetpark on two sides. The average car speed on main street is about 30 miles per hour, and the waiting time on that intersection is about 16s seconds. With a large amount of car flow and narrow street width, gap acceptance between cars are very narrow.
During the time we are on the main street, we noticed that most pedestrians choose to cross from the east side of Main Street to the west side, it is because there is a supermarket and a subway station on the west side of Main street, and resident area are on the east side. It is signaled intersection with pedestrian crossing control, but we observed that most people won’t wait for the light, they just look both ways first then rush to the other side. I would say this is 49
probably because the long waiting time this light has, the waiting time for vehicles is 15 seconds, but for pedestrian is more than 2 minutes people don’t have the patience to wait that long, especially when the weather is bad. The speed of people walking is slower than they crossing, that might be because they know rush the street is dangerous so they have to be fast. We also saw two baby carriages get cross the street, one of the women just push her baby carriage to the other side with the red light on, another parent waited for the green light for about 2 minutes. Our team would recommend to replace two parking lanes that on this area with vehicle drive lanes, it is because if we want to shorter the waiting time for pedestrians, less vehicles will be able to pass through that intersection, since there are lots of parking lots surrounded by those buildings, the existence of street parking will not be necessary at all. In conclude, sacrifice the convenience of street parking for more pedestrians and vehicles passing through the intersection is worthy.
Harlem Rd & Cleveland Dr (Roundabout)
The roundabout was consisted of two roads, and one thing special about this roundabout is the two roads have different numbers of routes, one has 1 lane for each direction, one has 2 lanes for each direction. There was a smart design made this work, and it surprised me, when people are driving on the Harlem Rd, which is the one have 2 route for each direction, they need to make a decision before they enter the roundabout, thus, there will not be any lane change once 50
people enter the roundabout. If they choose the route on the left, they will not be able to make a right turn to exit the roundabout at the first exit which is the way to the Cleveland Dr, on the contrary, if they choose the right one, exit and turn to Cleveland Dr is the only choice. This solved the issue of different number of routes. Otherwise, the vehicles can go through this intersection smoothly, even though there is no traffic lights, but the vehicles rarely need to spend a long time waiting. There is not much pedestrians go across this intersection, when pedestrians wait on the pedestrian crossing lane, the vehicles usually stop for them letting them to go across the road, but here is an issue, there are two bus stops are close to the pedestrian crossing lanes that when pedestrians are waiting for the buses, it is hard for drivers to figure out whether they are waiting for the bus or not, this will somehow slow down the traffic. Our team would recommended moving the bus stops a few feet away from the pedestrians crossing lane to avoid this issue.
Conclusion Based on the research our team did, we find that streets occupy most of spaces of public space in cities, but they often fail to provide their surrounding communities with a space where people can safely walk, bicycle, drive, take 51
transit, and socialize. Cities are leading the movement to redesign and reinvest in our streets as cherished public spaces for people, as well as critical arteries for traffic. Therefore, Our team recommend to add a lane to replace street parking and shorten the waiting time for pedestrians because this suggestion not only can prevent unnecessary traffic jams whatsoever by cars or pedestrians but also it effectively relieve the pressure of traffic. Our team also believe increasing the number of traffic lanes by abolishing street parking policy and reducing the waiting time of traffic lights in Main streets and move the bus stop closer to the crossing lanes for the roundabout, which have the obvious advantages of increasing speed, shortening mileage, saving fuel, saving time, etc and we believe it would be a fantastic channel to improve both sites. But taking into account the comprehensive factors, for example the budget and the influence of upgrading roads, replace the existing street parking will be a more economy and realistic way to help solve the over-crowded traffic.
52
Appendix
Main St. & Minnesota Ave.
Main St. & Minnesota Ave.
53
Main St. & Minnesota Ave.
Harlem Rd. & Cleveland Dr.
54
Harlem Rd. & Cleveland Dr.
Harlem Rd. & Cleveland Dr.
55
Reference 1. Liu, K., Chan, E., Lee, V., Kapitanova, K., Son, S., & Liu, K. (2013). Design and evaluation of tokenbased reservation for a roadway system. Transportation Research, Part C, 26, 184–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trc.2012.09.001
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Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names
Chen Yumeng
Name of Site/Streets
Harlen Road
Type of Site
Roundabout
Address
Cleveland Drive
City, State, Zip
Buffalo, NY, 14215
Date and Time
October 11th 12:00 pm
Description of Site
This roundbout is also not far away from the UB south campus and this site is also a commerical area. There are several car repair and Auto parts shops around. In addition, there is a fire station near the gas station , which really ensure the safety of the site.
Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.
Site Conditions number of converging streets
2
type of intersection design
Roundabout
type of intersection control
Stop sign and Yield sign
number of lanes
$2
number of turning lanes
$4
presence of sidewalks and bike lanes
It has sidewalks but no bike lanes
presence of crosswalks and crossing control
4 crosswalks with crossing control
presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking
No bus lanes and street parking
presence of landscaping, amenities
Yes, it has some trees in the center of the roundabout
surrounding land uses
Business
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration
15 miles/hour
turning intention and recognition
Clear 57
waiting time
2s
gap acceptance
6s
braking behavior
Smooth brake
perception reaction time
3s 1
distance to leading vehicle and headway
4meters
Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed
3 meter/second
crossing speed
3 meter/second
waiting time
30s
visual acuity
high
route and crossing choice
cross the street on the zebra lanes
perception reaction time
2s
gap acceptance
7s
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed
5 meters/second
crossing speed
6 meters/second
waiting time
32s
visual acuity
high
route and crossing choice
cross the street on the zebra lanes
perception reaction time
3s
gap acceptance
4s
Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design
outside cars wait for the cars in circle
Rationale of existing control
Yield sign
Benefits of existing design and control
Decrease the possibility of car accident
Deficiencies of existing design and control
Lack of bus lanes and steet parking
Flow of users
normal
Safety of users
high
Intention vs Reality
the same
Ease of use and understandability
Yes
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Memorandum PowerPoint assignment
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Delaware Park
Mini Master Plan November 2019
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67
Table of contents History................................................................................................................................................................................................................5 Background......................................................................................................................................................................................................6 The Rose Garden The Japanese Garden The Ivy Arch Bridge Hoyt Lake Reinstein Center The Marcy Casino The Buffalo History Museum Context.............................................................................................................................................................................................................11 Events and Activities in the Park Delaware Park’s Relationship with Elmwood Village Residents Conditions......................................................................................................................................................................................................12 Historic Landmarks Art Sculptures Open Green Spaces Playground Marcy Casino Waterfront Challenges......................................................................................................................................................................................................15 Maintenance Parking Narrow Paths Limited Children's Activities
68
Seasonal Activities Opportunities...............................................................................................................................................................................................18 Wedding Photography Views of Nature and Cityscape Public Art Education Demographics..............................................................................................................................................................................................21 Income and Home Value Sex and Age Race and Ethnicity Disability Transportation User surveys.................................................................................................................................................................................................27 Questions Feedback Comments Observations................................................................................................................................................................................................29 Inanimate Features People Recommendations ...................................................................................................................................................................................30 Infrastructural Additions Trash & Recycling Cans Ice Cream Stand Separate Pedestrian & Bike paths Lighting
69
Community Engagement Education Elements Public Art Best practices...............................................................................................................................................................................................35 Central Park Englischer Garden Onondaga Lake Park Art Park Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…..39 Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………...40 Photos Demographics Maps & Tables User Surveys & Observation Forms References….…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..60
Authorship: Yumeng Chen, Patrick Delgobbo, Nicholas Sapone, Claudia Savoy
70
History of Delaware Park Frederick Law Olmsted was born in 1822, in Hartford, Connecticut. As an American landscape architect, Olmsted was known for a few big projects. Looking at the National Association for Olmsted Parks, a history of Olmsted’s projects and inspirations can be seen. First, was a project he won with his partner Calvert Vaux in New York City in 1853, Central Park. This Project was a critical turning point in Olmsted’s life because it allowed him to become a landscape architect. After this project his name really became known for a beautiful green space within a large city. The City of Buffalo facing a similar problem as New York City with congested air and pollutions saw an opportunity to improve the city. The City of Buffalo wanted a similar plan for Central Park implemented in Buffalo but Olmsted created something new for Buffalo. “A city within a park”. Olmsted's plan wasn’t to make one park inside the city but to create an entire park system. With the designs completed in 1870 Olmsted and Vaux were famous for this plan. Olmsted went on to make more parks and landscapes such as his design for the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C. His frequent visits to Europe, in particular England, gave him inspiration for many projects. He later died in 1903. Frederick Law Olmsted proposed three parks for the original design of City of Buffalo. These parks were The Front, now Front Park, The Parade, now Martian Luther King Jr. Park, and The Park, which we know as Delaware Park. The City of Buffalo hired Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux to design a park for the city, however they designed a city within a park. Olmsted’s designs were similar to that of the Pastoral Parklands
he
frequently
visited in England. Olmsted’s parks
always
maintained
similar components which made them rather distinctive when looking at them. These could be rolling meadows, wooden perimeter, a water feature,
and
a
discrete
circulation
system
pedestrians.
After
for eight
years the original design was Figure 1: Google earth pro. (May 29th, 2017). Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY. [November 8th, 2019]
completed
in
1876.
Delaware park plays a significant part in this park system due to its geographic position and huge green spaces. For these reasons this park is one of the most famous parks designed in Olmsted’s career and a symbol of the city of Buffalo. As much of New York did, this 243-acre park started as slopping farmlands. The park’s construction led to the urbanization of the surrounding areas, which was mainly still suburban at the time. Today Delaware Park is divided by Delaware Avenue. This division can be seen in Figure 1. The East side of this is 133-acres and is known as Meadow Park, unselected area. The West side is 43acres and known as Water Plot, the area outlined in blue. Delaware park, while one park, is often seen as two because of Delaware Avenue dividing it. Meadow Park is more than three times the size of Water Plot but is used in a completely different manner. Within Meadow Park there is an 18-hole golf course which was created in 1894. This was only two years after the first 18-hole golf course was made in the United States. The golf course takes up quite a large portion of Delaware Park although, only about 1/3 of Meadow Park. Most of the other portion of consists of Forest Lawn Cemetery. Forest Lawn Cemetery was founded in 1849 by Charles E. Clarke. Over 152,000 people are buried there today, most famously U.S. President Millard Filmore. While the park is open 24 hours the cemetery has limited hours to respect to dead. Water Plot is smaller than either of these sections but have many more features to focus on throughout that park. Water Plot got its name because of the manmade lake that is present, this part of the land was the plot for the water. Meadow Park and Water Plot are both very popular attractions within Delaware Park however, Water Park brings more people to Delaware Park for the park atmosphere. There are also more activities and features to focus on within this section. For these reasons, The Water Plot section of Delaware Park will be analyzed for the Park Mini Master Plan of Delaware Park.
Background People visiting the Water Plot side are visiting for a wide variety of reasons and activities. Some of the features available at Delaware Park include The Rose Garden, The Japanese Garden, The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival, The Ivy Arch Bridge, Hoyt Lake, The Reinstein center, The Marcy Casino, and The Buffalo History Museum. These range from permanent features to seasonal events but each influence the parks history and impact on the communities.
1
The Rose Garden The Rose Garden, with a rich history, is maintained by The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy. With a French Parterre-level Space symmetry was a key detail for Olmsted’s plan of the garden. Olmsted’s plan of the garden was followed down to the specific location of each type of rose bush. In August 1917 The Rose Garden was dedicated and began attracting many visitors. In 1930 Lauren Gardin Fraiser was hired as an artist to create a water feature. The water feature she created was called the Grape Baby, Figure 2. Today there is a different water feature present and the whereabouts of the Grape Baby are unknown after a mysterious disappearance. In 1937 The Rose Garden was one possible site suggested Figue 2: “Rose Garden Grape Naby Fountain” Published by Lauren Gardin Fraser, 1926
for
a
musical
hall.
Unfortunately, it was not chosen, although
the site that was chosen is now known as Symphony Circle and is part of Olmsted’s plan. After this The Rose Garden began to be neglected until 1966, about 30 years later, when The Buffalo Parks Department created a plan to rehabilitate it. According to an article with the Buffalo News, WNY Rose Society donated 860 rose bushes to the garden in 2000. There are currently 33 flower beds with pinks, purples, reds, yellows, and whites. Since 2004 a full and continued maintenance of The Rose Garden has taken place due to the corporations between The City of Buffalo and The Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy. These breathtaking colors and the arbor arch leave The Rose Garden a popular site for wedding photos or even a spot to sit and enjoy the environment.
The Japanese Garden
2
The Japanese Garden is another garden in Delaware Park however, a completely different atmosphere. This Garden is on the other side of Hoyte lake and is more hidden by Cherry Blossom trees. The Japanese Garden brings a strong awareness to the presence of Cherry Blossom trees and encourages the planting of other Cherry Blossom trees. There are various monuments within the garden which honor donors who’ve made The Japanese Garden possible. The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy cares for the Cherry Blossom Trees and maintains this part of the park. The unique Cherry Blossom Tree grove is special to this garden, attracting wedding photography to an entire festival. There are many seasonal features of Delaware Park that extremely well known. The Buffalo Cherry Blossom Festival is a celebration of Japanese culture that takes place May 1st through May 5th. While this festival is of Japanese culture, this event brings many people of different ethnicities and backgrounds together to celebrate. The blooming Cherry trees attract photographers and tourists towards the park. Musical performances and venders fill the Japanese garden with a variety of children's activities and tea ceremonies.
The Ivy Arch Bridge The Ivy Arch Bridge while still a site to visit while in Delaware Park is not what it used to be. This feature in particular
is rather unique because it is one of the oldest structures Figure 3: Common post card in Buffalo, Ny in 1900
in the entire Buffalo Park System. Over time the Ivy that defined this bridge has died off and the shrubbery around the base is almost non-existent which can be seen in the photo from this year (Figure 4). Volunteers tried to restore the bridge in 1991 by planting more ivy and 3
shrubbery. Unfortunately, today the bridge still lacks the ivy and shrubbery present in its original glory.
Hoyt Lake One of the most defining features of Delaware park is the 43-acre lake, Hoyt Lake. Originally Figure 4: Original photo by Nicholas Sapone
named Gala Water, the lake was renamed in 1990 after the assemblyman William Hoyt. While Hoyt Lake has a very natural appearance, in particular most of the shorelines, it’s important to remember that it is manmade lake. An article from the Buffalo Rising explains that in 2010 the Department of Environmental Conservation Figure 5: Original photo by Nicholas Sapone
put
$150,000
towards
improving oxygen levels in Hoyt Lake. The
higher oxygen levels are important when maintaining wild life and plant life within the lake. In 2016, a harmful blue-green alga started to appear in the lake. When the algae bloom it can give off a rotten odor that is very unappealing for visitors of the park. The neighboring Sacajaquada Creek has been containing this alga as well as other pollutants for quite a while at this point which is why it did not surprise many environmentalists. The United States Army Corps of Engineers visited the park to conducted an analysis of various sediments and water samples. They later announced that there was no risk to human health. Today people enjoy the lake for boating, dog swimming, and even ice skating in the winter, However the signs with information and notice of the algae are present around the lake as seen in Figure 5.
4
The Reinstein Center The Reinstein Center was built in 1920 for Lenard Adams as a house and music studio. Adams also helped design this house. The Buffalo History Museum purchased this building in 1989 as part of the project “History lives here�. Julia Boyer Reinstein dedicated her life to restoring history and libraries around Cheektowaga. She along with others are the reason The Reinstein Center was able to be opened. The Buffalo History Museum later decided to name the building after her. While often overlooked the Reinstein Center is still often enjoyed by many park visitors.
The Marcy Casino One of the main attractions within Delaware Park is Marcy Casino. Unlike other features discussed this was originally designed as a boat house by Calvert Vaux. The boat house later had to be expanded because of its increasing popularity. This design is seen below in Figure 6. Unfortunately, this was destroyed by a fire in 1900. The building was later rebuilt by an architect named E.B. Green as a casino in time for the 1901 Pan American Exposition. As a 3 story Building this became a gathering point for the residents of the city. With its continued popularity the casino became known as The Delaware Park Casino. Today we know it as Marcy Casino after councilman William L. Marcy Jr., a Figure 6: "A History of the City of Buffalo," published by the The Buffalo Evening News, 1908
man who devoted himself to the casino and the City of Buffalo. Despite the name the
Marcy Casino is no longer a casino, today it is a well-loved restaurant. The Marcy Casino hosts
5
weddings along the waterfront of Hoyt Lake which is very appealing, especially with so many other great sites for wedding photos in the park.
The Buffalo History Museum The Buffalo Historical Society was formed in 1862. This group quickly collected photographs, artifacts, memorabilia, and other historic items to be displayed. In 1901 The Buffalo History Museum was constructed as the New York State pavilion for that year’s Pan-American Exposition. Designed by an architect local to Buffalo, George Cary, to fit The Buffalo History Museum after the expo. The building was later declared a national historic landmark in 1987. With the mission statement “Experiencing history with you, by remembering, discovering, and sharing our stories; sparking emotional and social connections within our unique community.”, The Buffalo History Museum is able to engage the park visitors. The low admission prices also allow the everyday person to be interested in exploring the museum.
Context Known as many Buffalonians’ favorite Olmsted park, it is also nationally recognized; it was named one of the Great Places in America by the American Planning Association in 2014 and one of the top 10 parks in the world by The Guardian in 2015. Delaware Park serves a key role in Buffalo, being a component of a city within a park concept. The park primarily effects the Elmwood village area and surrounding neighborhoods throughout the area. Delaware park is truly a part of the neighborhood and plays a role in in the lives of those who live near. People who live in this area may choose to use Delaware park as a means of commuting to school or to their jobs. During a survey of park users, a resident of the area explained how he bikes through the park five days a week in order to get to his job. The park is not only a get away from the busy Buffalo area but also a tool that is used by the Elmwood area to avoid busy streets. Delaware park is referred to as the “heart” of the community in WNY. The park contains many opportunities for events and actives.
6
Events and Activities in the Park The park hosts events such as Shakespeare in Delaware park which is an event where actors preform plays and musicals from mid-June to the third week August. The event was created in 1976 as an apprenticeship program for SUNY Buffalo to work alongside professional actors. People from the WNY area come to watch the performances, (Figure 7) where they can set up lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy a picnic in the park while enjoying a Shakespearian performance. As Seen in figure 7 there are plenty of opportunities and landmarks, like Shakespeare in the Park, provided in Delaware park. The cherry blossom festival is a similar event, where the Japanese cherry trees are in full bloom in the Japanese garden. This is a time for celebration of Japanese culture including tea ceremonies, musical performances and venders. There are many Figure 7: Photograph provided by Shakespeare in Delaware Park.
children's activities that bring in families from
all around WNY to enjoy this event. Photographers often join in this event and take pictures of the gorgeous cherry blossoms. There are many other events that occur in Delaware park from fundraisers to community picnics and concerts. The park a great space for events that allow the neighborhoods around the park more involved. The Buffalo History Museum is a large attraction in the Elmwood village area. Constructed in 1901 as the New York state pavilion for the Pan-American Exposition the Buffalo History Museum has historical background in the Buffalo area. Lastly, the Marcy casino hosts weddings, banquets, and large events. This is a great space for residents of the Delaware park area to come and enjoy events such as fundraisers, group events and family activities. As Seen in figure 7 there are plenty of opportunities and landmarks provided in Delaware park.
Delaware Park’s Relationship with Elmwood Village Residents
7
As a monument to the fabric of Buffalo as a city, Delaware park serves a huge purpose for the neighboring community of Elmwood village. Many people who were surveyed in the observation of the park noted that they choose to walk to the park from their homes which were close. Creating walking as a common form of transportation in Elmwood village eliminates the constant need for personal vehicles which build up traffic in the streets. The neighborhood benefits from this park by transitioning a suburban area into a walkable street filled with shops and restaurants without a need for
massive
parking
lots.
Delaware park is a key role in identifying Elmwood village. There
are
many
options for WNY residents in Delaware park which allows the park to accommodate a large range of people according to their preferences. With all of these events and areas, the park is able to sit well within
Figure 8: Google earth pro. (May 29th, 2017). Delaware Park, Buffalo, NY. [November 8th, 2019]
the fabric of the Elmwood
Figure 8: Original photos by Nicholas Sapone
community. Residents can pass in and out of the park as they please, visit events and activities and enjoys the park that is catered to them. In Figure 8 there are various examples of the features that residents along with other visitors can enjoy with their locations relative to each other within the park.
Conditions Delaware Park is one of the most inviting parks in Buffalo. This could be due to its large size and history or the conditions of the features present. The most important thing is that there are many features such as historic landmarks, art sculptures, open green spaces, a playground, and an open space next to Hoyt lake to enjoy lunch on a bench, look at the lake, or meet up with some friends. The overall conditions of these features are attractive to the public and is a main factor in what draws people in to make Delaware Park one of the more successful parks in Buffalo.
8
Historic Landmarks Delaware Park has many historic landmarks within it. The historic landmarks in Delaware park are maintained very well. All structures and statues are in great condition showing little to no deterioration. Due to the major history of the park it did not surprise us that landmarks were well maintained. In figure 9 is The Rienstien Center one example of the well-maintained historic landmarks in Delaware Park. In addition, the park is considered a historic district making it a priority to be maintained properly. However, one user stated that she didn’t like how bikers get the walking paths dirty with their bikes. The paths aren’t being well maintained on a day to day basis. In addition, we noticed that there were mass amounts of leaf piles. Figure 9: Original photo by Claudia Savoy
The park can certainly be maintained
better in terms of its paths and landscapes. Lastly there is a small amount of water that is severely polluted with garbage and other plastics. This is not properly maintained at all, it looked as if this garbage buildup has been there for weeks.
Art Sculptures There were a lot of sculptures present in the park. Most of these sculptures were to represent a person or a certain place. For example, there were two Abe Lincoln statues; one at the Buffalo History Museum and another in front of the Rose Garden. In addition, in the Japanese there are small Japanese sculptures as well as a bridge connecting two small islands in the water. All of these sculptures or statues represent something, users of the park cannot interact with them. The park lacks in art sculptures that the users can interact with. There is also the opportunity to create something that can appeal to people of all ages. By doing this it brings more people to different parts of the park.
Open Green Spaces
9
Throughout the entire Park there are many large open green spaces to enjoy. Some are sloped and have views of the lake, while others are flatter. These spaces can be used for anything whether it be a picnic or a game of Frisbee the green lawn is open for the public to use which people lack at their homes within the city. There are also soccer fields located a little further within the lightly forested area where children's leagues have games but is still open for whomever to use. However, there is poor lighting around the field which won't allow for these Figure 9: Original photo by Claudia Savoy
activities after dark. This variety of open
green spaces throughout Delaware Park is important for the everyday person when trying to escape the city life.
Playground The only playground in the park is near the Rose Garden. The park as a swing set, see-saws, and two jungle gyms with a few slides (figure 10). This area is definitely well sized for the area of the park that it is in. However, it is only one of its kind, there are no other parts of the park that are similar to this one. The area does not need to be renovated or enlarged; but other open green spaces can provide the same kind of amenities.
Figure 10: Original Photo by Nicholas Sapone
Since this playground is near the rose garden on the south west part of the park. By implementing a playground plot similar to this one, on the east side of the park, it will encourage users to walk around to it.
10
Marcy Casino Waterfront The park is not in need of renovations to become larger or smaller. However, there could be small additions into what is already there. Users explained that they loved the park and the scenery was beautiful. One man walking his dog described, “this park is an unburied treasure�. However, some stated that they wished there was more to interact with when walking around the park. Although the park is pretty in its views and fall colors it lacks in actual things to do during this season. This is where the possibility of Figure 11: Original photo by Patrick Delgobbo
implementing more activities that aren’t
seasonal come into play. By doing this the park will have more things for its users to interact with year-round. The park has many events during the spring and summer time to bring the community together. In Figure 11 there are many people enjoying the summertime weather at the Marcy Casino Waterfront. The park must be able to do that in the fall and winter to make the park just as popular during these seasons. Delaware park does not need to be renovated but new things should be implemented.
Challenges While exploring the unique topography of Delaware Park and visiting the site some challenges appeared that aren't always apparent when visiting the park for leisure. When visiting any park with an analytical lens allows a different viewpoint giving the ability to see challenges of a well-loved park. Some challenges observed within Delaware Park consists of continuous maintenance, parking, narrow paths, limited children's activities, and seasonal activities. These challenges while each individual may face one or a few of these are all worth considering when making improvements to Delaware Park. However, seasonal activities are one of the more important challenges that Delaware Park faces.
11
Maintenance Due to the large size of Delaware park it faces many maintenance challenges. The size of the park makes it very difficult for it to be properly maintained. The park has an interesting topography which also poses as a challenge for the maintenance crew. The park is very hilly and has a lot of trees, bushes, and other foliage present. This presented a lot of different things for the landscape maintenance crew to take care of. While walking around the lake one spot in particular had a build-up of branches, leaves, other natural materials as well as some garbage, seen in figure 12. Figure 12: Original Photo by Nicholas Sapone
There
were
many places that the grass was overgrown and not mowed on a weekly basis. In addition, there were small spots of grass that were dead. These parts of the
Figure 13: Original Photo by Claudia Savoy
grass were dead due to the infrastructure, “Shakespeare in Delaware Park� that is a seasonal event in the Spring and Summer. Another small obstacle that the park faces was the management of fallen leaves. There were a lot of piles of leaves that collected. It made the scenery of the park feel dirty and run down. Some of the leaves even piled up and became muddy on stairs as seen in figure 13. These are two brief obstacle’s that the park conflicts with in nature.
Parking
12
Another part of the park that posed as a challenge was overall parking. Since the park is so big and there is not a lot of space within it for parking which made it become a major challenge. It became difficult for users to be able to park near the landmark that they want to see, or simply to just park in close proximity to the park itself. At first, we didn’t believe that this was a challenge but after walking around the park we noticed how far the one lot was from many of the landmarks. The lot that we parked at was located in front of the Buffalo History Museum in the upper Northwest corner of the park. This was the only parking lot in the area of the park. However, there is additional street parking on Rumsey Road, on the southern side of Hoyt Lake. As well as Lincoln Parkway, which passes the Rose Garden, as well as Albright Knox Art Gallery. The lack of parking became a challenge for us and will be for long distance user but for the everyday visitor of the park parking is not a problem based on our surveys. However, on special events parking becomes limited and hard to find, which as a result may cause problems for visitors. For these reasons parking is a slight challenge, but as of now does not need to be addressed.
Narrow Paths Another Challenge that the park faces is the presence of both bikers and walkers. There is a path that borders the park for walkers and bikers. There is a major conflict between bikers and walkers because there are no bike lanes. An example of these narrow paths can be seen in figure 14. Many walkers in the park complained that they would get spooked by passing bikers, or would not be able to walk on the muddy path. This is a major challenge for the park because one path needs to cater to two different methods of getting around it. In the eyes of the biker it becomes a challenge to bike around people walking, dogs, and strollers. The biker has to weave through people rather than be Figure 14: Original Photo by Claudia Savoy
able to cruise at a regular speed.
Limited Children’s Activities Children are another challenge that the park faces. The park lacks in things for children to interact with. There is a small playground near the rose garden on southwest side of Hoyt lake. In 13
2016 the lake struggled with the way that it smelt during the spring/summer season. The source of the problem with the smell was the pump in the lake for the fountain. After examining the pump, it was realized that the blades were stuck which caused the fountain to stop working. The issue with this is that the fountain kept the water moving, which prevented the growth of algae. Since the fountain is not functioning there is a buildup of blue green algae in the water. This alga causes the lake to smell which is not appealing to its users.
Seasonal Activities A major challenge that the park faces is that the landmarks and festivities to interact with are seasonal. To start, the Rose Garden and the Japanese Garden are only functional during the spring and summer because it's a plant-based attraction. The most attractive feature of the Japanese Garden is the Cherry Blossom Festival which only occurs in early May. A photo from the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2019 is in figure 15. This makes it difficult for the park to appeal to users during the winter months because there are fewer activities offered. Although the main structural components still exist and are there to interact with, they do not have the same effect on the user as it would in the spring or summer. The park doesn’t seem to have any sort of attractions or events for the winter time. The park
Figure 15: Original photo by Patrick Delgobbo
certainly has an opportunity to bring in different things to do during the winter season. By doing this, the park can function as a place for visitors to enjoy the existing features but also to enjoy winter festivities.
14
Opportunities Frederick Law Olmsted, being the father of Delaware Park, leaves a monumental reputation behind with this park. The city of Buffalo is known for Olmsted's park system which means the opportunity for Delaware Park to thrive is limitless. While Delaware Park is one of Buffalo’s most popular parks, there are always opportunities that could make it more appealing to the public. Thus, improving Delaware park would be a phenomenal method to enhance Buffalo’s reputation. Moreover, it is self-evident that making some improvements to Delaware park can ameliorate the quality of lives of Buffalo citizens. With the attraction of many visitors a year the publics opinion is extremely present and important. Some of the larger opportunities available within Delaware Park are the wide variety of locations for wedding photos, the mix between nature and cityscape, public art, and education. Capitalizing on these opportunities will provide the park with a stronger sense of its original atmosphere while enriching the community with a history and futuristic education.
Wedding Photography Delaware park’s large green spaces provide all residents of the city with a variety of public entertainment facilities and scenic reserves, which are protected from destruction and commercial development of particularly beautiful landscapes. To be more specific, The Rose Garden is a very popular location for weddings and wedding photos. If people want an outdoor location for a wedding ceremony, this is a glamorous spot in an historic park. Designed by Frederic Law Olmstead for the Pan American Exposition, the Rose garden is steps away from Hoyt Lake which provides wonderful wedding photos. The Marcy Casino has recognized the abundance of wedding photography within the park and performs the ceremony inside and on the waterfront property of Hoyt lake. The staircase between The Rose Garden and Hoyt Lake waterfront however is being underutilized and with certain improvements could provide a beautiful location for wedding photography with a different setting than the typical park view. Across the lake and Delaware Avenue, The Japanese Garden also provides a spectacular location for wedding photos. Figure 16: Original photo of Patrick Delgobbo
During early spring when the cherry blossom 15
trees are blooming, the Japanese Garden is especially popular for its festival and photography. The falling pink and white petals bring color to the atmosphere while providing a backdrop for weddings. An example of these beautiful petals can be seen in Figure 16. This collection of locations for photography, specifically wedding photography attracts many visitors, however seasonal.
Views of Nature and Cityscape Despite the fact that it is only a man-made park, Olmsted wanted the park to be all about engaging the people with nature and strived to maintain the natural character of the land, which has become the feature of Olmsted's garden design. Due to the fact that enjoying the scenery can relax people's spirit without feeling tired, make people quiet, let the feeling of spirit run through the whole body, and make people get a pleasant rest and excitement. In stark contrast, modern city dwellers are increasingly isolated from nature, and natural elements and processes are increasingly invisible. Skylines, horizons and horizontal lines at the foot of distant mountains are almost all abstract terms. Sewage treatment plants, landfills, power plants and substations are deliberately hidden and made ugly. The disappearance and process of natural landscape, as well as the structure and process support system of urban life, make people unable to care about the current situation and future of the environment, or the daily behavior and process control of natural landscape, or care about the current situation and future of the environment, or control the daily behavior of environmental ecology. Yet, more than 100 years later, Delaware park is still a place for citizens to relax and meet. Meanwhile, dozens of hectares of dense trees have become the last habitat for all kinds of wildlife on the isolated island of the city. Therefore, Delaware park deserves to be a candidate for improvement.
Public Art
16
The public art that is available throughout Delaware park is beautiful according to the public. There is a mix of replicas of famous works as well as originals of various artists. What is most common is various statues of President Lincoln. While there were many to see one statue is seen in figure 17. Visiting the site and talking to the public it is clear that there is available space and the request for more public art within the park. This is a great opportunity for the park’s overall experience and to expand the culture within the park. By introducing new works of art, especially those by local artists, can create a more inviting and welcoming space for a community. A wider variety of art will also help attract a wider Figure 17: Original photo of Nicholas Sapone
demographic to Delaware Park. After examining the
demographics of the area, seen in the demographics section, introducing a wider culture is highly beneficial for Delaware park.
Education The opportunity for education within Delaware Park is extremely high. Ranging from a historical education to an environmental education or even every day facts to increase the knowledge of the physical park. Beyond that, in the Fall season Delaware Park would be a great place to organize activities like giving the opportunity of a volunteer group to rake leaves and bring them to a compost facility and having some picnic and so on. A collaboration between a university or college with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy can prove to increase the legacy of the parks as well as the programs offered through a school. So, improving the park is highly beneficial a person's quality of life, which make their crucial and happy moments in life more enjoyable. These opportunities within Delaware Park while may seem minimal will make a large impact on the park. With a park that is highly successful there may appear to be less opportunity available but with this range of opportunity a wide demographic of people can be affected with minor improvements or additions. Overall Delaware Park is in great condition but has the opportunity to become inviting to a wider demographic. 17
Demographics Using Social Explorer to research the which census tracts would best fit the demographics around Delaware park, it was determined that census tract 54 and 63.02 were most appropriate. This data can best be seen in Figure 18. While researching the demographics around the Delaware Park area, primarily looking at census tracks 54 and 63.02 which are located north and south of the park, a range of information was collected. The data found for the demographics of the park is critical in knowing the population and use of the park. People range in demographics from age and sex to earnings and poverty. From the data found in American fact finder, it is shown that surrounding the
Figure 18: Social Explorer map
park is a middle class and upper middle-class neighborhood. In this area is Elmwood village, a busy area in the upper Buffalo area which is home to many shops, venues and Buffalo State Collage. Compared to the surrounding city of Buffalo, the Elmwood village and Delaware park area are entirely different.
Income and Home Value
18
The census tract 54 which is the northern neighborhood to the park shows that the mean annual earnings are $82,374. Census tract 63.02, the southern neighborhood’s mean income was $74,7544. From this data it is shown that the neighborhoods surrounding
Delaware
park are home to middle class and upper middleclass
residents.
The
housing values in this area range from the Figure 19: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1901, (Income in the past 12 months), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
upper
$500,000
to
$1.2million range which makes
this
area
completely different from the overall Buffalo area. Most homes around buffalo range from $75,000 to $250,000 making housing in the Buffalo area affordable. The housing value and ins come of residents in this neighborhood is a separate entity than the rest of the Buffalo area. Only people with a higher than average income can live in this area. As seen in figure 19, the average household income for these two census tracts between 2013 and 2017. However, more households have higher incomes.
19
Sex and Age Sex and age are very important characteristics to understand the make up of the Delaware park area. As seen in figures 20 and 21, the most popular age range was from 25 to 39 years old. This means that younger people and families are moving into this area. Having a younger population around the park can lead to a more extensive use of the park since the younger population is more likely to utilize the parks facilities. In each side of the park there is a higher population of female residents Figure 20: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0101, (Sex and age), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7 th, 2019).
than
male.
From
this
information it is noted that the neighborhoods surrounding the park
are home to middle class young families. Looking at census data it is also observed that most of the surrounding area has a population of residents who have received a bachelor’s degree or higher. This shows that the area is compiled of residents who have reached a high level of education and may utilize and acclimate to the park's museums and history exhibits greater than those who may have not reached the same amount of education. The data proves that
the
Neighborhoods
around
Delaware park, such as Elmwood village, are home to educated young families.
Figure 21: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0101, (Sex and age), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
20
Race and Ethnicity The neighborhoods around Delaware park are not as diverse as the rest of the city of Buffalo. From the data shown in figures 22, the population is primarily white with only 9% black or African American in census track 54 and 8% in other races. In Figure 23, it can be seen that only %10 black or African American residents in census track 63.02 and only 5% in other races. While neither of these two neighborhoods are diverse census tract 54 has a slightly wider range of races present opposed to census tract 63.02 which only has Figure 22: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B02001, (Race), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
4 classifications present, White 85%, Black or African American
10%, Asian 4%, and Mixed, 1%. This statistic differs from neighborhoods further away from the park and Buffalo as a whole. There is a larger percentage of African American residents in the Buffalo Erie county than what is shown in the neighborhoods around Delaware park. This data shows that the area isn’t very diverse in race compared to Buffalo as a whole. Due to these
statistics
and
observations in the park it is
Figure 23: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table B02001, (Race), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoyusing Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
21
evident that Delaware park isn’t very diverse either. During the observations and surveys in the park, it was noted that almost all visitors where white. From the observations and statistics provided from American Fact finder, it is evident that the Delaware park area needs to become more diverse in race and ethnicity. Through our recommendations this diversification can become more prevalent.
Disability Disability serves a role in understanding the context and residents in the Elmwood village area and surrounding neighborhoods of Delaware park. From the data observed from both figure 24 and 25, the highest percent of disability
comes
from
the
demographic of those who have hearing difficulty. Around 1/5 of the population in the county has a hearing disability. As a common disability, the park has no problem adhering to those with hearing disabilities since there is a lot of Figure 24: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S1810, (Disability), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7 th, 2019).
signage around the park. However, with the highway cutting through the
park the heavy traffic could be a problem for the deaf if they are unaware of the pedestrian bridge. There should be better signage to show
where
and
what
the
pedestrian bridge is. Another common disability in this area is cognitive skills. Depending on the level of this disability it may be helpful for those with a cognitive disability to enjoy a walk around the park or enjoy the outdoors in a way that they are able to. Within our recommendation there are
Figure 25: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S18180, (Disability), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
recommended climbing and interactive sculpture/ public art for children to play with. This could 22
help those with a cognitive disability develop more skills. There is also a high level of vision disability in the Delaware park area as well as disabilities such as independent living difficulty, selfcare difficulty and, ambulatory care. As for those residents with a vision disability, Delaware park offers a wide variety of audio guided tours and programs that help though with disabilities enjoy time in the park.
Transportation During our survey of the Delaware park area, we found that many visitors walked to the park from their homes which were close by. There were also many bikers in the park that rode to the park to enjoy a scenic bike ride. As for the surrounding neighborhoods it is shown in figures 26 and 27 that most of the population drives their own separate vehicles in order to commute to work or school. There is only a small percentage of those who walk or ride bikes to their destination. Compared to the Buffalo Figure 26: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801, (Transportation), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
area
however
the
percentages are higher in the Elmwood village area and the
Delaware park are for transportation by walking or biking. There is also a small percentage of those who
choose
public
transportation as their means of commuting in the Delaware park area. Within the park there was a completely different attitude towards transportation. Almost everyone surveyed chose to walk to the park and talked about using a method other than
Figure 27: U.S. Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, Table S0801, (Transportation), generated by Patrick Delgobbo & Claudia Savoy using Census Lookup; http://factfinder.census.gov;(data retrieved on November 7th, 2019).
23
driving as a way to get to and from where they needed or wanted to go. The difference between people inside the park and what the US Census Bureau provided is interesting to look at when considering why this would be this case. The most likely reason is that visitors of the park are enjoying the nature and following what Olmsted was hoping to accomplish with his park of creating a cleaner city.
User surveys In order to fully understand the public’s view of Delaware Park, the needs and opinions, a survey of the park was conducted. Prior to visiting the park, the creation of an observation form and a survey sheet was created. Along with these materials a dedicated sketchbook was used to further assist the investigation. Questions created to ask the public about the park include but were not limited to: ▪
How often do you visit Delaware Park?
▪
About how far do you live from Delaware Park?
▪
What time of day do you usually visit Delaware Park?
▪
When do you come to Delaware Park?
▪
How satisfied are you with the overall park?
▪
Why do you visit Delaware Park and what is your favorite activity?
▪
Do you have any suggested improvements?
While planning to give these surveys to visitors to fill out, upon the first attempt we found ourselves asking these questions while writing their responses. Most people were very willing, happy to answer the questions
with
additional feedback park
for the
as
well.
Visiting a
park
towards end of fall Buffalo
the in can be 24
problematic when attempting to gain the publics input due to the cold temperatures, wind, and rain. Fortunately, there were quite a few people present in Delaware Park giving the responses in the following table. (Figure 28)
Figure 28: Table Generated by Claudia Savoy
After surveying the public, it was clear that the general consensus was of high satisfaction with Delaware Park. While some visitors visit almost every day, even multiple times a day, others attended sporadically. One thing that was consistent is that visitors are long time visitors, one woman has been coming to Delaware park for 47 years. Another visitor talked about riding his bike to and from work every day through Delaware Park. Although these visitors all appears to enjoy the park, they almost all still had some improvements they would like to see which include: ▪
Fixing the stinky lake smell.
▪
Wider paths because the bikers make them muddy when it rains.
▪
Stop lights in the I98 to slow traffic because the pedestrian bridge is not enough to keep the area safe, especially for children.
Visitors gave some new ideas as well: ▪
More climbing features such as large rocks throughout the park
▪
Adding WIFI, perhaps putting the routers in monuments bases
▪
More public art and sculptures
▪
An ice cream stands at the boat house
Discussing improvements and new ideas with the public gave them a sense that their voice was being heard. This allowed each of them to feel more comfortable to give their feedback for 25
improving the park. These comments are critical to a complete survey because they allow us, the investigators, to understand what the public really wants, not just what we think they want. When asked for additional comments' visitors left: ▪
Great place for family photos
▪
Love to have some nature within the city
▪
Very happy about the well maintained and clean bathrooms
These comments all showed the visitors love of the park. While observing the visitor's behavior their comments and responses lined up to agree with each other. One visitor however, made many suggestions for improvements but, told us he was writing a letter on a bench that said “walking is great for thinking”. He later told us to come back the next day because there will be more people on a Sunday. He has many ways to improve the park but still chooses to visit multiple times a week. After surveying people who have been attending Delaware Park for 47 years and people who have only been a few times there is a wide variety of viewpoints with the same opinions of the park.
Observations Visiting Delaware Park there were some general observations made of what was present and what was available at the time of investigations. Observing inanimate objects, to people's behaviors, to unused features give a sense of what condition the park is in upon a site visit and how it compares to research found. Comparing the given to what was is seen is important to consider because when actually visiting Delaware Park our observations were rather different in some areas than what we expected based upon data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Inanimate Features Inanimate features include lights, picnic tables, benches, trash cans, and recycling cans. While this is only a small portion of the feature that can be analyzing at Delaware Park these are some of the most important. Lights provide the illusion of safety for pedestrians, picnic tables and benches provide a space for people to sit, and trash/ recycling cans help keep the park clean. These basic features are all important for the everyday visit to the park and yet all appeared to be lacking. As seen
26
in the chart (Figure 29), there were only 33 lights observed in Delaware Park. This lack of lighting is problematic for many reasons; however, the lighting present was in very good condition. When people visit a park in nicer weather, they often bring a lunch or plan a picnic type event with family or friends. Delaware Park, while spaces available, only has two picnic tables that were observed. This is a major opportunity to capitalize on as well in order to draw more families to the park in the warmer months. There were also only 15 benches observed when walking the entire park. Most of these benches were in a cluster outside of Marcy Casino. With such a limited number of benches around the lake older people or people who might not be able to walk Figure 29: Table Generated by Claudia Savoy
the whole distance without stopping for a break are
not able to partake in enjoying a walk around Hoyt Lake. Upon arrival there was a trash can and a recycling can located near the Japanese Garden. After walking the paths along the lake and around the park two more trash cans were found near the Marcy Casino. With this limited amount of trash/ recycling cans it is difficult to keep Delaware Park clean. With just a few more cans around the park perhaps near the playground or soccer field the park will have a designated place for trash.
People Even though the weather is changing into late fall and the temperatures are dropping, quite a few people were visiting Delaware Park. Their forms of transportations were very interesting to observe. Everyone who was surveyed said they chose to walk to the park that day and that they usually do. This is interesting when comparing to a it, an urban park, to a park in a more suburban area like, Ellicott Creek Park. In the rural area even though people live closer they still choose to drive to the park whereas in/ around Delaware park people are choosing to walk.
27
Within Delaware Park there was a wide variety of modes of transportation. Some of our observations were put into a chart in figure 30. The mass was people walking. People were out in the park to walk their dogs, walk their children in a stroller, walk in groups, and even slow strolls to enjoy the scenery. Many people were also running on the paths around Hoyte Lake some even with their dogs. While this seemed to be the most popular form of transportation within the park there were others. Bikers were prominent throughout Delaware Park and while mostly nice were a little problematic for some with the narrow paths. Comparing these trends to the trends of Figure 30: Table Generated by Claudia Savoy
the census tracts next to the park it's pretty clear to see
the difference. Based on the given data the main mode of transportation. This may seem out of place but our survey was only analysis of people visiting the park. Comparing the observed races to the data collected from the U.S. Census Bureau appear to be the same, majority white. This could be due to the surrounding neighborhoods being mainly uppermiddle household income levels. While the surrounding areas are primarily white Delaware Park is open to the whole city. With its rich history it should be able to draw in a wider demographic. By expanding the diversity within the park, the demographic can match the transportation data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Recommendations Park Mission: To make Delaware Park inviting to a wider demographic while providing a range of environmental, historical, and artistic education. When making a recommendation for Delaware Park we looked at our observed challenges, conditions of each features as well as all of the responses from people surveyed. The publics opinion is really what drove our proposal. Improvements made that follow their requests with influence from what's needed will benefit Delaware Park and the city by allowing an Olmsted park to continue thriving. With infrastructural additions and community engagement elements Delaware Park will be able to provide a wide education and draw in a wider demographic for the area while improving smaller problems faced within the park. Making Delaware Park more inviting and kept at the high
28
standard it is expected to be at, with the Olmsted reputation, is key to maintaining the parks success in the future. Considering where to gain funding for our suggested improvements to Delaware Park, Environmental Protection Funds and Consolidated Funding Applications could apply. Delaware Park is a New York State park where we are recommending improvements in historical preservation of the park as well as recreational purposes. By making improvements while maintaining the parks historical reputation is a priority for our plan. Delaware Park’s historical element is essential to the City of Buffalo.
Infrastructural Additions
Trash & Recycling Cans After a site visit in Delaware Park and surveys it’s clear that trash and Recycling cans is a problem. From observation we can see only 3 trash cans and 1 recycling can in this area, which would make visitors inconvenient to deal with the rubbish. The placement of trash cans makes the proper disposal of garbage more likely. Recycling within the park will help build the reputation of the park while also helping the environment. The cleanliness of trash cans and the integrated use of environmental resources reflect the level of the city government's management of parks and the quality of the city's residents. Whether it is investment or tourism, investors or tourists, the first concern is not the economic development of the park, but the image of the park. So, the importance of
Figure 31: Central Park Conservancy
increasing trash cans and external impact are self-evident. More trash and recycling cans in central have increased the cleanliness around the park which can be seen in the photo of Central Park. (Figure 31). A cleaner park and place to put garbage will be important for our next recommendation as well, an ice cream stand. Ice Cream Stand
29
A small ice cream stand can be opened on the waterfront of the casino area where the boats are launched and there are other vendors in the summer. This will be adding to the seasonal activities which while one of the challenges of Delaware Park is still part of what makes it thrive during the summer seasons. One of the important purposes of Olmsted’s park is releasing stress for people, Ice cream puts brings a smile to both children and adults faces. With a children’s soccer field and a playground close to the waterfront this makes a perfect location for an ice cream stand in the summer months. After a soccer game or on a hot day many visitors may crave something as simple as an ice cream cone. With some vendors already existing, like a spot for smoothies, this ice cream stand has the Figure 32: Original photo by Yumeng Chen
potential to thrive as
well. In figure 32 is a photo of the water front where an ice cream stand can be placed. With this ice cream stand being a specific request from a visitor surveyed, it is important to implement small features to continue to bring these visitors and others to the park. Their request also shows the demand for this feature to be put in place.
Separate Pedestrian & Bike Paths Even though Delaware park is rapidly developing, the government is encouraging citizens to ride bicycles, which are the best form of environmentally friendly transportation and save energy. Although the road in the park is becoming more and more unobstructed, visitors' travel problems seem to be gradually upgraded, among which the most economical, convenient and fast bicycle travel is facing great pressure. Therefore, some visitors who use bicycles as the main means of travel report to us, hoping to ameliorate this problem. A surveyed visitor talked
Figure 33: Central Park Conservancy park map.
30
about riding his bike to and from work every day. With this as a main form of transportation for those living in the nearby areas, many people were riding bikes although were not stopped to be surveyed, the width of the paths need to be considered. Many
pedestrians
surveyed
were
unappreciative of the bikers on the path and often complained of how muddy the bikers made the paths after a rain storm. With separate bike paths and pedestrians throughout the park this problem would be eliminated. Within Central Park, another Figure 34: Central Park Conservancy park map.
Olmsted park, there are designated bike paths
and pedestrian paths where the other is prohibited. Figure 33 shows a part of a map of central Park with dedicated lanes. Figure 34 shows the key for these lanes. If we were to simply expand the lanes the bikers and pedestrians would still fight for their own space on the path not know whose side was whose and continuing to muddy the path after storms. For these reasons’ biker must be prohibited on pedestrian paths. This will also increase the safety for each individual. With dedicated bike lanes within the park there will also increase the motivation for people to consider biking as an option within Delaware Park.
Lighting Based on our observations and Delaware Park being a 24-hour park we are recommending that there be more lights around the park, Hoyt Lake in particular. There is currently no lighting around the lake which is dangerous considering the park is open after dark and at some places the path gets very close to the edge of the water. (Figure 35) With increased lighting it will also provide the illusion of safety for visitors which is also key for having an inviting park within the city. While we do believe that lighting is important throughout the park it is also important to keep the original plan of the park, to bring nature
Figure 35: Original photo by Claudia Savoy
31
to the city. For this reason, we are suggesting a soft light over a brighter light to be less harsh on the environment. Community Engagement
Educational elements Inserting certain educational programs into the park system will be beneficial for the parks history, reputation, and all those studying it. Partnering the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy with a university or college for an environmental project will further expand the diversity within the park while providing a hands-on experience for students. One education program could be related to during the fall semester in relation to the composting and environmental studies. Based on the surveys and feedback we received people are very interested in having the leaves from Delaware park collected to be composted in a local facility. A local environmental conservation and health professor who was in the park asked for a program similar to this. With a professor already interested in this program it has the potential to go far. On an everyday scale implementing distance maps around the park can be exciting for children and adults. Some informational markers already exist around the park containing historical descriptions about the park's features. Introducing the distance maps can also inspire some people to be more interested in an everyday walk around the park. Knowing the small facts, such as how far the path is around the park, can spark the interest of many visitors. These community engagement opportunities within the park show how we can provide a wider education of the park and within the park. Expanding the programs available will build on the reputation of Delaware Park giving the City of Buffalo a new way to see the park system.
Public art Delaware park could also be improved by strengthening the public art. The most essential characteristic of public art is to interact with the public space and the people. Traditional public art is a manifestation of the regional culture of the region in the form of sculpture. As the name card of the city, the iconic sculptures of many parks play an important role in the tourism industry of the city because they activate the economy and culture of the park. It has a huge cohesion, the charm of art it
32
sends out makes every resident in the subtle influence. Excellent public art works can improve the visibility of the park, establish a brand image, bring great economic benefits to the park. Public art in Delaware Park, being not only sculpture but also a visual presentation of the community, establishes a new form of communication for local residents and the residents of Buffalo. Such sharing and communication are conducive to enhancing the sense of identity and belonging of the local community. By inviting local artists to come and create sculptures for the park can enhance this sense of communication and community. Considering the lack of benches within Delaware Park a project welcoming various local artist to create sculptures for people to sit on as a bench throughout the park will be beneficial for many. As there were requests for more climbing elements within the park for children, this project will also satisfy this request. To add to this these sculptures can embody the Olmsted spirit through the materials used as well as the final product. There are also platforms for people to interact with each other, so that people can have a dialogue, so that various opinions can be presented. The addition of this new type of public art throughout Delaware Park will expand the culture within the park to include a more artistic community. This will provide a hands-on education for visitors about the artists living in their communities as well as the different point of view for many on what art can be within Delaware park. With the goal of making the park more inviting to a wider group of people these new sculptures will attract attention of new people and possibly add new longterm visitors to Delaware Park.
Best practices When understanding the decisions made under the recommendations section for Delaware park, it is helpful to look at other parks around the world that have implemented the same ideas which we are recommending for Delaware park. Observing different parks and seeing how they operate with facilities and programs that are in consideration for Delaware park helps construct an overall plan for consideration. Observations on pubic interaction with the park may include food venders, trash and recycling facilities, playgrounds, paths and walkway designs, and public art.
Central Park
33
Central park may be the most infamous park in the world. The park is a key landmark in the center of the bustling city of Manhattan. Like Delaware park, Central park was also designed and built by Fredrick Law Olmstead. The two parks show many similarities from the layout of a lake feature, great lawns, and zoos. Central park however serves a much larger demand of visitors than Delaware park. Although Central park sees more visitors it doesn’t mean that Delaware park is any less significant. Central park has utilized many of the recommendations we have made for Delaware park and the park serves as a perfect case study for our ideal view of Delaware park. One of the most common complaints with Delaware park is about the use of bikes in the park. Some people complain that bikers are carless in that they speed past walker in the park or that they may track mud on the walking paths. Currently, the Hoyte lake section of Delaware park only has one path for both walkers and bikers to use. In Central park, many of these bike related issues are addressed by the implementation of separate bikes lanes and paths. In these bike lanes, users must obey the rules of following one-way signs and the bikers aren't allowed to bike on pedestrian paths or landscapes. By separating cyclist and pedestrians, many of these issues would be put to rest. Central park is an excellent model for the separation of pedestrians and Bike users. Central park has a luge number of recycling bins as well as separated trash cans all through the park. Delaware park on the other hand only has a few trash cans scattered around the park and only a few recycling bins. When in Central park you can dispose of bottles and cans easily but in Delaware park, it is harder to find recycling bins, so users tend to place bottles and cans into the trash cans. The implementation of more recycling bins in Delaware park would benefit our community by encouraging recycling just like Central park.
34
Another aspect of Central park is that the park has many interactive elements from climbing walls to playgrounds. As seen in figure 36, there is a natural looking climbing wall and playground area where kids can play in the park. If there were features like this in Delaware park, there may be a higher amount of family visitors so the kids can play on the landscapes. To incorporate interactive landscapes into a park, Central park does an excellent job and is shown as a role model for other parks around the world including Delaware park. During the surveys of Delaware park, it was noted that there was a need for an ice cream stand or food vender in the park. Central park is a great inspiration
Figure 36: Original photo by Patrick Delgobbo
and case study for this cause because the park is known for having hotdog stands and ice cream stands all over the park. Currently Delaware park has a juice stand but that doesn’t accommodate for most of the visitors at the park. Ice cream stands and other food stands would benefit Delaware park by bringing in more visitors that wish to enjoy something to eat while they are in the park.
Englischer Garten
35
The Englischer Garten in Munich, Germany presents a lot of aspects of a park that we wanted to implement into Delaware park. To start the park is massive, approximately 3.7 km2 in area along the Isar river. This park is one of the largest if not the largest urban park in the entire world. It provides multiple amenities for people to interact with all over the park. There are open green spaces, landmarks, beer gardens, as well as the Isar river that people can swim and surf in. Also, the park has a large lake that is a part of the Isar River (Figure 37), where users can rent paddle boats. There are different aspects of the park that Delaware park does have, as well as aspects that Delaware park doesn’t have. Overall, the aspects that Englischer Garten does have, work extremely well within it. Figure 37: Original picture by Nicholas Sapone
Englischer Garden is missing a couple amenities that we also found to be missing in Delaware Park. The biggest one is bike lanes. In both Englischer Garden and Delaware Park, walkers and biker are subject to the same path. This made the paths dirty and unsafe in both places. The parks encourage biking, so by having bike lanes bikers can ride safely. The walkers or joggers will also be able to roam all the paths of the park safely with the presence of bike lanes. Next, there was a lack of garbage cans in the Englischer Garden. Specifically, there was a lack of garbage cans in areas that
Figure 38: Original photo by Nicholas Sapone
didn’t have food related structures. These places were typically the open grass plots along the river. (Figure 38). By having garbage cans in these areas, it will encourage people of the park to picnic and come to this green space more often. This principle is also present in Delaware Park. On the contrary, the park has a few things in it already that we wanted to implement into Delaware Park. The park has two beer gardens within it. A beer garden is an outdoor area that people can freely buy food and eat as well as drink beer. It is very easy for users to stop by the beer garden 36
for food and drinks or just to sit and hangout. Although it would be hard to have something like this in Delaware Park, the park could do something similar, like a picnic area. In addition to the beer gardens there are a multitude of small food and drink kiosks throughout the park. These places had bottled beverages, snacks, ice cream, and other small meals for users to take on the go. Delaware park does not have any of these amenities.
Onondaga Lake park As a smaller park in upstate New York, Onondaga lake park is feature outside of the city of Syracuse. For many years, Onondaga lake park has been going through changes to make it a more appealing park to visit. The park currently has facilities like skate parks, bike rentals, playgrounds and separated pedestrian paths and bike paths. Since Onondaga lake park is smaller than Delaware park the it shouldn't be difficult to implement similar features and functions. One of the largest amenities of Onondaga lake park is the Wegmans playground. This playground is a key feature for the residents and families of the Syracuse area because it is a safe playground with children's activities, sport and community games. The park offers Bocce ball leagues and pick up baseball and ultimate frisbee games. This community involvement in the park would greatly benefit Delaware park as more of a community park. Currently Delaware park holds a few events a year but the implementation of weekly community activities would improve the overall park.
Art Park Art park is a local park to the Buffalo area, located north of Niagara Falls in the town of Lewiston. This is a unique park that serves the purpose of displaying pubic art in a natural environment. The park is organized in a way where every sculpture or art piece is laid out in a natural way that expresses itself to the user of the park. As seen in Figure 39, there are wooded sculptures that allow themselves to be interacted with by the visitors of the park. Unlike Delaware park, Art park is full of public art that may be enjoyed by the visitors.
37
Looking at Art park as a case study for Delaware park shows the importance of implementing pubic art into the park space. People enjoying viewing local art and knowing how artistic their community is. Many art pieces
in
Art
park
have
been
completed by local colleges and Universities which contribute to the overall community. If Delaware park were to implement the use of public art from local schools, there may be a
Figure 39: Original photo by Patrick Delgobbo
greater sense of community in the park.
Conclusions With these recommendations fulfilling our park mission of making Delaware Park a more culturally diverse while providing a range of educations and maintaining the Olmsted legacy can be completed. Diversifying a city park brings a new life to a park and introduces people to a wider point of view. Based on the publics wants and needs, our observations and research our recommendations will help Delaware Park and the City of Buffalo further the park system which provides such a significant role in Buffalo’s history.
38
Appendix Photos
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
Demographics
49
50
51
52
53
54
Maps & Tables
55
56
57
58
59
User Surveys & Observation forms
60
61
62
63
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Master Script NICK Slide 1: Greetings, today me, Nicholas Sapone, and my partners, Yumeng Chen, Claudia Savoy, and Patrick Delgobbo will be speaking about a mini masterplan that we have created for Olmsted’s Delaware Park.
Slide 2: Our park mission was to make Delaware Park inviting to a wider demographic while providing a range of environmental, historical, and artistic educations.
Slide 3: Delaware Park has two neighboring neighborhoods around it, Elwood Village and Park Meadow. The park seemed to be walking distance for many of the users living in these areas. Many of the houses in Elmwood Village consisted of mother daughter like housing. This means that there were two small apartments within the house, one on the top, one on the bottom. In addition, the houses were lined close together along the street with no front yard or backyard. To the residents in Elmwood Village the park serves as a place for people to be outside and utilize green space. However, in Park Meadow, the houses are much large with more private property but in very close proximity to Delaware Park, sometimes across the street.
Slide 4: Delaware Park was created by Frederick Law Olmsted. Something interesting about the history of this park is how it is a part of a much larger park system by Olmsted. Olmsted wanted to create a series of interconnected parks throughout the city, proposing the notion of a city within a park. There are three major parks that are a part of this interconnected plan; Delaware Park, Front Park, and Martin Luther King Jr. Park. For our mini master plan, we decided to focus on the area surrounding
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Hoyt Lake. We decided this because the other parts of Delaware Park don't have much purpose, one being a golf course, the other being Forest Lawn Cemetery.
Slide 5: There is a number a number of landmarks in our selected area of the park, some of these are: The Buffalo History Museum, Japanese Garden, Marcy Casino, Rose Garden, Ivy Arch Bridge, Albright Knox Art Gallery, and the Reinstein Center. These are the attractions that are in place at Delaware Park. However, there are many more activities and attractions for users to interact with.
Slide 6: There are other events that are held at the park that aren’t necessarily landmarks. These events typically take place seasonally. Some of these events are: Shakespeare in Delaware Park, Cherry Blossom Festival, Ice Skating, and the Marcy Casino Waterfront. All of these events are made to bring the Delaware Park community together. Although these events are not year-round, they are effective in bringing a large amount of people to the park, whom always come back to use it outside of seasonal events.
YUMENG
Slide 7: Firstly, let’s start with history landmark of Delaware park. Delaware Park has many historic landmarks within it. They are also maintained very well. In figure is The Rienstien Center one example of the well-maintained historic landmarks in Delaware Park.
In addition, there were a lot of sculptures present in the park. Most of these sculptures were to represent a person or a certain place.
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Throughout the entire Park there are many large open green spaces to enjoy. These spaces can be used for anything which people lack at their homes within the city.
Another figure shows the beautiful scene of the Marcy casino waterfront.
Slide 8: Let’s talk about the challenge part of Delaware park. Due to the large size of Delaware park it faces many maintenance challenges. The size of the park makes it very difficult for it to be properly maintained. So, people usually can see a build-up of branches, leaves, we can see it in figure.
parking. Since the park is so big and there is not a lot of space within it for parking which made it become a major challenge.
Another Challenge that the park faces is the presence of both bikers and walkers. There is a major conflict between bikers and walkers because there are no bike lanes. An example of these narrow paths can be seen in figure.
Children are another challenge that the park faces. The park lacks in things for children to interact with. Because there is only one playground in the park is near the Rose Garden.
Slide 9: Let’s talk about why we need to improve Delaware park. Firstly, Frederick Law Olmsted, being the father of Delaware Park, leaves a monumental reputation behind with this park. And city of Buffalo is known for Olmsted's park system. So, improving Delaware park would be a phenomenal method to enhance Buffalo’s reputation.
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The Rose Garden is a very popular location for weddings and wedding photos. this is a glamorous spot in an historic park. Designed by Olmstead.
The public art that is also available throughout Delaware park. There is a mix of replicas of famous works. This is a great opportunity by introducing new works of art, especially those by local artists.
Moreover, the opportunity for education within Delaware Park is extremely high. For example, in the Fall season Delaware Park would be a great place to organize activities like giving the opportunity for volunteer groups to rake leaves. So, improving the park is highly beneficial people’s quality of life, and make their lives more enjoyable.
PATRICK Slide 10: While making observations of the people and visitors of Delaware park, we primarily focused on the areas of Elmwood Village (census tract 63.02) and Park Meadow (census tract 54). These areas are key points in understanding Delaware park since most of the visitors in the park are those who live a walking distance away. To fully understand these areas and determine the current use for the park, it is important to look at the demographics of the residents in these neighborhoods.
Slide 11: Looking at the race by population of the neighborhoods we can observe how that the majority of residents are white only. This statistic is completely different than the overall buffalo area. As seen on the social explorer map, the blue portion is the population of white only and the red is those from another race. The Buffalo city area is mostly diverse in race however the Delaware park is a poor representation of diversity.
Slide 12:
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The average household income is from $50,000 to $150,000 where the average household income for the city of Buffalo is $34,814. The housing prices range from $400,000 to a little over $1,000,000 compared the average home price in the overall Buffalo area being $94,000. These neighborhoods show a completely different housing market than the surrounding buffalo area. These two neighborhoods are comprised of middle class to upper middle-class residents.
Slide 13: The highest population in these areas are those in the age range of 25 to 39 years old. The lowest population is those above the age of 70. This shows that the residents of these neighborhoods are young families and young professionals. This is great for the park since the younger population is more likely to visit the park and utilize its facilities and events. There are a lot of families activates offered by the park that would benefit this age range of visitors.
Slide14: While visiting the park, there were general observations regarding the use of the park. Many people chose to walk around the lake trail while a smaller portion of the visitors chose to ride bikes around the park. There weren’t enough amenities in the park to accommodate the visitors. The park could benefit from the implementation of more amenities such as recycling cans, picnic tables and bathrooms.
Slide 15: In our observations of Delaware park, we chose to survey a few visitors within the park. Those who took the survey showed a 100% satisfaction with the park. The survey showed that many visitors come to the park during midday on weekdays. Most visit the park 1-2 times a week and some even visited multiple times a day. The reason for visitation was primarily for sightseeing/ nature. As Mentioned before, the majority of visitors are those who live in the Elmwood Village area and Park Meadow. Some visitors suggested ideas such as climbing features, public WIFI, more public art, and ice cream stands.
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CLAUDIA Slide 16: Our mission is to make Delaware Park inviting to a wider demographic while providing a range of environmental, historical, and artistic educations. These are very important to consider when improving a park because knowing the history, environmental impact and cultural influences of a park are all key elements of a successful park.
Slide 17: First, we recommend a series of infrastructural additions including, separate bike and pedestrian paths, increased lighting, trash and recycling cans, and an ice cream stand. These four improvements were decided based on the user surveys, and our observations.
Slide 18: For the everyday visitors there was one very common request. A solution to the narrow paths. With bikers and pedestrians sharing the same path, a few problems arose, from the muddying up of the paths to the safety of visitors. Many of the older pedestrians struggled to quickly move out of the way of the speedy bikers with their last-minute warnings. By implementing a system similar to what is seen in Central Park, Delaware Park could solve these problems. In Central Park there are separate bike and pedestrian paths as well as some shared, however they are all clearly marked on this map from the Central Park Conservancy. Looking at the Level of complexity in relation to our other recommendations and just in generally it's pretty low.
Slide 19: Delaware Park has excellent lighting in some areas such as the paths near the Japanese Garden, but also has areas with very poor lighting. When walking around Hoyt Lake we observed a lack of light poles along the far side. With Delaware Park being a 24-hour park, this becomes very dangerous at night. In particular the area seen in this photo. The path is surrounded by water on both sides and could prove to be dangerous with a lack of lighting. The level of complexity to implement light poles would also be low. 87
Slide 20: With the current conditions of such limited access to trash and recycling cans, the loose trash observed around the park was to be expected. The photo on the left shows one of the few trash cans which was near the Reinstein Center. By recommending a system of trash & recycling cans similar to what is seen in Central Park in New York City will be successful in helping to maintain the parks presence. It'd also be very easy to implement more trash cans around the park making this level very low. The increase in amount of trash cans is important when considering our next recommendation as well.
Slide 21: An ice cream stand. After talking with visitors, it was clear that juice stand in the summer is not cutting it. The waterfront in front of the Marcy Casino is an ideal location for this ice cream stand in the summer months as well with the nearby playground and soccer fields. Also a very low level of complexity.
Slide 22: Next, we are recommending a few community engagement opportunities within Delaware Park. While these elements may be more difficult to implement than the infrastructural additions, they are even more important to improving Delaware Park.
Slide 23: Introducing an educational element to Delaware Park will benefit the City of Buffalo, The Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, and all those involved in the program. With a buildup of leaves, sticks, and other dead brush, there is the potential for an environmental study program related to the ecosystem of the park and the composting of these materials. A local college or university could pair with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy to allow this program to take place. When surveying visitors, we ran into an environmental conservation and health professor who was already interested in this type of program. Already having a professor interest an education program like this has the 88
potential to be very successful. In addition to an environmental study program an increase in historic and informational markers around the park will give the everyday visitor a fun way to learn about the park. Some visitors were very interested in something as simple as distance maps. Considering the partnerships and people involved in creating a program like this we decided the level of complexity to be high for this recommendation.
Slide 24: Introducing more public art in Delaware Park is one way to help diversify the park. There is currently very little art around the park, mainly statues of Lincoln, however plenty of space for new sculptures. By inviting local artists to create sculptures for park visitors, the park will become more inviting for more than the limited demographic of the area. Making these sculptures allowable for children and even adults to climb on we introduce a new culture into the park as well. The artistic styles will draw in people who many not have originally thought about visiting. Many current visitors requested more places for their children to play and climb on things. With these sculptures providing this Delaware Park will become more attractive to families with children as well. In Art Park, here in Buffalo, we see a successful park attracting a wide demographic to share their artistic styles. We determined the level of complexity here to be medium because of the amount of people required and the possible budget.
NICK Slide 25: In conclusion, our goals for improving Delaware Park are attainable. Through community engagement and infrastructural additions, the goals of diversifying the park, providing a wider knowledge of the park, and making it community friendly is certainly achievable.
Slide 26: Thank you for listening to our presentation
Slide 27: I’d like to open the floor to any questions!
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One-Page Handout
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Portfolio Environmental Design 350 By: Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Fall Semester, 2019 University at Buffalo The State University of New York
Table of Contents Section One Introduction Essay……………………………………………………………………….……1 Research in Planning…………………………………………………………….…………..6 Topic One…………………………………………………………………………………….………………………7 Topic Two………………………………………………………………………………………………..…………..9
Annotated Bibliography………………………………………………………………….11 Literature Review……………………………………………................................18 Urban Heat Island Introduction and Background…………………….………..…………..…..19 Building Properties and Geometry…………………………………………………..……….………..19 Green Roofs………………………………………………………………………………………..………..……20 Cool Pavements and Cool Roofs……………………………………………………..…….……………21 Tree Canopy ………………………………………………………………………………………..……..……..22 Economic Disparities……………………………………………………..…………………………………..22 Impact on Environment and Health Related Issues…………………………..………………..23 Green Urbanism and Policies………………………………………………………………………..……24
Data Analysis Visuals……………………………………………………………………….26 Miami & Pittsburgh - Unemployment Rate……………………………….………………………..27 Miami - Population by Gender……………………………………………………………………………28 Pittsburgh - Population by Gender……………………………………………..………………………29 Miami – Means of Transport to Work…………………………………………………………………30 Pittsburgh – Means of Transport to Work………………………………………..…………………31 Miami – Education Attainment…………………………………………………..………………………32 Pittsburgh – Education Attainment……………………………………….……………………………33 Miami – Population by Race……………………………………………………………….………………34
Table of Contents (Continued) Pittsburgh – Population by Race…………………………………………………………………………35 Miami & Pittsburgh – 7 Year Growth Rate……………………………………….…………………36
Data Analysis Report…………………….…………………………………………………37 Sex by Age……………………………………………………………………………………………….…………38 Means of Transport to Work………………………………………………………………………………38 Unemployment Rate……………………………………………………………………………….…………39 Population by Race and Educational Attainment………………………………..………………40 Population Growth…………………………………………………………………………..…………………42
Data Collection Analysis Forms……………………….……………………………….45 Roundabout Analysis Form…………………………………………………………………………..…….46 Signaled Intersection Analysis Form………………………………..………………………………….48
Data Collection Memorandum………………………………………………………..50 Executive Summary…………………………………………………………………………..……………….51 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………...……………….52 Data Source…………………………………………………………………………………..…..……………….53 Findings………………………………..……………………………………………………………………..…….54 Roundabout……………………………………………………………………………………….…….54 Roundabout Traffic Patterns…………………………………………………………..……….55 Roundabout Traffic Volumes……………………………………………………………..…….56 Roundabout Method Control and Pedestrian Safety……………………………….56 Intersection……………………………………………………………………………………………..57 Intersection Method Control and Traffic Patterns………………………………..…..58 Intersection Traffic Volumes……………………………………………………………..……..59
Table of Contents (Continued) Intersection Pedestrian Safety………………………………………………………..………..59 Compare and Contrast……………………………………………………………………………..60 Appendix…………………………………………………………………………………………….………………63
Data Collection PowerPoint…………………………………….………..…………….71 Data collection……………………………………………………………………………………………………73 Introduction of the Two Sites………………………………………………………..……………………74 Observation of Roundabout……………………………………………………………………….………75 Observation of Intersection………………………………………………………………..………………76 Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety at the Roundabout…………………………….…………………77 Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety at the Signaled Intersection…………………….……………78 Comparison of Traffic Volumes by the GBNRTC…………………………………………….……79 Benefits of Intersection ……………………………………………………………………………..………80 Benefits of Roundabout ……………………………………………………………………………….……81
Case Study Master Plan…….……………………………………………..……….…… 83 History....................................................................................................................84 Background.............................................................................................................85 Amenities of the Park...................................................................................86 Context...................................................................................................................87 The Driving Forces of Displacement in the U.S. and Buffalo........................87 The Decline of Black Neighborhoods...........................................................88 The Role of M.L.K Jr. Park in the Community...............................................88
Table of Contents (Continued) Conditions...........................................................................................................89 Future Park Improvements........................................................................89 Observations.............................................................................................89 Challenges...........................................................................................................90 Active Crime in and around the Park........................................................90 Opportunities......................................................................................................90 Employment Opportunities......................................................................91 Demographics.....................................................................................................92 User Survey.........................................................................................................94 Participant Demographics.........................................................................94 Responses.................................................................................................94 Recommendations..............................................................................................95 Promoting Safety Through Engagement: Case Study...............................96 Conclusions from the Case Study.............................................................96 Recommendations for Safety in M.L.K Jr. Park.........................................96 “Parks After Dark�: Los Angeles Park Programming................................97 Emergency Services..................................................................................97 Surveillance in the Park............................................................................98 Community Engagement in Low Income Communities: Case Study........99 Results and Conclusion from Fair Park Case Study...................................99 Resourceful Programming in M.L.K Jr. Park.............................................100 Work Force Buffalo..................................................................................100 Bringing a Community Center to the Park...............................................101
Table of Contents (Continued) Possible Funding to Develop and Operate a Community Center........101 Conclusion.....................................................................................................102 References.....................................................................................................103 Appendix.......................................................................................................105
Case Study PowerPoint………………………………………………………….…107 Outline………………………………………………………………………………..………109 Introduction…………………………………………………………………………..…..110 State of Affairs…………………………………………………………………………...117 Residents & Park Users…………………………………………………………..….120 Recommendations………………………………………………………………….….127 Case Study Speech Script…………………………………………………………135 Case Study Handout………………………………………………………….…….137
Introduction to Portfolio Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Anthony Pineda END 350 Introduction During the fall semester, I conducted several research assignments. These assignments allowed me to develop skills that will help in my future profession. The assigned projects were to be completed individually, small group, and large group basis. The following assignments focused on researching urban planning issues, gathering scholarly sources and synthesizing a literature review, collecting data based on observations, conducting a mini-master plan, and preparing a presentation with visual aids. Research in Planning The first assignment was Research in Planning. This assignment was stimulating because it allowed me to research issues that focused on urban planning. I conducted a summary of two topics and addressed why they interested me and explained my methods of research. The assignment required finding different sources from different media types. The method of research prepared me to find credible sources that was an essential skill throughout the whole semester. Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography The second assignment was the annotated bibliography and the literature review. This exercise was based on the first assignment, but I further extended my research on urban planning issues. Through these assignments, I was able to build a foundation for finding peer-reviewed sources and introduced me to an array of research resources. The annotated bibliography focused on finding credible sources from different media sources and then providing a summary for each source. The literature review built off the annotated bibliography. In the second part of the assignment, a narrative summary was synthesized on my topic. I researched various case studies that focused on the urban planning issue. The layout of the literature review was separated by subheadings that defined the topic, ways of approaching the topic, and policies that can help reduce the issues. This assignment gave me the ability to distinguish peer-reviewed sources from non-academic sources. The annotated bibliography helped me generate a broad range of ideas and an outline for the literature review. 2
Data Analysis Visuals and Report The third assignment dealt with the Data Analysis, which is composed of visual aids and a report. The first part of the assignment consisted of researching demographical data for two cities in the United States. The data collected was based on city population growth, characteristics of populations, economic data, and transportation data. The information gathered from the US Census Bureau and US Department of Labor was produced into visuals that made the information easier to read. The data was displayed in table charts, pie charts, line graphs, and bar graphs. The information displayed was then appropriately cited with the year and source of the data. Graphs had to be titled correctly and the axes were labeled with what is being displayed. A legend was provided for some graphs when needed, and colors were shown as a way to distinguish the information. The information was presented in a layout with appropriate scale and proximity that made it easier to understand and read. This assignment helped me understand how to navigate Microsoft Excel. I learned how to compare data by formulating graphs to display information. Developing these skills is essential because Microsoft Excel is widely used across industries. Once the information was formalized, the next step was to conduct a report and find sources that complement the data. The second part of the third assignment was the Data Analysis Report. This report was presented in a written narrative that interpreted the demographic data and from the previous mentioned Data Analysis. In the written narrative, I discussed the key findings and trends that relate to the data collected. There was more consideration in the presentation and layout of the information compared to the previous assignments. The information, graphs, and tables were presented in columns. Subheadings were incorporated to distinguish the information making it easier to interpret and deliver a professional document. This section of the assignment was interesting because I managed to find sources that supported the demographical data. In my opinion, I found this assignment the most challenging but the most rewarding because I was able to understand how a city can be characterized based on gathered information.
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Data Collection Form, Memorandum and PowerPoint The fourth assignment involved Data Collection and was completed with a partner. This assignment consisted of three parts; the Data Collection, the Data Collection Memorandum, and the Data collection PowerPoint. The first part of the assignment required that we observe an intersection and a roundabout of our choosing and critically compare them. The professor provided an analysis form to fill out, which consisted of observing and describing both intersections by site conditions, behavioral analysis of vehicles, pedestrians, and functionality. This section determined whether or not the design of the intersection was efficient and rational. My partner and I both were able to observe factors that affected the performance of both intersection controls. In the Data Collection Memorandum, we discussed our observation findings, our methods of analysis, and recommendations for both intersections. The memorandum was presented with subheadings and images that supported our findings. We also compared our findings to the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council and determined if it represented our observations. The final portion of the assignment was the PowerPoint. We presented our observations and recommendations in slides. For each slide, there were images and information that conveyed the message of each section. We made sure not to have an excessive amount of text and displayed the data with minimal bullet points. We used different methods of design like font size, proximity, contrast, and alignment to present our observations in a professional matter. This assignment was beneficial because it prepared me with guidelines for a professional PowerPoint. Case Study, PowerPoint, and Script The last project was the Case Study Assignment, which was done with three other group members. For this project, we had to choose a park in Buffalo, New York. We had to do intensive research on the park and also visited the park in order to get a better understanding of what the park has to offer. We prepared a survey and asked people visiting the park questions about functionality and recommendations. We observed the different types of activities the visitors did in the park, and the data collected helped us determine recommendations for the park. We researched several sources related to the opportunities that the park has, and we also looked at case studies that supported our recommendations. The demographics of the neighborhood surrounding the park were also examined to understand the surrounding areas. The information was displayed 4
using columns, images, subheadings, and other design elements, giving it a professional format. This assignment was beneficial to me because we successfully developed a mini-master plan for the park. The past assignments helped develop the skills needed to complete the last assignment. The last section of this assignment was a formal presentation. We made a slide for every part of the mini-master plan. We had a better understanding of how to accurately present the information using bullet points, images, and design elements. This PowerPoint was presented in front of professionals and our classmates. To be better prepared, we made a script to discuss each section of our presentation individually. We also made a handout that was distributed to our guests during our presentation. This handout summarized the key points in our presentation. The outline of the script was a useful tool to have during the presentation because it guided me when I discussed the key points of our findings. Conclusion The five assignments completed throughout the semester taught me a lot. I know that I will use these skills in my profession. This portfolio demonstrates that I can work successfully individually and in collaboration with other peers, allocate scholarly sources, collect data based on observations and surveys, prepare professional PowerPoints, and present my work. Each assignment was presented and designed in a format that is easy to understand.
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Research in Planning Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Anthony Pineda END 350 Assignment One, Topic One The Urban Heat island effect has impacted many cities in a variety of ways. With climate change on the rise, we are experiencing extreme temperatures. Many urban areas are composed of materials that absorb heat and lack shade. I found out about this topic by watching a video on climate change that discussed how cities are being affected, and urban heat island contributes to the crisis. During my research, I wanted to see how the urban heat island effect is impacting certain cities. I wanted to find different ways cities are dealing with this threat and how it is affecting various components of city life. With the help of GIS technology, researchers were able to study the urban heat island effect in a neighborhood called Oak Cliff in Dallas, Texas. Their goal was to plant one thousand trees to counteract the impact of urban heat island effect. Research has concluded that trees could lower temperatures by 15% on hot days. The rise in air temperatures worsens cardiovascular health problems. Using collected data and GIS technology revealed other benefits from planting trees, such as improving public health, equity, flood zones, pedestrian use, and bike safety. Planting trees help with the overall health of a city. Trees also provide a natural barrier that protects pedestrians on the sidewalk from the car lanes and makes the area more inviting. The Texas Tree Foundation found that the city had to increase its canopy coverage by 5% (300,000 trees) to even make a dent in the heat island effect (Poon, 2018). Another way cities are dealing with urban heat island effect is by incorporating green roofs. Cities could save billions in energy costs by adding green roofs. Green roofs reduce the amount of energy used to cool buildings in the summer. In some cases, 10% is saved annually by installing green infrastructures (Berg, 2012). The increase in demand for energy also increases the amount of greenhouse gasses being released into the air and lowers the quality of the air (EPA 1, 2017). Another way of reducing the impact of urban heat island effect is by cool roofs, which are composed of reflective and emissive materials that stay cool during extreme temperatures. The people that are most impacted by urban heat islands effect are children, the elderly, and those with medical conditions (EPA 2, 2017).
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Bibliography Berg, N. (2012). Green Infrastructure Could Save Cities Billions. CITYLAB, https://www.citylab.com/life/2012/04/green-infrastructure-could-cities-save-billions/1832/ (EPA 1, 2017). Heat Island Impacts. United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-impacts (EPA 2, 2017). Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands. United States Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands Poon, L. ( 2018). Cooling Dallas’s Concrete Jungle. CITYLAB, https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/08/cooling-dallass-concrete-jungle-plant-1000trees/566450/
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Assignment One, Topic Two In today's world, we are dependent on fossil fuels that pollute the atmosphere. There must be another alternative in the energy we consume. Incorporating renewable energy has been the target goal for many cities across the world. Today cities contribute to 70 % of all the world's carbon emissions (2018). Many cities have tried different methods of renewable energy, such as; wind, hydro, solar, geothermal, biomass, etc. I discovered this topic by one of the summer programs offered by the University of Buffalo. The program is based in Costa Rica and introduces the country's approach to sustainable energy. During my research, I wanted to see how renewable energy is produced in different areas of the world. I also wanted to see how cost effective and accessible renewable infrastructure is becoming. Portland, Oregon's water reservoirs are located up in the mountains. LucidEnergy has found a way to produce electricity while delivering the water by gravity. LucidEnergy uses gravity and water pipes to produce electricity. Inside the water pipes, turbines spin when water passes through them. This system does not impact the environment at all; it does not require any energy to transport the water and can power 150 homes. Changes in elevation cause a change in pressure and velocity and result in energy produced(Boone, 2018). Cities have been creative with how they use the energy produced. Cities are making good use of their geographies to develop renewable energy. Cities like Reykjavik have put to good use their geothermal energy to support the electrical grid and heat networks. This city also aims to make all public transport and automobiles carbon free by 2040. The cost of renewable energy is getting cheaper and, in some parts, solar and wind systems are competing in price with coal burning power plants (2018).
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Bibliography Appleby, K (2018), Cities are harnessing the power of renewable energy: here’s how, CDP, https://www.cdp.net/en/articles/cities/cities-are-harnessing-the-power-of-renewableenergy Boone, A (2018), How Portland Is Sourcing Hydropower From Its Drinking Water, CITYLAB, https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/01/portlands-drinking-water-is-poweringthe-grid/550721/
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Annotated Bibilography Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Bibliography Anderson, M. (2019). Trees Are Key To Fighting Urban Heat — But Cities Keep Losing Them, NPR, https://www.npr.org/2019/09/04/755349748/trees-are-key-to-fighting-urban-heat-but-cities-keeplosing-them Income has a lot to do with the amount of tree coverage an urban area has. The Georgia Institute of Technology has done a study and discovered that Louisville, Kentucky has been losing trees at a rapid rate. They analyzed a map of the city by income, tree canopy, and surface temperature. It has been found that wealthier areas have twice the tree coverage than those with lower income. The low-income areas feel the heat more than the those in higher income areas. Trees have a crucial role in the health of people living in urban areas. Low income zones would be the ones who are most impacted by the heat.
Chow, W., Brennan, D., & Brazel, A. (2012). Urban heat island research in Phoenix, Arizona: theoretical contributions and policy applications.(Author abstract)(Report). Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 93(4), 517–530. https://doi.org/10.1175/BAMS-D-11-00011.1 Phoenix, Arizona, has been finding strategies to mitigate the impact of urban heat island. Their goal is to incorporate policies for urban areas to be more sustainable. The policy includes ways of reducing urban heat island, reduce energy and water consumption. The strategies also focus on improving environment comfort levels and air quality. The changes in policy were implemented for the future in developments. The design plans for the future are based on sustainability, such as appropriate building geometry, vegetation that incorporated shade, street patterns, and structures that produce shade. Other policies that were added are zoning and code to mitigating the impact of heat. Another policy that was incorporated by the Tree and Shade Task was to increase the tree canopy of phoenix to 25% by 2030.
Dang, T. N., Van, D. Q., Kusaka, H., Seposo, X. T., & Honda, Y. (2018). Green Space and Deaths Attributable to the Urban Heat Island Effect in Ho Chi Minh City. American Journal of Public Health, 108, S137–S143. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2017.304123 Ho Chi Minh , Vietnam, did a study on heat related mortalities and ways to alleviate the Urban Heat Island Effect. They used Vietnams system of mortality data called A6 and the Hydro Meteorological Data Center from 7 weather stations. The data collected information between green space, population density, and mortality attributable fraction to total heat. It was concluded that the mortality attributable fraction is positively correlated with population density. There was a negative correlation to green space. They also wanted to calculate the protective part of green spaces and mortalities. It was concluded that 7.4 mortalities could be prevented for every increase of 1 square kilometer per 1000 people.
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Kleerekoper, L., van Esch, M., & Salcedo, T. (2012). How to make a city climate-proof, addressing the urban heat island effect. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 64, 30–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2011.06.004 The spatial properties of an urban area determine its climate. The way urban areas are designed can mitigate the effects of urban heat island effect. The characteristics of a city like the spacing and position of buildings, geometry, and outdoor space impact the cities micro climate. The urban heat island effect results in air pollution absorbing and transferring radiation from the sun to the city. The cities buildings intercept the suns heat waves and result in it being absorbed back into the urban core. There are many ways dutch cities have been able to mitigate the impact of Urban Heat Island. They incorporated different elements of design like water, vegetation, material, and built form to combat Urban heat island. The atmosphere is cooled by vegetation. Evaporation and transpiration occurs as well as the shading of surface area by incorporating vegetation. Different forms of vegetation that cities are incorporating are parks, green roofs, and street trees. The temperature drops about 14.7◦C per 100x 1000 m through the use of vegetation. The amount of water the plant is receiving determines the cooling effect. Green roofs way of alleviating the impact of urban heat Island by the process of evaporation from the soil that acts as a sponge absorbing the suns radiation. The high insulation from the green roofs reduce indoor temperatures in the summer and warmer winters. Water’s evaporation process helps reduce the heat in urban areas. Water absorbs the heat and then transfers it elsewhere. Water can cool down an area of 30 – 25 m by 1-3◦C. The built form can impact the speed of winds. By incorporating wind into the design, it lowers buildings and urban temperatures. The cities are mostly composed of water proof surfaces and results in lower evaporation rates. The lower the vegetation and permeability there is in an urban area the more intense the heat. The thermal properties of materials can be used to mitigate urban heat island. Hollow material has less thermal admittance and absorbs less heat. As opposed to brick, which absorbs more heat and distributes the heat during the evening into the atmosphere. The cheapest way of dealing with urban heat island is by changing the thermal characteristics of the building and ground materials. Kolokotsa, D., Santamouris, M., & Zerefos, S. (2013). Green and cool roofs’ urban heat island mitigation potential in European climates for office buildings under free floating conditions. Solar Energy, 95(C), 118–130. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2013.06.001 The urban heat island effect is impacting all aspects of urban life. There is a huge spike in energy consumption for the building to stay cool. As a result, there is an increase in air pollution and ozone concentration. It also diminishes the comfort levels of outside, and urban ecological footprint rises. There have been many techniques to mitigate the impact of urban heat island. Increasing the albedo has been found effective in lowering the impact of urban heat island effect. Increasing the albedo has lowered emissions being released into the air. High reflective material is used in order to have a high albedo, such as reflective white paint. Green roofs are also
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effective in mitigating urban heat island effect. Intensive roofs and extensive green roofs are available. Intensive roofs are heavily constructed and can support small trees and shrubs, extensive is compassed of a thin layer of vegetation. Green roofs are more durable and will last longer than standard roofs. Other benefits include cleaner air and minimizing noise levels. The amount of energy being saved is determined by the properties of the building, design, and atmosphere conditions. Mitigation is determined by a certain number of parameters like climatic, optical, thermal, and hydrological.
Lehmann, S. (2014). Low carbon districts: Mitigating the urban heat island with green roof infrastructure. City, Culture and Society, 5(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2014.02.002 In today’s developing cities, there is not enough focus on sustainability. When developing urban areas, there has to be a concern in how our micro climate, energy consumption, and water will be affected. Policymakers will have to be innovative in how our cities consume resources, energy, and water. The low-carbon precinct will have to be established in order to preserve biodiversity. Environmental destruction and climate change will be one of the biggest challenge’s urban areas face. Green Urbanism is a strategy that deals with use of energy, mobility, green spaces, materials, and water. The main goal of Green urbanism are zero emissions, and zero waste. The urban heat island effect occurs when there is rapid growth of urbanization and where humans change the properties of the environment and materials while being exposed to extreme heat.
Mohajerani, A., Bakaric, J., & Jeffrey-Bailey, T. (2017). The urban heat island effect, its causes, and mitigation, with reference to the thermal properties of asphalt concrete. Journal of Environmental Management, 197, 522–538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2017.03.095 The urban heat island effect is caused by heat production and increase use of materials that absorb heat. Roofs and pavements make up a majority of the city. As the temperatures rise, so does our cooling demand, resulting in further heating up our cities. Asphalt concrete is one of the most common materials used in urban spaces and absorbs a lot of heat and low reflectivity. Cool pavements have been used to lower the impact of urban heat island. Cool pavements can either be reflective or evaporative. Cool pavements are only affective depending on cities' local weather conditions and geometry; otherwise, it will only contribute to urban heat island. Airflow is also a key component in the design of the city and ways to mitigate UHI. There must be policies that reduce the demand of HVAC, an spreading the news about UHI so people can be more aware and educated. The geometry of cities can contribute to heat canyons. Heat canyons are cases were roads, and other surface paths are enclosed by buildings and walls. It is resulting in trapped heat and low air circulation.
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Poon, L. ( 2018). Cooling Dallas’s Concrete Jungle. CITYLAB, https://www.citylab.com/environment/2018/08/cooling-dallass-concrete-jungle-plant-1000-trees/566450/ Dallas, Texas, way of mitigating the urban heat island is by planting 1,000 trees in areas that are more vulnerable. Planting trees is one of the cheapest ways in reducing UHI. By using GIS systems and analyzed data to find other benefits from trees like decreasing traffic and improving the health of urban citizens. The Texas Tree Foundation analyzed the tree canopy of the city using aerial imagery. It was found that the city had 29% canopy coverage and in some areas, it would be less than 10%. Trees have the ability to cool temperatures by 15 degrees during hot urban days. Seniors with health disparities will be impacted by the heat. The heat Island effect also affects students in schools that don’t have proper shading protection from the sun. Students' playground are “literal hotboxes.” The Texas Tree Foundation determined that in order for Dallas to alleviate the UHI, the city’s tree canopy has to increase by 5%(300,000 trees). Collecting this data is important because it shows how vulnerable neighborhoods are with low vegetation to the heat island effect. By collecting more data and studies, it could persuade the government official to make policy changes.
Sreenivasan, H. (2011). Chicago Fights Extreme Urban Heat With Greener Ideas, PBS News Hour,https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukGN4PyeNoU&list=LLEHOnRdIcB3WqD7FE7SWXBA&in dex=4&t=105s In July 1995, in Chicago, the heat index reached 120 degrees for four straight days. This caused major blackouts throughout the city and more than 700 deaths. Since then the city has been focusing on strategies to control the heat. In city hall, when it was about 90 degrees outside, roof temperatures would reach 169 degrees compared to a green roof that measured 90 degrees, which is an 80 degrees difference. The vegetation absorbs the heat making the building cooler results in reducing HVAC demand. Green roof saves the building about $3,600 a year. To encourage more roofs all new buildings that require public funds must be LEED certified and designed to be energy efficient. Any development that incorporates a green roof in their folder gets a faster permitting process. This means there will be faster move ins and more revenue for the building. They have been experimenting with permeable pavements to mitigate UHI. The pavements are designed for rainwater to go through the pavements so it could reach the soil. The water that is stored in the soil evaporates and cools the air. There has also been a greater demand for coloring surfaces white with high albedo. The light and heat get reflected with these surfaces. Susca, T., Gaffin, S., & Dell’osso, G. (2011). Positive effects of vegetation: Urban heat island and green roofs. Environmental Pollution, 159(8-9), 2119–2126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2011.03.007 Green and white roofs impact the environment less than a standard roof. UHI effect is mainly due to the replacement of vegetated areas for surfaces with low evapo-transpiration and low albedo, thermal properties of
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surfaces, and urban canyons. 25% of urban areas surface is composed of roofs. Extensive green roofs only need a growing media of about 5- 12 cm and intensive green roofs require more than 12cm of growing media. In NYC about 1/3 of heating the city is due to UHI since the beginning of twentieth century. High surface albedo lowers the energy being consumed and mitigates climate change as well. It also determines climate comfort levels.
Wang, Y., Berardi, U., & Akbari, H. (2015). The Urban Heat Island Effect in the City of Toronto. Procedia Engineering, 118(C), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.proeng.2015.08.412 Urban design is imperative and determines the climate comfort of an urban space. More vegetation has been found to be more effective than cool roofs and pavements when mitigating UHI. When doing a case study in Toronto and comparing the effective mitigation approach by three mitigation techniques: cool roofs, cool pavements, and vegetation. It was found that by adding 10% more vegetation in certain areas it can result in lower air temperatures and mean radiant temperatures during the day and night.
Wong, L., Alias, H., Aghamohammadi, N., Aghazadeh, S., & Nik Sulaiman, N. (2017). Urban heat island experience, control measures and health impact: A survey among working community in the city of Kuala Lumpur. Sustainable Cities and Society, 35, 660–668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2017.09.026 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, has urbanized at a rapid rate and have experienced the impacted of urban heat island. The effects have been documented and have found that the productivity of the workers is decreased because of the health impacts of urban heat island. The greater the demand for energy results in lower air quality. The poor air quality and high temperatures have been linked to numerous health issues such as; cardiovascular disease, respiratory problems, heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, asthma, heat cramps, or even mortality. The groups of people that will impacted the most are the elderly, children, and pregnant women.
Zhang, L., Fukuda, H., & Liu, Z. (2019). The value of cool roof as a strategy to mitigate urban heat island effect: A contingent valuation approach. Journal of Cleaner Production, 228, 770–777. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.04.338 The urban heat island effect has been an important topic concerning urban health. Urbanization has led to a decrease in vegetated land and increase in hard surfaces that absorb heat and have low permeability. There has been a trend in incorporating roofs with high albedo. Cool roofs have high reflective properties and thermal emittance. It was found that in a survey in Beijing, most people are willing to pay for a cool roof because of the economic benefits.
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United States Environmental Protection (EPA1) (2017). Heat Island Compendium, https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-compendium There are many reasons why urban areas experience higher temperatures than suburbs or rural areas. Rapid Developments causes urban heat island. The removal of vegetation areas for hard surfaces that absorb heat also contributes to urban heat island. Dense areas have low evaporation rates and result in higher temperatures. The materials used in urban spaces can also contribute to the urban heat island. Depending on the materials properties like, reflectiveness, thermal admittance, and heat storage can determine its mitigation to UHI.
United States Environmental Protection (EPA2) (2017). Heat Island Impacts, https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/heat-island-impacts Urban heat island effect can affect people in a variety of ways. There is a great spike in energy demand during the hot days. It increases by 2% for every degree it goes up. During extreme temperatures, a lot of cooling systems are being used simultaneously and can be overloaded causing blackouts! The greater the demand for energy the more pollutants and green house gases there will be in the air. This can contribute to acid rain, smog and other particles floating in the air. Polluted air means that their will be great health problems like raspatory diseases and also heat related illnesses or even mortality can occur. The polluted particles that evaporate eventually end up in our stormwater and resulting in affecting the ecosystem.
United States Environmental Protection (EPA3) (2017). Using Green Roofs to Reduce Heat Islands. Agency, https://www.epa.gov/heat-islands/using-green-roofs-reduce-heat-islands The urban heat island effect is harmful to the health of people living in cities. By installing green roofs, the temperature can be 40 degrees cooler than standard roofs. Green roofs can also lower the surrounding air temperature by 5 degrees. Also, the annual savings from green roofs are .23 cents per square foot. Other benefits include filtering stormwater runoff, the vegetation can absorb pollutants and other greenhouse gasses through the process of dry deposition and carbon sequestration. A study conducted in Kansas City found that 539,118 pounds of emissions where reduced by the installment of 700,000 square foot of green roofs.
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Literature Review Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Anthony Pineda Literature Review
Introduction The urban heat island effect has become urban area’s biggest threat. During hot days the surfaces of urban areas make the air warmer and are more extreme during the night. Temperatures in urban areas would be higher than the surrounding areas. Urban heat island can disrupt the ecosystem of a city and its surrounding areas. There have been different approaches and techniques to mitigate the effects of the urban heat island. Various cities have studied urban heat island and collected useful information. People have to be more aware of the effects of urban heat island through education to preserve our cities. The data collected can encourage policymakers to make changes to cities.
Background In urban areas, the temperatures are high compared to their surrounding areas, otherwise referred to as urban heat island effect. Many factors contribute to urban areas higher temperatures than its surrounding areas. Cities are known for rapid development; one of the drawbacks is replacing vegetated areas for hard surfaces which enhance higher temperatures. The properties of hard surfaces in urban areas are excellent heat absorbers. (EPA1, 2017). The standard hard surfaces that are in urban areas have low properties of albedo, the ability to reflect radiation, and evapotranspiration, the transfer of water by evaporation. Both these properties are imperative in helping keep cities cool. Other design components that contribute to urban heat island is the geometry of urban space and materials’ thermal properties (Susca, et. al., 2011). The ways we design urban areas can either enhance or mitigate urban heat island. There are many aspects to consider, like what type of material’s reflect heat more and making sure there is airflow throughout the city to reduce built up heat. Another aspect to consider is how we can incorporate vegetation in our cities and buildings.
Building Properties and Geometry The design of cities and materials used can determine how resilient urban spaces are to urban heat island. The geometry and density of buildings can affect how materials absorb heat
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and trap radiation. In street canyons, radiation is reflected between structures and other street materials. The trapped heat only intensifies the impact of the urban heat island. A majority of the surface area of urban areas are composed of hard surfaces, which contributes to urban heat island. The thermal properties of materials are what determines the amount of heat being absorbed. Hollow materials absorb less heat than dense materials like brick. This is because dense materials have high levels of thermal admittance. The materials with high thermal admittance absorb heat during the day and radiate heat back into the environment during the evening. A study determined that the most economical ways of mitigating urban heat island is by changing the thermal properties of various surface materials throughout cities (Kleerekoper, et. al., 2012). The urban comfort levels can vary depending on the materials used and the design of urban spaces. The urban heat island can be reduced by selecting materials that have properties that help in mitigating the impacts of radiation.
Green Roofs Green roofs have properties that mitigate the impact of the urban heat island. There are different forms of green roofs, such as intensive and extensive roofs. The main difference between the two is the amount of structural support needed and the amount of vegetation it can allow. Intensive roofs can handle thick layers of vegetation like trees and shrubs, while extensive roofs can only manage a small layer of vegetation. (Kolokotsa, et. al., 2013). When compared to other standard roofs, the green roof will last the longest and are more durable. The benefits that arise from green roofs could persuade developers to go with the sustainable option. There is a cost to green infrastructure, but the benefits of energy savings outweigh it. A technique that has been found effective in mitigating the urban heat island effect is green roofs. This green infrastructure is composed of a layer of vegetation that sits on top of a waterproof membrane. This approach has many other benefits that help the environment and in energy savings. Green roofs have properties that can make the surrounding temperatures cooler by 5 degrees, and surface roof temperatures can be 40 °F lower than standard roofs. By installing green roofs, the amount of energy being used can be reduced by .7% compared to standard roofs (EPA3, 2017). Seven hundred thousand square feet of green roofs contributed to reducing about 539,118 pounds of emissions being released into the atmosphere. Pollutants and emissions are absorbed by green roof vegetation through the process of dry deposition and carbon
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sequestration. The heat evaporating the water lowers the urban temperatures; this process is called evapotranspiration. The layering in green roofs makes it an excellent insulator for buildings. The insulation is useful in energy savings during different seasons when it comes to heating and cooling buildings (EPA3, 2017). Green roofs have been proven to reduce the impact of urban heat island in various ways. When vegetation is incorporated into buildings, the results are beneficial towards reducing energy use, improving the quality of air, improving the health of people in urban areas. Green roofs do an excellent job of replicating the natural ways of cooling the environment.
Cool Pavements and Cool Roofs Surfaces with specific properties have been incorporated throughout urban areas to mitigate urban heat island. Cool pavements have been installed in urban landscapes like roads and allies to lower the ambient temperatures. These road surfaces have properties that can either be reflective or evaporative (Mohajerani, et. al., 2017). Chicago uses permeable pavements as one of their mitigation strategies. This approach allows water to go through and sink into the soil. Eventually, the water evaporates and helps cool the surrounding temperatures. The city also experimented with properties like albedo. They achieved this by changing the color of surfaces throughout the city. Changing the color to white can reflect more heat and light than surfaces that are colored dark (Sreenivasan, H., 2011). Incorporating these properties into the urban landscape reduces the amount of energy being consumed. These approaches are reducing the temperatures of urban areas and help improve the health of people. Surfaces that have mitigating properties contribute to improving the health of the environment. An economical mitigation approach is incorporating albedo into urban areas. Materials with high levels of albedo have reflective properties that help urban areas stay cool. The more radiation that is reflected, the less energy is being consumed. These properties are beneficial in reducing the amount of emissions being burned and being released into the atmosphere. (Kolokotsa, et. al., 2013). Cool roofs reduce roof temperatures by about 50 °F compared to standard roofs. In some cases, the annual price savings per square foot in a cool roof is about 50 cents. Beijing has urbanized at a rapid rate and has felt the impact of the urban heat island. When surveying ways to alleviate this problem, most people are willing to pay for a mitigation approach, such as cool roofs. What impacted their decisions where the economic benefits in
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energy savings and regulating comfort levels within the building (Zhang, et. al., 2019). This type of information is vital for policymakers and for the public to know because it influences future decisions in urban settings. When urban areas consolidate these types of techniques, the urban heat island is reduced. Urban spaces may also benefit by decreasing the impact on the environment and the health of citizens.
Tree Canopy Maps of a city can demonstrate how much tree coverage an area has. The percentage of tree coverage is essential for the health of a city and influences how vulnerable an area is to urban heat island. Dallas, Texas, and the Texas Tree Foundation analyzed a map and found that the city’s average canopy cover is about 29% and in some areas were less than 10% (Poon, L., 2018). This demonstrates the disparities in vegetation and could be due to economic discrepancies. The city tried to resolve this issue by plant one thousand trees in vulnerable areas with low vegetation. But, to mitigate the effects of urban heat island, the tree canopy had to increase by 5% (300,000 trees) (Poon, L., 2018). A study in Toronto compared different approaches to combat urban heat island. They compared cool roofs, cool pavements, and vegetation in three different areas of density. Additional vegetation had the greatest mitigation than the other approaches, by adding 10% more vegetation air temperature and mean radiant temperatures are dramatically decreased throughout the day (Wang, et. al., 2015). Collecting data on how low vegetation can make areas vulnerable, and the advantages of increased vegetation can persuade policymakers and planners to reevaluate designs and priorities.
Economic Disparities Urban areas are composed of people with different economic backgrounds. The economic differences can lead to other discrepancies that can increase the impact of the urban heat island. Income is correlated with the amount of tree coverage an area has; moreover, the amount of canopy coverage determines the vulnerability of an area. People with higher incomes can afford to have more vegetation and protection from the heat. The Georgia Institute of Technology analyzed a map of Louisville, Kentucky, and examined income, tree canopy coverage, and surface temperatures. The map determined that wealthier zones have double the amount of tree
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coverage than lower-income areas. This directly impacted the surface temporaries; the lowerincome zones were the most vulnerable to urban heat island (Anderson, M., 2019). Other factors that can negatively affect lower-income areas are lack of amenities. People in low-income areas can have less access to air-conditioning units and can make the impact of urban heat island more intensive. The buildings that are in low-income zones are not always well designed to mitigate the intensity of urban heat island. Lower quality buildings are constructed with materials that lack the properties of mitigating extreme heat. These conditions force people to use more electricity and power to stay cool and protected from the urban heat island.
Impact on Environment and Health Related Issues As urban temperatures increase, there is a significant increase in energy use. For every degree that increases the demand for energy increases by 2% (EPA2, 2017). Building cooling systems are running simultaneously and can result in the grid systems to overload and cause blackouts. The increase in energy use results in more pollutants being released into the atmosphere. The pollutants and greenhouse gases negatively impact the health of people, eventually formulating smog, acid rain, and other microscopic particle matter in the ground level. People are suffering from respiratory disease, heat-related illnesses, and in some cases, death (EPA2, 2017). The impacts of urban heat island are directly correlated with energy use, and the ways cities are designed. Changes in the atmosphere result in health complications or deaths. As urban temperatures increase, so do the health-related issues and mortality rates. Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, organized a study that focused on mortalities and its correlation to urban heat island. It focused on how heat related mortalities are linked to green space, population density, and district budgets. It was determined that population density is highly attributable to mortality. Green space reduces the number of mortalities; moreover, 7.4 mortalities could be reduced by every increase of one square kilometer per 1000 people (Dang, et. al., 2018). Urban heat island can be deadly for people living in cities. Many factors contribute to urban heat island such as differences in land use, geometry, and surface properties. Each city is unique with its environmental characteristics, composition, and have different approaches to mitigate urban heat island. Cities that urbanize at rapid rates have negative effects. The urban heat island has affected Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, due to rapid population growth, dense buildings, and rapid
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development. The urban heat island affects people’s health and results in a decrease in work productivity. It was found that 10% of the work was lost and resulted in economic loss. The increase in energy use deteriorates the air quality. The extreme heat and poor air quality results in health issues like cardiovascular disease, heart disease, strokes, and lung cancer. The specific groups of people that are the most vulnerable when it comes to the intense heat are the elderly, children, and pregnant women (Wong, et. al., 2017). Urban heat island affects all aspects of urban life. There needs to be more focus on how cities can be more sustainable to reduce urban heat island effect.
Green Urbanism and Policies Urban areas have to be designed for the future without affecting our ecosystem. One way urban spaces are planning for the future is by the concept of green urbanism. Green urbanisms main objectives are zero emissions, zero waste, and zero fossil fuel use (Lehmann, S. 2014). Government officials need to start, including policies and incentives, to consume our resources efficiently. The biodiversity of cities needs to be preserved in urban areas and can be done by implementing low carbon precedents. Cities need to start implementing sustainable components into their design. There needs to be more consideration in how energy is being used and how the urban microclimate is impacted. Urban precedents have been established that force cities to use renewable energy such as wind turbines, geothermal technology, hydro, and solar. By interpreting these concepts, cities will be better suited to mitigate the effects of the urban heat island. All materials and design components within a city affect the urban environment. Cities are changing the way they are developing to preserve the future of urban areas better. Phoenix, Arizona, started to implement sustainable policies to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The policies focus on lowering resource consumption and ways of improving the urban atmosphere and making temperatures comfortable. The future development of buildings is redesigned to make urban spaces more efficient and sustainable. Phoenix is focusing on the geometry of buildings, vegetation, and structures that help produce shade to alleviate the impact of urban heat island (Chow, W., Brennan, D., & Brazel, A., 2012). Chicago has also started incorporating policies to persuade developers to construct more sustainable buildings. Buildings that are linked to public funds are required to be LEED-certified and meet energy-efficient
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standards. The policy also favors buildings that incorporate green roofs into there design by receiving a faster permitting process. (Sreenivasan, H., 2011)
Conclusion In conclusion, the urban heat island effect is considered a threat because of the impact it has on the city and the inhabitants. The health of urban citizens is at high risk because of the extreme heat mixed with poor designs of cities. There are several ways to alleviate the impact of the urban heat island. There is a variety of techniques or strategies that have different approaches when dealing with urban heat island. By educating the public on the effects of urban heat island, the different mitigation approaches and the benefits that come along can allow people to be more involved in future decisions. There must be more policy changes in urban areas in order to preserve the city and alleviate the impacts of the urban heat island.
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Data Analysis Visuals Miami VS Pittsburgh Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Miami, Florida Unemployment Rate 2010-2017 Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Unemployment Rate 10.9 9.3 8.2 7.4 6.9 5.7 5 4.4
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate 2010-2017 Year
Unemployment Rate
2010
8
2011
7.5
2012
7.4
2013
6.8
2014
5.6
2015
5.2
2016
5.3
2017
4.7
Data Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
27
Miami, Florida Sex By Age
28
AGE Under 5 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 to 54 years 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 69 years 70 to 74 years 75 to 79 years 80 to 84 years 85 years and over
Male 13898 9672 10216 10331 14264 17312 19335 17925 18360 17123 15002 13415 11114 9082 8343 5577 3971 4069
Female 13424 10351 9710 9355 13866 18184 18088 15820 14966 15290 16131 13609 12834 10955 9647 7597 6398 7773
Total:
219009
223998
Data Source: Age and Sex, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sex By Age
29
AGE Under 5 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 to 54 years 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 69 years 70 to 74 years 75 to 79 years 80 to 84 years 85 years and over
Male 7685 6386 6395 10295 18726 19007 14491 9195 7196 7097 8353 8916 8149 5843 4376 2492 2377 2324
Female 7215 5822 6389 12257 18344 17785 12096 8414 6839 6992 8498 9229 9846 7298 5253 4491 3635 5306
Total:
149303
155709
Data Source: Age and Sex, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Means of Transport to Work - Miami, Florida
8707
Means of Transport
Worked at home
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
2902
Bicycle
2073
8292
Walked
22597
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
17621
Carpooled
145116
Drove alone 0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000 120000 140000 160000
Total Data Source: COMMUTING CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Miami, Florida, Means of Transport to Work Means of Transport Percentage
Total
Drove alone
70.00%
145115
Carpooled
8.50%
17621
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
10.90%
22597
Walked
4.00%
8292
Bicycle
1.00%
2073
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
1.40%
2902
Worked at home
4.20%
8707
Total:
30
207308
Data Source: COMMUTING CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5Year Estimates
Means of Transport to Work - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
6914
Worked at home
1503
Means of Transport
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
3006
Bicycle
16684
Walked
25702
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
12776
Carpooled
83871
Drove alone 0
10000
20000
30000
40000
50000
60000
70000
80000
90000
Total
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Means of Transport to Work Means of Transport Percentage
Total
Drove alone
55.80%
83871
Carpooled
8.50%
12776
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
17.10%
25702
Walked
11.10%
16684
Bicycle
2.00%
3006
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
1.00%
1503
Worked at home
4.60%
6914
Total:
31
150456
Data Source: COMMUTING CHARACTERISTICS BY SEX 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Miami, Florida Education Attainment 25 Years and Older 16,423
Graduate or professional degree
16,523
27,669
Bachelor's degree
25,762
12,221
Education
Associate's degree
10,765
20,853
Some college, no degree
19,986
48,857
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
48,738
16,192
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
16,751
25,077
Less than 9th grade
22,103
0
10,000
20,000
30,000 Female
40,000
50,000
60,000
Male
Population
Data Source: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Miami, Florida, Education Attainment 25 Years and Older Education Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree
32
Male 22103 16751 48738 19986 10765 25762 16523
Female 25077 16192 48857 20853 12221 27669 16423
Data Source: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Education Attainment 25 Years and Older 21,162
Graduate or professional degree
19,539
22,818
Bachelor's degree
22,685
8,781
Education
Associate's degree
7,621
16,350
Some college, no degree
15,361
28,163
High school graduate (includes equivalency)
26,766
5,905
9th to 12th grade, no diploma
5,769
2,503
Less than 9th grade
2,075
0
5,000
10,000
Data Source: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
15,000 Female
20,000
25,000
30,000
Male
Population
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Education Attainment 25 Years and Older Education Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree
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Male 2075 5769 26766 15361 7621 22685 19539
Female 2503 5905 28163 16350 8781 22818 21162
Data Source: EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
POPLUATION OF MIAMI, FLORIDA BY RACE White 75% Black or African American 19%
American Indian and Alaska Native… Asian 1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0% Some other race 4%
Data Source: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Miami, Florida Population by Race Race alone or in combination with one or more other races White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race
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Population 340367 85064 2449 5280 609 17389
Data Source: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, 20132017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
POPULATION OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA BY RACE White 67%
Black or African American 25%
American Indian and Alaska Native 1% Asian 6%
Data Source: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Some other race 1%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 0%
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Population by Race Race alone or in combination with one or more other races White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race
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Population 211998 79076 3423 19791 482 2134
Data Source: ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Miami, Florida 7 Year Growth Rate Year
Population
2010
399457
2017
443007
Growth Rate:
10.90%
Data Source: Census 2010 Total Population, 2017 ACS 5-Year Population Estimate
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 7 Year Growth Rate Year
Population
2010
305704
2017
305012
Growth Rate:
-0.23%
Data Source: Census 2010 Total Population, 2017 ACS 5-Year Population Estimate
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Data Analysis Report Miami VS Pittsburgh Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Introduction In this assignment, I have gathered information from the US Census Bureau and formulated the data into graphs and charts. I selected two cities, one with a negative growth rate and one with a positive growth rate. From here, I found vital indicators that represent each city in different categories. The differences in the results were fascinating. I wanted to know the reasons behind this data. For each graph, I found interesting factors that contributed to the results. It was concluded that most of the graphs for each city correlate with each other. Sex by Age
Miami, Florida, has a broad age group that makes up most of the population. Miami has a lot of attractions that draw in people from all age groups. The main reason why this place is so attractive is due to its numerous beaches and great weather year-round. Miami residents do not have to pay income, inheritance, or estate tax (DHM, 2019). Not paying specific taxes save residents a lot of money, which is another major driver that attracts people from all over. Miami has attracted people who are looking to retire. There are a lot of factors that make this city attractable by a so many different ages (Figure 2).
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has an increase in young population growth for a verity of reasons. One of the reasons why Pittsburgh has had a rise in the young population is because universities have remained prestigious research centers (Figure 1). Another reason why there has been an increase in young population growth is due to the quality of life. Pittsburgh has had an increase in social events, parks, bike trails, museums, and so much more that attracts the younger crowd. One of the most significant contributors that attract the young population is Pittsburgh’s old industrial buildings that were converted to affordable housing. (Majors, D., 2018). The population above 35 years is significantly lower. A lot of people have left because of the history of the town. Miami, Florida Sex By Age AGE Under 5 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 to 54 years 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 69 years 70 to 74 years 75 to 79 years 80 to 84 years 85 years and over
Male 13898 9672 10216 10331 14264 17312 19335 17925 18360 17123 15002 13415 11114 9082 8343 5577 3971 4069
Female 13424 10351 9710 9355 13866 18184 18088 15820 14966 15290 16131 13609 12834 10955 9647 7597 6398 7773
Total:
219009
223998
Figure 2 U.S Census Bureau, 20132017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S0101 2017, Age and Sex, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.go v; (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Means of Transport to Work Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Sex By Age AGE Under 5 years 5 to 9 years 10 to 14 years 15 to 19 years 20 to 24 years 25 to 29 years 30 to 34 years 35 to 39 years 40 to 44 years 45 to 49 years 50 to 54 years 55 to 59 years 60 to 64 years 65 to 69 years 70 to 74 years 75 to 79 years 80 to 84 years 85 years and over
Male 7685 6386 6395 10295 18726 19007 14491 9195 7196 7097 8353 8916 8149 5843 4376 2492 2377 2324
Female 7215 5822 6389 12257 18344 17785 12096 8414 6839 6992 8498 9229 9846 7298 5253 4491 3635 5306
Total:
149303
155709
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Figure 1 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5Year Estimates, Table S0101 2017, Age and Sex, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov; (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
The geography of Pittsburgh Pennsylvania consists of streams, rivers, and valleys, which makes most of the road’s circular. The city has a belt system that wraps around the city and helps people get to their destination. The belt system is composed of colored routes such as red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple. These routes are intertwined with state, federal, and municipal roads (PP,2015). It is clear why driving is the most popular when going to work (Figure 3).
Public transportation is the second most popular way of getting to work. Pittsburgh has a system of subways and light rail system called the “T” which goes around the city and leads into the southern suburbs. The pubic bus connects to downtown and most of the neighborhoods in Pittsburgh (Powell, A., 2019). Public transport ranked number two because of its practicality and efficiency; therefore, this benefited those who could not afford a car.
Miami, Florida, Means of Transport to Work Means of Transport
Percentage
Total
Drove alone
70.00%
145115
Carpooled
8.50%
17621
10.90%
22597
4.00%
8292
1.00%
2073
1.40%
2902
Public transportation (excluding taxicab) Walked Bicycle Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Means of Transport to Work Means of Transport
Percentage
Total
Drove alone
55.80%
83871
Carpooled
8.50%
12776
Public transportation (excluding taxicab)
17.10%
25702
Walked
11.10%
16684
Bicycle
2.00%
3006
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means
1.00%
1503
Worked at home
4.60%
6914
Total:
150456
Figure 3 U.S Census Bureau, 20132017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S0801 2017, Commuting Characteristics By Sex, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Miami, Florida’s primary way of getting to work is by car. Miami has several neighborhoods and are a good distance away from each other. The only logical way of getting around in Miami’s hot weather is by car. The next best way of getting to work is by using public transport, which Miami has plenty. The Metrorail runs from the suburbs to downtown and is above traffic. There are plenty of busses that run every couple of minutes. There is also free public transportation like the Trolley and the Metromover (Castrillo, K., 2018). Which, could explain why so many people chose these two methods the most to get to work (Figure 4).
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Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means Worked at home Total:
4.20%
8707 207308
Figure 4 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5Year Estimates, Table S0801 2017, Commuting Characteristics By Sex, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.cens us.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Unemployment Rate Pittsburgh’s population has continued to decline while the capital income has increased. From 2010- 2017, the capital income of Pittsburgh has risen by 24%. Some of the high paying jobs are in energy, healthcare, and education. An outcome that comes from high paying jobs are additional services. The universities have played a key role in job growth. They aid in providing tech jobs and also provide tech incubators that help start-up companies. This could also be why there is a growing population of young educated people in the area (Figure 1). Employment in the manufacturing industry has doubled since the last decade. Natural gas is produced around Pittsburgh and is one of the top producers in the United States (Henderson, T., 2018.) The addition of numerous amounts of different jobs could explain why the unemployment rate is declining. (Figure 5)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Unemployment Rate 2010-2017 Year
Unemployment Rate
2010
8
2011
7.5
2012
7.4
2013
6.8
2014
5.6
2015
5.2
2016
5.3
2017
4.7
Figure 5 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20102017, Unemployment Rate: Pittsburgh city, PA (U), Series ID: LAUCT426100000000003, Local Area Labor Statistics, generated by Anthony Pineda using Bureau of Labor Statistics Lookup; https://bls.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
The unemployment rate in Miami has continued to decline. Miami has added thousands of jobs in different industries. The employment rate of Miami is growing 3.4% each year due to job growth in the economy (CPRN., 2018). Miami’s geographical location plays a massive role in the economy, providing plenty of jobs in the trade sector business. The exporting business is thriving due to its proximity to other nations. Miami International Airport contributes billions into the economy and is one of the world’s busiest airports (CD., 2018). These drivers in Miami’s economy provide thousands of jobs each year. The unemployment rate is declining at a rapid pace because Miami attracts creative design from all around the world (Figure 6). The diverse, multilingual area has attracted fashion design, media production, architecture, engineering, and so much more into the economy. Tourism and hospitality are other significant drivers for creating jobs. There are a lot of cruise lines and hotel chains that help in lowering the unemployment rate. Miami’s year-round warm weather and stunning beaches attract more tourism into the city (Londono, D., 2018). The unemployment rate is declining due to the diverse set of job opportunities in Miami. This drop-in unemployment rate and Miami’s attractive geography and economy is why the growth rate increased by 10.90%. There is a great wave of migration towards Miami because of what the city has to offer (Figure 12).
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Miami, Florida Unemployment Rate 2010-2017 Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
Unemployment Rate 10.9 9.3 8.2 7.4 6.9 5.7 5 4.4
Figure 6 U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2010-2017, Unemployment Rate: Miami city, FL (U), Series ID: LAUCT124500000000003, Local Area Labor Statistics, generated by Anthony Pineda using Bureau of Labor Statistics Lookup; https://bls.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Population by Race and Education Attainment In Pittsburgh, race could directly influence a person’s quality of life. People who identify as White are 50% more likely to receive a bachelor’s degree than people who identify as Black. People who fall under Asian Identity have a higher percentage than those who consider themselves White and Black combined. Income is also directly impacted by race. People who are considered White have an income that is more than double the amount of people who are considered Black. The Black unemployment rate is 16%, while the White unemployment rate drops 10% compared to Black unemployment. Asian unemployment falls 13% compared to Black unemployment (Zuber, V., 2019). There are huge disparities in race that affect the entire city in different ways. There are major tensions between the White and Black population. The Black population is considered to be one of the biggest minority groups and are not given as much opportunity as the White population (Figure 7).
High schools in Pittsburgh have been experiencing problems in suspension rates. The suspensions rate is more than double for Black students as opposed to non-Black students. The start of new school years also brings more school law officers into the system. Studies show that the more an officer gets involved with punishment, the more likely that the students are placed into the juvenile system. The racial segregation that so many schools are experiencing has led to educational disparities (Figure 8). The graduation rate is lowered because of the suspension rate. Suspension rates have also affected employment opportunities in the future, which directly impacts the economy (UOP., 2019). This corelate with the unemployment rate because the students that are impacted are growing up with less opportunities and skills than the rest of the students (Figure 5).
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Education Attainment 25 years and Older Education Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree
Male
Female 2075
2503
5769
5905
26766 15361
28163 16350
7621 22685 19539
8781 22818 21162
Figure 8 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S1501 2017, Educational Attainment, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Population by Race Race alone or in combination with one or more other races White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race
Population
211998 79076 3423 19791 482 2134
Figure 7 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS Demographics and Housing Estimates, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
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Race correlates with the amount of income one receives. In Miami, there is a massive gap in wealth and race. A study found that Latinos who identify as white have lower unemployment rates than Latinos who identify as black. Black Colombians unemployment rate is above 17% while white Colombians have a 6% unemployment rate (Figure 6). Latinos who identify as white also have a higher percentage in income and homeownership than Latinos who identify as black (Jan, T., 2017). The unemployment rate is influenced by which race someone is identified. In Miami, race may influence the probability of employment and level of income.
Miami has the highest number of apartheid schools in the state between 1994-2014. These schools are racially divided into students of color (Iannelli, J., 2017). The students that are in apartheid schools are more likely to live in areas with high poverty. Segregation in school affects the quality of education students get. Study shows that schools with more white students have access to more opportunities and resources (Figure 10) (Gurney, K., 2017). This also shows how neighborhoods living in poverty have disparities in education. Race directly influences how much education someone receives and the quality of education. Areas that are in poverty zones are more likely to have minority groups like black and other races (Figure 9).
Miami, Florida, Education Attainment 25 Years and Older Education Less than 9th grade 9th to 12th grade, no diploma High school graduate (includes equivalency) Some college, no degree Associate's degree Bachelor's degree Graduate or professional degree
Male 22103 16751 48738 19986 10765 25762 16523
Female 25077 16192 48857 20853 12221 27669 16423
Figure 10 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table S1501 2017, Educational Attainment, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
Population Growth
Miami, Florida Population by Race Race alone or in combination with one or more other races White Black or African American American Indian and Alaska Native Asian Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander Some other race
Population 340367 85064 2449 5280 609 17389
Figure 9 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table DP05 2017, ACS Demographics and Housing Estimates, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
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One of the main reasons why Pittsburgh has experienced a decline in population is due to its history. Pittsburgh’s steel industry collapsed in the 80’s and a wave of young people migrated elsewhere. Today there are more deaths than there are births. The people that stayed in the steel industry are now mostly retired. There are not enough people to fill in their spots. During 2008 a lot of people continued to migrate to other areas that have more opportunities (Figure 11) (Rotstein, G., 2018).
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 7 Year Growth Rate Year
Population
2010
305704
2017
305012
Growth Rate:
-0.23%
Figure 11 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2010 Demographic Profile Data, Table DP05 2017, Table Dp-1 2010, ACS Demographics and Housing Estimates, Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
In Miami, Florida the population growth has increased dramatically. Some of the main reason why there was such a big spike is because of the geographical location. Miami is located at a perfect spot for trade and business and that what attracts so many people to this spot (Figure 12). Not only does this city have perfect weather year-round but it is also very diverse. Which is why there are plenty of age groups in Miami (Figure 2). The rich culture and ability to bounce back from natural disasters makes the city attractive.
Miami, Florida 7 Year Growth Rate Year
Population
2010
399457
2017
443007
Growth Rate:
10.90%
Figure 12 U.S Census Bureau, 2013-2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, 2010 Demographic Profile Data, Table DP05 2017, Table Dp-1 2010, ACS Demographics and Housing Estimates, Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010, generated by Anthony Pineda using Census Lookup; https://factfinder.census.gov (data retrieved on September 16, 2019)
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In conclusion, the data gathered from the US Census Bureau resulted in interesting findings. The city’s geographical location had a significant impact on the results. Other factors that influenced the data was the city’s history and race. These factors correlated with the other graphs in a verity of ways and define the city’s economy and all represent the city’s disparities in different sectors.
Bibliography
Castrillo, K. (2018). The Best Ways to Get Around in Miami, FL, Culture Trip, https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/florida/articles/best-ways-get-around-miami-fl/ Cision PR Newswire (CPRN). (2018). Miami's Population and GDP Gains Outpace the National Average, While Its Business Growth Ranks Eighth in the U.S. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/miamis-population-and-gdp-gains-outpace-the-nationalaverage-while-its-business-growth-ranks-eighth-in-the-us-300600621.html City-Data (CD). (2019). Miami: Economy, http://www.city-data.com/us-cities/The-South/Miami-Economy.html Discover Homes Miami (DHM). (2019). Top 12 Reasons People Are Moving To Miami, https://www.discoverhomesmiami.com/miami/top-12-reasons-people-moving-miami Gurney, K. (2017). Florida schools growing more segregated — and the problem is worst in Miami, study says, Miami Herald,https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article175987981.html Henderson, T. (2018). The Mystery of Pittsburgh: How Some Shrinking Cities Are Thriving in the New Economy, PEW, https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/blogs/stateline/2018/12/12/the-mystery-of-pittsburgh-how-someshrinking-cities-are-thriving-in-the-new-economy Iannelli, J.(2017). Miami Is Full of "Apartheid Schools," and Segregation Is Getting Worse, Miami New Times, https://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-school-segregation-is-arguably-the-worst-in-florida-9704823 Jan, T.(2017). In Miami, your skin color is a better predictor of wealth than where your ancestors came from, The Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2019/02/27/miami-your-skin-color-is-better-predictor-wealth-than-where-yourancestors-came/ Londono, D. (2018). Creative Design, https://www.beaconcouncil.com/solutions/target-industries/creative-design/#learnmore Majors, D. (2018). Pittsburgh's youth exodus reverses: Millennials are being drawn to the city, Pittsburgh Post Gazette, https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2016/08/08/Millennials-are-being-drawn-to-Pittsburgh/stories/201608070226 Popular Pittsburgh (PP). (2015). Pittsburgh’s Belt System: “The Perfect Accessory”, https://popularpittsburgh.com/pittsburghs-belt-system-perfect-accessory/ Powell, A. (2019). Getting to & Around Pittsburgh, tripsavvy, https://www.tripsavvy.com/getting-to-and-around-pittsburgh-2707360 Rotstein, G. (2018). Why Pittsburgh's population is still declining, Pittsburgh Post Gazette https://www.post-gazette.com/local/region/2018/03/22/Census-population-estimates-metropolitan-Pittsburgh-AlleghenyCounty-2016-2017-decline/stories/201803220059 University of Pittsburgh (UOP). (2019).New Education Research - Glaring Racial Disparities in Pittsburgh, https://www.socialwork.pitt.edu/news/new-education-research-glaring-racial-disparities-pittsburgh Zuber,V.(2019). Lets Talk About Race, PublicSource, https://projects.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-race/data.html
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Data Collection Analysis Forms Anthony Pineda Cameron Leber Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site
Anthony Pineda, Cameron Leber Harlem Rd and Cleavland Dr Roundabout 1348 Harlem Rd Cheektowaga, NY, 14215 9/9/19, 3:42 PM The Roundabout has two lanes and mountable curves. There is a lot of signage on the road like lane merging, one way, cross walk, yield signs, street names, The site lacks pedestrian protection, there is nothing blocking pedestrians from traffic.
Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.
Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses
2 Roundabout Yield signs 2 lanes 4 Sidewalks on every street and around the roundabout, no bike lanes Yes None Little vegetation inside the roundabout Commercial use, and empty lot
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway
10-15 MPH, accelerated exiting and entering lanes. Continued straight or into another lane 5 seconds 50 ft Braked in presence of traffic, when turning lanes. Quick reaction, 5 seconds 30 ft
46
Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
2-5 MPH 2-10 MPH, accelerated during oncoming traffic 30 seconds - 1 minute Very visible, no blind spots, can see on coming traffic from a good distance
Crosswalks and Sidewalks Quick reaction, 3 seconds 100 ft
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed 10 MPH crossing speed 15 MPH, did not wait or look when crossing waiting time Zero visual acuity Very visual, can see all of traffic. route and crossing choice In the lanes and streets perception reaction time Zero, did not break, just peddled without looking gap acceptance 20 ft Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability
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Rational design, gets the job done Easy to enter, turn lanes, and exit the roundabout Consistent traffic flow No bike lanes, no pedestrian protection, makes people react quick Heavy consistent Concerning, saw 5 close accidents Safely turn lanes, but can be dangerous during heavy traffic Difficult during heavy traffic, people don’t understand the two lanes to well, hard to read what people are doing.
Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site
Anthony Pineda, Cameron Leber, Harlem Rd and Main St Signaled Intersection 4505 Main St Buffalo, New York, 14226 October 9, 2019, 4:50pm Signaled intersection in residential area with heavy traffic flow between two popular streets
Sketch of Site: lanes, intersection design, control, pedestrian features, surrounding land use, streets, bus stops, etc.
Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses
2 Signaled intersection Traffic lights 2 lanes on Main St, 1 lane on Harlem Rd 1 on both roads Sidewalks on both streets with a shared bike lane on Main St 4 cross walks with crossing signals 1 bus stop 1 bench Businesses on all four corners
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway
40 on Main St, 30 on Harlem Rd More right turns than left 1-1 1/2 minutes depending on turning lane To the other side of the intersection Non aggressive (ordinary behavior) 10 seconds 15ft
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Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
2mph 3mph 1-1 1/2 minutes Blind spot when turning right onto Harlem Rd In crosswalks 10 seconds 20ft
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed 25mph crossing speed 25mph waiting time 0 seconds visual acuity Well noticed route and crossing choice In shared lane perception reaction time 0 seconds gap acceptance 20ft Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability
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Rational and easy to use Properly controls the intersection Safe control of cars Poor traffic flow, poor pedestrian acknowledgment Heavy Good for traffic but poor for pedestrians Intentions match reality Easy to use and understand
Data Collection Memorandum Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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To: Planning Directors of Cheektowaga Authors: Anthony Pineda and Cameron Leber CC: Jonathan Bleuer and Andrew Schaefer Date: 10/21/19 Subject: Roundabout vs Signaled Intersection
Executive Summary: In the following memorandum, we will discuss the difference in traffic flow and safety between a signaled intersection and a roundabout. Our main data source comes from our one-hour observation at each of these types of intersections. We collected data at the signaled intersection of Harlem Rd and Main St as well as the roundabout at the intersection of Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr. We determined that although a roundabout moves traffic more fluently and at a greater rate, the design (in this particular case it was the decision to make the roundabout two lanes instead of one) plays a huge role in the understanding and safety of both drivers and pedestrians.
Figure 1: Plan View of Intersection on Main St and Harlem Rd Data source: Google Maps, 2018 51
Figure 2: Plan View of Roundabout on Cleveland Dr and Harlem Rd Data Source: Google Maps, 2018
Introduction: As cars continue to be the preferred method of transportation in America, the safety concerns surrounding traffic has become more prevalent. One of the major areas of concern are intersections. In our research, we studied two different types of intersections along the same busy road in Cheektowaga, New York. A roundabout is where two or more streets intersect and creates a steady flow of traffic by the use of yield signs. A signaled intersection is where traffic lights control two roads. The signaled intersection also helps pedestrian’s cross streets. The intersection of Harlem Rd and Main St are controlled by traffic lights with a turning lane on each street (Figure 1). The intersection also features a crosswalk across each section of a road equipped with crossing signals at each corner. The other observed intersection was the roundabout at Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr (Figure 2). The intersection is a two-lane roundabout controlled by painted lines and yield signs at each entry point. With the heavy traffic flow on Harlem Rd, we wanted to determine which type of intersection, roundabout, or signaled intersection, was better in terms of traffic flow and safety.
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Data Sources: The basis of our analysis began with fieldwork, where we collected data on the intersections of Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr as well as Harlem Rd and Main St. At each site, we observed and recorded the traffic and pedestrian patterns for one hour. Although our observations were only an hour-long, we could determine some important trends in both roundabouts and signaled intersections. Our main focuses were on how well traffic was directed by each intersection as well as the safety element for both cars and pedestrians. When looking at our data, we keyed in on the wait time at each intersection, the gap between vehicles through the intersection, the braking behavior, and the average speed through the intersection. As for pedestrians, we keyed in on the wait time before crossing the intersection, the crossing speed, how visible the pedestrian is, and the gap accepted by the pedestrian before crossing. The method for collection all of the data was purely through observation. All speeds and wait times are estimates generated from multiple observations. Along with our observations, additional research was done to determine the intentions of a roundabout. Dan Burden, a director of Workable Communities as well as the designer of the roundabout, discussed the intentions of installing the roundabout at the Harlem and Cleveland intersection with reporters from The Buffalo News. Along with Burden's interview, a few charts and diagrams are implemented to give a visual representation of our argument. Although our observations were thorough and focused, we faced a limitation on time. We allotted one hour at each intersection, which is not enough to provide a convincing and fully confident analysis. A compelling analysis can be achieved by more observations being made during different time frames throughout the day with different weather conditions. Observing the intersections during different time periods and climates can provide a better understanding of how traffic patterns and people's actions are affected. Our observations reflect how we interpreted each intersection and influenced our opinion on roundabouts versus signaled intersections. Some key factors that influenced our data were the time of day and also the weather on that particular day. In a city such as Buffalo, weather can play a large part in the flow of traffic. Our 53
observations were made on a sunny day, with no precipitation to influence the flow of traffic or pedestrians. We conducted our study on a Wednesday afternoon from 3 PM until 5 PM. We spent the first hour at the Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr intersection and the second hour spent at the Harlem Rd and Main St intersection. Traffic volumes in the area increased around 5 PM (based on observations made from living in the Buffalo area), which could have affected our data on the Harlem Rd and Main St intersection.
Findings: Roundabout: While we were observing the roundabout in Harlem Dr and Cleveland Rd, we found that the intentions of the roundabout did not go as planned. We observed many flaws in the design that did not fulfill the purpose of a roundabout. The purpose of a roundabout, according to the creator, Dan Burden stated, “the roundabout is a new way to control an intersection, it keeps traffic in motion while slowing it down� (Cardinale and Anzalone, 2001).
Figure 3: Above are street view of the roundabout, the image on the left shows how the lanes converge into one lane and the image on the left shows the transition into two lanes. Data source: Photo taken by Anthony Pineda, facing South. 2019 54
Roundabout Traffic Patterns: During the time we observed the roundabout, there was heavy traffic flow. The roundabout has two lanes on Cleveland Dr and then merges into one lane on Harlem Rd (Figure 3). Changing the number of lanes in the roundabout created problems with the heavy traffic. Drivers using the roundabout had difficulty in reading other driver’s intentions. These problems mainly occurred when crossing Harlem, where the roundabout goes from two lanes to one lane and then back to two lanes. People entering the roundabout had difficulty in predicting if cars are continuing through or exiting the roundabout. Although we observed the site for about an hour, we saw erratic braking patterns and nearly five accidents (Figure 11). This is due to drivers ignoring or not understanding the lane separation in the roundabout. The inner lane is supposed to be for vehicles going entirely around the roundabout. Instead, we observed vehicles cutting through the outside lane from the inside lane to exit the intersection. As drivers were waiting to enter the roundabout, they would notice a vehicle in the inner lane, and they would proceed to enter the intersection. As they entered, the vehicle in the inner lane would cut through the outer lane to exit the intersection, almost clipping the vehicle entering the roundabout.
Figure 4: Roundabout, PM peak hour traffic volumes on Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr. Data Source: Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, 2016. Accessed 10/26/19
55
Figure 5: Roundabout, AM peak hour traffic volumes on Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr. Data Source: Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, 2016. Accessed 10/26/19
Roundabout Traffic volumes: According to the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, the peak hour traffic volumes stayed constant when compared to evening and morning time frames, as seen in Figures 4 and 5. Pedestrian volumes increased during the evening, but not a substantial amount. We predict that the constant volume of traffic is due to the control method. There are no signaled stops; therefore, the rate of traffic stays constant by the use of yield signs. The data collected from the Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council represents the consistent flow of traffic during our observation.
Roundabout Method Control and Pedestrian Safety: Another flaw depicted was the method of control. The signage on the road, as well as the yield pavement markings are implemented after the crosswalks. Putting the safety of the driver over the safety of the pedestrian. The designer of the roundabout did not include bicycle lanes in the design, causing bikers to either ride along with traffic through the roundabout or stop and use the crosswalks. 56
Biker and pedestrian safety is concerning in this roundabout, considering there is a school located two blocks from the intersection. We also noticed that during heavy traffic flow, pedestrians would use the crosswalks and have to wait on the island in the middle of the road. This created other safety hazards because pedestrians would be in the middle of heavy traffic. The pedestrians would have to wait until there is enough space to cross the road.
Intersection: During our observation for the intersection of Main St and Harlem Rd, we determined that the intentions of the design are functional. There are flaws in the design that could improve in terms of traffic control and pedestrian safety. The purpose of an intersection is to enforce safety on drivers and pedestrians. Signalized intersections create opportunities for cyclists or pedestrians to cross roads.
Figure 6: Above are street views of the intersection and on the right, you can see the major buildup of traffic Data Source: Photo taken by Cameron Leber facing north west. 2019
57
Intersection Method Control and Traffic Patterns: The intersection of Harlem Rd and Main St are controlled by traffic lights instead of a roundabout (Figure 6). Main St is a four-lane road with center turning lanes, and a right only turning lane at the intersection. Harlem Rd is a two-lane road with left hand turning lanes at the intersection. The turning lanes played a significant role in the wait time. Without cars in the turning lane, the average wait time was 90 seconds on Harlem Rd and 60 seconds on Main St. Now, with vehicles in the turning lane, the wait time on Harlem was around 110 seconds while on Main St it increased to about 90 seconds (Figure 12). The time frame may not seem like a long time, but, for the vehicles waiting at the light, it seemed like hours. We observed many impatient drivers inching forward and hoping to get the light to turn green. We also found that there was significant traffic build up because of the slow traffic signal change. The significant build-up of traffic and the long waiting time may increase the chances of an accident occurring due to impatient drivers.
Figure 7: Intersection, PM peak hour traffic volumes on Harlem Rd and Main St. Data Source: Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, 2012. Accessed 10/16/19
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Figure 8: Intersection, AM peak hour traffic volumes on Harlem Rd and Main St. Data Source: Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council, 2012. Accessed 10/16/19
Intersection Traffic Volumes: We decided to go further in our research and analyzed traffic peak hours for the intersection. We noticed that there were higher volumes of drivers in the evening than in the morning. During the evening, about 100 more vehicles were going in almost every direction than in the morning. There was a huge volume difference of nearly 400 cars going west on Main St during the evening, as seen in Figures 7 and 8. The data that was collected by Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council well represented our observation during the specific time we chose. Pedestrian traffic volumes were higher in the morning than in the evening. The reasoning for this is due to the heavy traffic volumes, which also discourages pedestrians from crossing the street.
Intersection Pedestrian Safety: According to an article from the Buffalo News, pedestrian safety is concerning. The author interviewed a pedestrian and stated, "Honestly, those signals don't work the way they're supposed to," said Wisniewski. "When they're prompting you to walk, the cars are still coming. They're confusing. I honestly don't even use them. I find a break in the traffic somewhere down the road and cross on my own" (Radlich, 2018). The defective designs in the traffic signs make it dangerous for 59
drivers and pedestrians. The likely-hood of an accident occurring is high due to malfunctions in the design of the intersections. We observed that there was a built-up on traffic on both Main St and Harlem Rd. There were some amenities that the intersection lacked. There was a bus stop on Main St but failed in protection from weather conditions. There is a bench on the corner of the intersection that is randomly placed. The bench is inches away from the street, and the chances are high for cars to hit that bench and whoever is using it. Bicyclist safety was also an issue because there are no separated bike lanes. The cyclist had to share a lane with cars, which increases the chances of an accident. A college and high school are located relatively close to this intersection, bicyclists and pedestrian's safety is concerning during heavy traffic flow.
Compare and Contrast: During our observation, we noticed that there were different traffic patterns between the roundabout and the intersection. The time we did our observations was during rush hour. We noted that the roundabout was the most effective in handling heavy traffic flow but had a lot of safety concerns. We determined that the roundabout was more confusing than the intersection. The reasoning for his is because of the transition of one lane to two lanes and back to one lane (Figure 9). The intersection was easier to maneuver because of the signaled traffic lights (Figure 10). Drivers don't need to read people's intentions as much as drivers using the roundabout. The intersection had more congested traffic because the drivers are controlled by the traffic lights and have to wait for the light to turn green. We observed that pedestrians had more difficulty in crossing streets than the roundabout. There is a longer distance pedestrian have to walk in order to cross Main St. Pedestrians, have to be observant of the traffic flow coming from the turning lanes in order to use the crosswalks. Not all pedestrians obey the crosswalk signs and go whenever there are gaps in the streets. As a result, it increases the chance of accidents between drivers and pedestrians. Both sites lacked bike lanes, which create safety concerns for both drivers and cyclists. Pedestrians have to be alert for oncoming traffic, and their safety is at risk for both the roundabout and intersection. 60
Conclusion: The use of two lanes in the Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr roundabout confused drivers entering and exiting the roundabout as well as pedestrians trying to cross at the crosswalks. Traffic is continuously flowing through the roundabout, which means drivers and pedestrians have to make quick decisions to avoid collisions. However, this is not the same at the signaled intersection of Harlem Rd and Main St. Drivers can easily understand when to enter the intersection, and pedestrians have a more apparent time to cross. Although the safety for pedestrians still isn’t as safe as it should be, it is better at making the pedestrian visible when crossing. If we apply our findings to these intersections, the roundabout should be reduced to one lane, and yield signage should be presented before pedestrian crosswalks. As for the signaled intersection, wait times should be reduced and crossing signals should be improved to be more in sync with the traffic lights
61
References Anzalone Charles and Cardinale Anthony. (2001). “A Roundabout Way of Changing Harlem Road.” The Buffalo News. https://buffalonews.com/2001/01/29/a-roundabout-way-of-changingharlem-road/
Radlich, Jane Kwiatkowski. (2019). “Pedestrian Safety at Risky Intersections is Focus of $4.8 Million in Grants” The Buffalo News. https://buffalonews.com/2018/04/01/pedestrian-safety-at-riskyintersections-is-focus-of-4-8-million-in-grants/
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Appendix Figure 1
Google. 2018. [Map of the intersection at Harlem Rd and Main St in Buffalo, New York]. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://goo.gl/maps/d9S4U9RwM7o1q4oWA
Figure 2
Google. 2018. [Map of the intersection at Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr in Buffalo, New York]. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://goo.gl/maps/17EVVvX6vub3CX7XA 63
Figure 3
Photos taken by Anthony Pineda on October 3, 2019. Taken facing south on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, New York.
Figure 4
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council. September 8, 2016. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod=
64
Figure 5
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council. September 8, 2016. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod=
Figure 6
Photos taken by Cameron Leber on October 3, 2019. Taken facing north west on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, New York 65
Figure 7
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council. August 6, 2012. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod=
Figure 8
Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council. August 6, 2012. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod=
66
Figure 9
Free hand sketch by Anthony Pineda: Intersection on Harlem Rd and Main St. 10/20/19
Figure 10
67
Free hand sketch by Anthony Pineda: Roundabout on Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr. 10/20/19
Figure 11
Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site
Anthony Pineda, Cameron Leber Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr Roundabout 1348 Harlem Rd Cheektowaga, NY, 14215 9/9/19, 3:42 PM The roundabout has two lanes and mountable curves. There is a lot of signage on the road like lane merging, one way, cross walk, yield signs, street names, The site lacks pedestrian protection, there is nothing blocking pedestrians from traffic.
Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses
2 Roundabout Yield signs 2 lanes 4 Sidewalks on every street and around the roundabout, no bike lanes Yes none little vegetation inside the roundabout Commercial use, and empty lot
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway
10-15 MPH, accelerated exiting and entering lanes. Continued straight or into other lane 5 seconds 50 ft Braked in presence of traffic, when turning lanes. Quick reaction, 5 seconds 30 ft
Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity
2-5 MPH 2-10 MPH, accelerated during oncoming traffic 30 seconds - 1 minute
route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
Crosswalks and Sidewalks Quick reaction, 3 seconds 100 ft
68
Very visible, no blind spots, can see on coming traffic from a good distance
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed 10 MPH crossing speed 15 MPH, did not wait or look when crossing waiting time zero visual acuity very visual, can see all of traffic. route and crossing choice in the lanes and streets perception reaction time Zero, did not break, just peddled without looking gap acceptance 20 ft Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality
Rational design, gets the job done easy to enter, turn lanes, and exit the roundabout Consistent traffic flow No bike lanes, no pedestrian protection, makes people react quick Heavy consistent Concerning, saw 5 close accidents Safely turn lanes, but can be dangerous during heavy traffic
Ease of use and understandability
Difficult during heavy traffic, people don’t understand the two lanes to well, heard to read what people are doing.
Figure 12
Data Collection Analysis Form END350 Fall 2019 Your Names Name of Site/Streets Type of Site Address City, State, Zip Date and Time Description of Site
Cameron Leber, Anthony Pineda Harlem Rd and Main St Signaled Intersection 4505 Main St Buffalo, New York, 14226 October 9, 2019 4:50pm Signaled intersection in residential area with heavy traffic flow between two popular streets
Site Conditions number of converging streets type of intersection design type of intersection control number of lanes number of turning lanes presence of sidewalks and bike lanes presence of crosswalks and crossing control presence of bus lanes/stops, street parking presence of landscaping, amenities surrounding land uses
69
2 signaled intersection traffic lights 2 lanes on Main St, 1 lane on Harlem Rd 1 on both roads sidewalks on both streets with a shared bike lane on Main St 4 cross walks with crossing signals 1 bus stop 1 bench businesses on all four corners
Behavior Analysis - Vehicle speed and acceleration turning intention and recognition waiting time gap acceptance braking behavior perception reaction time distance to leading vehicle and headway
40 on Main St, 30 on Harlem Rd more right turns than left 1-1 1/2 minutes depending on turning lane to the other side of the intersection non aggressive (ordinary behavior) 10 seconds 15ft
Behavior Analysis - Pedestrian walking speed crossing speed waiting time visual acuity route and crossing choice perception reaction time gap acceptance
2mph 3mph 1-1 1/2 minutes blind spot when turning right onto Harlem Rd in crosswalks 10 seconds 20ft
Behavior Analysis - Bicycle, Skateboard, Wheelchair, Other movement speed 25mph crossing speed 25mph waiting time o seconds visual acuity well noticed route and crossing choice in shared lane perception reaction time o seconds gap acceptance 20ft Questions to Consider Rationale of existing design Rationale of existing control Benefits of existing design and control Deficiencies of existing design and control Flow of users Safety of users Intention vs Reality Ease of use and understandability
70
rational and easy to use properly controls the intersection safe control of cars poor traffic flow, poor pedestrian acknowledgment heavy good for traffic but poor for pedestrians intentions match reality easy to use and understand
Data Collection PowerPoint Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer (Switched to Landscape)
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University At Buffalo END350
Roundabout vs Intersection By: Anthony Pineda and Cameron Leber
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University At Buffalo END350
Data Collection
• Our data was obtained through one-hour observations at each site • Signaled intersection: 4:50pm and 5:50pm, October 9, 2019 • Roundabout: 3:40pm and 4:40pm, October 9, 2019 • Observations were made on a sunny day with no precipitation
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University At Buffalo END350
Introduction of The Two Sites
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Roundabout
Signaled Intersection
• Cleveland Dr and Harlem Rd • Cheektowaga, New York • Businesses on each corner with surrounding neighborhood
• Harlem Rd and Main St • Cheektowaga, New York • Surrounded by commercial properties
Google Maps. 2018. [Map of the roundabout at Harlem Rd and Cleveland Dr, Map of the intersection at Main St and Harlem Rd, Buffalo, New York]. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://goo.gl/maps/17EVVvX6vub3CX7XA
University At Buffalo END350
Observation of Roundabout • Switching from one lane to two lanes caused confusion with drivers • Drivers entering roundabout had difficulty reading other drivers intentions • Yield pavement markings were placed after the cross walk
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Photo taken by Cameron Leber on October 20, 2019. Taken facing southwest on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, NY.
University At Buffalo END350
Observation of Intersection • Did not have difficulty reading drivers intentions • Major build up of traffic due to slow traffic light change
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Photo taken by Cameron Leber on October 20, 2019. Taken facing North on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, NY.
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety at the Roundabout
University At Buffalo END350
• Pedestrians had difficulty crossing the street and got stuck at the island for too long • There is no separate bike lane, cyclist merge with the car lanes Sketched by Anthony Pineda on October 19, 2019. Sketch of Cleveland Dr and Harlem Rd.
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University At Buffalo END350
Pedestrian and Cyclist Safety at the Signaled Intersection • The intersection lacked separate bike lanes which can cause crashes • Pedestrians had to be cautious about drivers coming from turning lanes • Pedestrians had to walk a longer distance to cross Main St.
Sketch by Anthony Pineda on October 19, 2019. Sketch of Harlem Rd and Main St.
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University At Buffalo END350
Comparison of Traffic Volumes by the GBNRTC
• Pedestrians are using more of the cross walks at the intersection than the roundabout • There is a greater volume of traffic at the intersection 79 Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council. August 6, 2012. September 8, 2016. Accessed on October 16, 2019 from https://gbnrtc.ms2soft.com/tcds/tsearch.asp?loc=Gbnrtc&mod=
University At Buffalo END350
Benefits of Intersection • Controlled by signaled traffic lights • Creates opportunities to cross the street • Steady flow of traffic
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Photos taken by Cameron Leber on October 3, 2019. Taken facing north west on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, New York
University At Buffalo END350
Benefits of Roundabout • Consistent flow of traffic • Controlled by Yield Signs • Provides crossing walks and islands for pedestrians
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Photos taken by Anthony Pineda on October 3, 2019. Taken facing south on Harlem Rd in Buffalo, New York.
University At Buffalo END350
Conclusion Roundabouts • Have a better traffic flow but cause drivers to make quick decisions resulting in near accidents • If reduced to one lane it will make it easier for drivers to understand Signaled Intersections • Easier for drivers to understand and provides safe opportunities for pedestrians to cross • Wait times should be reduced and the crossing signals should be improved 82
Martin Luther King, Jr. Park Master Plan
END 350: Group 6 Amaris Lighty Jake Wozniak Xiyan Ding Anthony Pineda
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History
Martin Luther King Jr. Park (M.L.K Jr.
the spatial dynamics of the residents along
Park), originally known as The Parade, is part of
Humboldt Parkway (Blatto, 2018).
the Olmstead park system. This park was located
near the center of the German population of East
signed for, included military drills and sport-
Buffalo. Since then, the demographics of East Buf-
ing events (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservan-
falo have changed significantly. In the early-mid
cy, 2008). An addition that resulted in more
1800s, the city of Buffalo began to see an influx of
community engagement, was The Parade
many immigrant groups, beginning with the Irish
House (Figure 2), opened in 1876 (Buffalo Ol-
and Germans, followed by Southern and Eastern
msted Parks Conservancy, 2008). This served
Europeans from 1880-1920. From then on, there
as a restaurant, beer hall, and dance hall, and
is a shift in the spatial distribution of race, due to
became a public space that attracted a diverse
development and redlining in Buffalo that would
population, many of which being immigrants
displace many low income African Americans
(Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 2008)
and relocate them to Buffalo’s East Side.
. This was something that appealed to Olm-
stead, and he felt that this fostered the spirit
When first built, M.L.K Jr. Park was con-
The activities that the park was first de-
nected to Delaware Park through the Humboldt
of democracy (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conser-
Parkway (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy,
vancy, 2008). In 1895, the Olmsted firm made
2008)(Figure 1). This connection allowed for a
revisions to the park. Fillmore Avenue, cut
more integrated community. Eventually this con-
through the park, and the Parade grounds
nection would be split by a major parkway, and
were replaced with a nearly five acre reflect-
significantly affect the flow of the city, as well as
ing pool, a basin for water plants and large
Figure 1 Figure 2
Source: Webmaster’s collection (Buffalo Architecture and History) Illustration of the Parade House plan (1875)
Source: WNY Heritage (John H. Conlin) Humboldt Parkway prior to the contrusction of Kensington Expressway (c. 1940)
84
fountain (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy,
Figure 3
2008). In 1907, a green house was built in the park. Followed by the construction of the Museum of Science in 1926, located in the northwest corner of the park. The park name was changed in 1977 in honor of historical civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 2008). Six years later an eight foot bronze bust of Martin Luther King, Jr. was
Source: Restore our Community Coalition Buffalo, NY Humboldt Parkway at East Utica Street, c. 1914
dedicated to the park and placed in the plaza on the eastern side of Fillmore Avenue and south of the greenhouse (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 2008). One of the last additions was a public school called the Dr. Charles R. Drew Science Magnet School, opened in 1990 and located on the museum site (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 2008). The history of the park displays significance in preservation and improvement. It has undergone several changes while still keeping important historical aspects. Source: Buffalo News archives The hourglass portion of the Kensington Expressway, nearing completion (1970)
Background
As previously mentioned, M.L.K Jr. Park
Figure 4
grocery stores and banks, was severely affected
was part of the six original parks and parkways
and it played a large role in the decline of the
systems and was connected to Delaware Park
surrounding neighborhood of M.L.K Park (Blat-
by Humboldt Parkway. The parkway was a
to, 2018).
beautiful tree lined boulevard that connected
residents from different neighborhoods to the
ton St, E. Parade Ave, Best St, and W. Parade
park (Figure 3). The rise in popularity in car use
Ave. The park is also within a couple hundred
has caused some changes to the park. In 1960,
feet from the Kensington Expressway. There
the parkway was destroyed and the tree lined
are benefits to being in such close proximity
boulevard was cut down and disrupted by the
to the expressway. Vehicles have better access
development of the Kensington Expressway
to the park, allowing for more visitors from
(Figure 4). These severely affected the sur-
those living outside of the surrounding neigh-
rounding neighborhood, and the expressway
borhood. This benefit could also be viewed as
acted as a barrier. Access to key institutions like
negative when looking at how the expressway
85
M.L.K Park is bordered by Northamp-
has affected the demographics and culture of
research and resources available through the
the neighborhood. The expressway could be
museum.
further perpetuating that process.
Figure 5
Amenities of the park Walkways are present around and throughout the park that allow for better access, and allow for cyclists to travel throughout the park. There is also a bike lane present on Fillmore Avenue, allowing for bike access to the park. The amenities of the park allow for recreational activities, such as basketball (Figure 5) and tennis (Figure 6). Playgrounds are also present on both sides of the park, and they
Source: Buffalo Rising (Newell Nussbaumer) Basketball courts in M.L.K Park
Figure 6
allow for children to play and be active (Figure 7). Along with these amenities is a large amount of open green space that facilitates even further activity.
Three main attractions provided by the
park include, the Humboldt Basin (Figure 8), the Buffalo Conservancy Greenhouse (Figure 9), and the Buffalo Museum of Science (Figure 10). The Humboldt Basin is five-acres in size and allows for seasonal activities. During the summer the basin is used as a splash pond, with jet streams of water that shoot into the air. In the
Source: Buffalo Rising (Newell Nussbaumer) Tennis courts in M.L.K Park
Figure 7
Winter, the basin is frozen over and becomes a ice-skating rink and the park facilitates free ice skating and skate rentals (Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy, 2008 ). The greenhouse is located on the east side of the park and it produces 10,000 plants annually for all of the parks within the Buffalo park system (Buffalo Olmsted Park Conservancy, 2008). The museum provides further programming and events for the
Photo taken by Anthony Pineda Recently built playground, adjacent to the sheltered picnic tables
park, and it is the site of a public school where
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Context
Figure 9
M.L.K Park is Located in Buffalo’s
East Side. The way this park fits into the community is by serving as an open public space for activities, recreation, and engagement. Buffalo’s East Side is known to be a low income area, with a median household income of $24,613 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016). The East Side has significantly changed overtime, due to changes in infrastructure and demographics. Understanding this transformation, helps us understand how the role of the park in the community
Photo taken by Xiyan Ding Buffalo Conservancy greenhouse
has changed.
The Driving Forces of Displacement in the U.S. and Buffalo Buffalo’s East side was once a hub for the many immigrant groups living in Buffalo (Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 2008). What we see now in this area, is the result of Figure 8
Source: WKBW Buffalo (Paula D’Amico) Buffalo Museum of Science
Photo taken by Anthony Pineda Humboldt Basin
87
Figure 10
New Deal, it was difficult for anyone to own a
(Blatto, 2018). Many neighborhoods began to
home. In the 1920s, a typical mortgage required
deteriorate due to lack of investment. This was
a down payment of almost half of the proper-
until urban renewal became prominent, and these
ty’s value, with only a few years to pay off the
areas were being improved and developed, with
mortgage (Blatto, 2018). Following the Great
a higher market in mind. This process displaced
Depression, where many properties were put
thousands of minorities, forcing them to find
into foreclosure, the National Housing Act cre-
cheaper refuge in other places that were of poor
ated the Federal Housing Agency (FHA). This
quality, and devoid of development.This is how
allowed for low-interest, long term loans, with
the population in Buffalo’s East Side came to be
low down payments. This resulted in a boost in
predominantly African American. However, as
home ownership, more specifically in the sub-
renewal continued, the residents of the East Side
urbs (Blatto, 2018). Although this was a seem-
were even further displaced. One particularly
ingly beneficial change in homeownership,
destructive project was the construction of the
this process systematically segregated people
previously mentioned, Kensington Expressway,
of color. This was a practice that was utilized
completed in 1971 (Blatto, 2018). The expressway
across the country, including in the city of
essentially cut the East Side community in half,
Buffalo. The FHA mapped all of the urban
displacing even more residents and devastating
areas in the United States, and recording data
businesses (Blatto, 2018).
from the areas. This data included, percentage
2018). Black neighborhoods were automatically
The Role of M.L.K Jr. Park in the Community Throughout history, minortiy groups have
deemed financially unstable, therefore they did
dealt with discrimination, systemic racism, and
not have access to the same assistance when
segregation. The changes made to the park over
trying to purchase a home.
time are indicative of how the area has changed
of foreign families, percentage of “Negros” and indications of “shifting and infiltration” (Blatto,
and transformed in its population and culture.
The Decline of Black Neighborhoods This process of redling, was essentially
This is important to understand, because making
a tool in completely segregating communities,
an understanding of how the park connects to the
and many neighborhoods still suffer from
area, how the civilians interact with the park, and
the results of this process. Redlining restrict-
how it can be even more conducive to its sur-
ed the flow of capital in and out of minority
rounding community.
changes and improvements to the park requires
neighborhoods. Restrictive laws and housing discrimination made it significantly more difficult for people of color (especially African Americans) to own property and build wealth
88
Conditions
M.L.K Park is well kept and adequate-
Figure 11
ly maintained. Positive investments are supplemented to the park often. One of the most recent additions to the park was a brand new $300,000 playground that children can safely enjoy (Sommer, 2019). Beyond this investment, the city has allocated $4 million in funding to upgrade the park. These upgrades will range from building renovations and improvements to other minor upgrades like sidewalks, and additional parking.
Photo taken by Xiyan Ding Buffalo Conservancy greenhouse
Figure 12
Future Park Improvements Stephanie Crockatt, Executive Director of the Buffalo Olmsted Parks says M.L.K Park is one of the most used parks in the city. Crockatt says that a portion of the funding will go towards new site amenities such as lighting and benches, installing shelters near the basketball courts, and restoring walkways and playgrounds. According to Crockatt, the Olmsted Parks Conservancy would also like to install signs explaining the heritage of M.L.K Park. All
Photo taken by Xiyan Ding Site of the previosly operating casino
of these ideas are meant to improve the park as a whole, as well as give it meaning. To achieve improvement, there has been allocated funding from New York State providing the opportunity to renovate certain buildings on site, such as the greenhouse (Figure 11) and casino (Figure 12) which look to be in below average conditions.
Observations
Without these major improvements, the park is still well maintained and very usable. There
is sufficient picnic seating, green space, and greatly supported facilities for sports and leisure, all of which serve the users well. The only obserservation that we found to be a possible problem, is the traffic on Fillmore Avenue. Park users did not express a problem with the speed of the cars, however we were hesitant when crossing the street and felt that the car speeds were intimidating as a pedes-
89
trian. The park is clean, and each time we went,
located at the south side of M.L.K Park and has
there were people doing maintenance or clean-
been experiencing drug related activity. For
ing. We did not observe a lot of activity within
years there have been hundreds of complaints
the park, or usage of the park. This was however
by residents about the drug dealers as well as
due to the cold weather conditions at the time of
numerous drug related arrests that have been
visiting. The volume of visitors in the park expo-
made (Becker, 2019). This proximity of this ac-
nentially increases in warmer seasons. The physi-
tivity to the park, raises further safety concerns.
cal condition of this park is good and only getting
better with the funding plans set in motion. This
has been experiencing vandalism and theft
means that our recommendations will focus less
of plants. There has been over four incidents
on the physical attributes of the park and more
where a large number of plants have been up-
on programming and activities that better suit the
rooted from the ground. In the latest incident
park and its local residents.
over 60 plants were stolen from the park (Buck-
Challenges
ley and Fleming). Another concern regarding
on the grass to reach the picnic sheltered areas.
In addition to these issues, the park
the green space is the number of cars driving
Some challenges pertaining to M.L.K Park
are related to the surrounding neighborhood
The Olmsted firm spends thousands of dollars
and how it has affected the park experience.
yearly in repairing damaged grass. The issues
There have been some issues relating to safety
and challenges presented create opportunity for
surrounding the park. Crime is prevalent in this
further intervention and improvement.
area, with numerous reported instances of theft,
Figure 13
assault, and gang violence. In 2012, a member of a violent gang operating in Buffalo’s East Side, shot and killed an innocent individual, and also injured four others in M.L.K Park (Hetherly, 2016). Children were present at this time, as well as visitors of the park, and every single person was put in danger. The tragic incident happened at a park who has named after someone who stood for peace and nonviolence. Keeping with these ideals, the park should promote peace, and
Source: Google Maps Sweeney Street, adjacent to the park
be a safe space.
Opportunities
Active Crime in and around the Park Other areas of concern are happening at
Opportunities that have presented them-
selves for M.L.K Park include renovating certain buildings and structures that are run down and in
the perimeters of the park. Sweeney Street is
90
need of restoration (greenhouse, walkways,
Figure 14
lighting, etc.) as well as fixing minor cracks in the pavement and staircases (Figure 14). M.L.K Park is one of the most visited and used parks in the city of Buffalo, making it a strong candidate for improvement and investment.
The park has a strong and well main-
tained physical structure that allows for a lot of activity and usage. The amount of open green space, allows for large events and programs to promote community engagement. The park is also very accessible, with a major street (Filmore Avenue) cutting right through the middle of it. There is so much opportunity to further engage and involve the surrounding community. For example, the newly built playground in the southeast portion of the park, was built by hundreds of local volunteers.
Photo taken by Jake Wozniak One of the walkways within the park
Beginning in the spring of 2019, there has
been a “Planning and Funding Revitalization�
Employment Opportunities
initiative set to facilitate improvements to the
East Side of Buffalo. This investment was initiat-
According to the Greater Buffalo Niagara
Regional Transportation Council (GBNRTC) ap-
ed by Governor Cuomo and includes Michigan
proximately 8,148 vehicles pass through the area
Avenue, Jefferson Avenue, Fillmore Avenue, and
daily, showing high vehicular activity through-
Bailey Avenue as a $65 million resurrection. This
out the Fillmore corridor. The Fillmore corridor
means that there is not only potential for a better
also includes 80 businesses offering about 721
park, but there is potential for the neighborhood
jobs. With the large investments planned for
surrounding M.L.K Park which is allowed to
Fillmore, more jobs within new businesses will
utilize up to $6.6 million. The poverty rate for
become available for the unemployed. Fillmore
those living within half a mile of Filmore Ave-
is 32% commercial and industrial including 58
nue is 35%. Therefore, there is a clear need for
acres of vacant land which shows space avail-
improvement and community support. Even
able for developing more businesses and shops.
though improvements are in the works, a stron-
There is clearly potential in this area, and with
ger connection can be made between the com-
the correct resources, it is a strong candidate for
munity and the park. A connection that allows for further engagement and community support.
91
improvement.
Demographics
The area surrounding M.L.K Park is
income is only $15,000-$20,000 a year (U.S. Cen-
called the Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood.
sus Bureau, 2017). There are 786 families in the
This area is Census Tract 35, located in Erie
neighborhood, and 245 of those families have an
County. This tract has a population of 2,868
income that is below the poverty level (Figure 17)
with the female population exceeding the male
(U.S. Census Bureau, 2017).
population by 486, and the highest age popu-
lation being 50-54 years of age (Figure 15) (U.S.
to one of the most prominent civil rights leaders
Census Bureau, 2017). The demographics of
in history. The park has been through several
this neighborhood are significant because there
phases of improvement and renovation, and the
seems to be a disparity between the conditions
results show a well designed and fairly main-
of the park and the conditions of the neighbor-
tained park that is inviting to the public. How-
hood.
ever, the neighborhood itself is not living up to
Racial diversity is severely lacking with-
The park is named after, and dedicated
the legacy of its name, and it is perpetuating the
in the area, with 95% of the population being
segregation of racial groups and the concentra-
Black or African American (Figure 16)(U.S. Cen-
tion of poverty. This essentially begs the question,
sus Bureau, 2017). This predominantly Black
how can this park contribute to its surrounding
neighborhood also displays a trend of low
community, in a way that is unifying and uplift-
income households as well as many households
ing? We generated a unique survey for many of
below the poverty line. The average household
the park visitors to answer this broad question. Figure 15
Source: 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
92
Figure 16
Source: 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Figure 17
Source: Social Explorer Percentage of families below imcome level in the M.L.K Neighborhood
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User Survey Participant Demographics
We interviewed six users of the park to help receive insight on the experience of a local resi-
dent visiting the park, and to understand existing problems and improvements that they would like to see. The survey respondents were mainly middle to older age residents, that have lived in the area for over 5 years. Two of the respondents were present for the building of the Kensington Expressway. One of the respondents was an employee of the parks system that worked in the greenhouse on site. We randomly selected participants that were in the park upon our visit. The questionnaire raised a total of 15 questions to the respondents (See Appendix).
Responses
The responses varied but most of the respondents were regular park users, and all but one
lived 5 minutes away from the park. Some issues that came up were safety and lighting concerns. Users felt that parts of the park were less safe than others, and many reported that there was often illegal activity present at night, in and around the park. This observation was associated with a lack of police presence and insufficient lighting. Another problem that arose within the responses was having more activities for the community. Although the community does participate in the park’s activities, some of the respondents felt that there were not enough activities focused on the residents of the surrounding neighborhood, as opposed to general events for city of Buffalo residents. Based off many perspectives we took into account, we wanted to take note of certain themes appearing in the focus groups throughout the park (Figure 18).
94
Figure 18
Source: Xiyan Ding Graph summarizing the ratings of the different aspects of the park from the user survey responses
According to the survey results, the main
a point of concern for local residents. This
concerns people have about the park is the
presents the challenge of increasing safety
safety of night travel and the lack of lighting
through community programming and inter-
facilities, as well as the safety considerations for
vention while avoiding the use of excessive
children. On the positive side, many of the users
police presence.
see this park as a really good space for people
to take walks, ride bikes, walk their dogs, and
ming that is geared towards residents of the
just take in the atmosphere. This park is also a
city of Buffalo, and there is a lack of focused
very reasonable traveling distance for most of
neighborhood activity. The question we are
the residents around the area, which makes it
attempting to answer is, How can the park
very accessible for the local residents regardless
better serve the surrounding community? To
of walking or driving. Overall, the user surveys
answer this question, it is imperative to look
were very helpful for generating different ideas
at what the neighborhood actually needs.
in improving the park.
Something significant is that the unemployment rate of the M.L.K Jr. neighborhood is
Recommendations
M.L.K Park currently offers program-
15%, while Erie County has an unemployment rate of 5.5%. This is due to the lack of oppor-
M.L.K Park has gone through several ren-
ovations and improvements and continues to re-
tunities and resources available. We believe
ceive investment. We want to focus on problems
that with proper programming and resources
that do not necessarily require physical improve-
available from the park, it can become a signif-
ments. One of the issues involves safety. We
icant resource for local residents.
have found that safety in and around the park is
95
Promoting Safety Through Engagement: Case Study Urban planners have to address the is-
the same views on safety can reduce the percep-
sues of crime prevention when designing cities.
increase in park use and change in perception
A study in India called the “Smart City Mis-
of safety by having more people present in an
sion,” focuses on this concept on safety and the
area. The social environment can be improved
security of citizens. People perceive safety and
by incorporating programs, events, maintenance
security based on other people’s and personal
work, and enhancing facilities within a public
experiences. The experiences affect people by
park. These social interactions increase park vis-
discouraging activity in areas and participating
itors and reduce the perception of unsafe condi-
in the life of the city. Social exclusion is caused
tions.
by the perception of an unsafe area and results
in a decrease of movement and comfort. In this
the characteristics of visitors and the environ-
study, a group of women organized a safety
mental characteristics of the park. The park con-
audit in a neighborhood. The goal was to rec-
ditions profoundly influenced people’s impres-
ognize the social and physical characteristics of
sions of safety, especially when there where food
a neighborhood and determine its safety. The
trucks around the park and organized activities.
audits are essential to assess the vulnerabili-
For every increase in activity, there were approx-
ty of an area towards crime. The safety audit
imately 25% more park visitors (Cohen, 2016).
tion of fear because people feel safe when other community members are present. There is an
In this study, park use was influenced by
done by women determined that some physical
factors that determined safety. Other factors to
Recommendations for Safety in M.L.K Jr. Park Public safety is something we want to
consider are how an area is being used. Con-
achieve because of the impact it has on future
cepts like “natural surveillance” and “eyes on
park go-ers. Public safety can be a challenging
the street,” focus on how the usage of space can
task in the fact that many neighborhoods can be
determine how safe and comfortable an area
deemed as unsafe due to the residents and vis-
feels. Areas that are viewed as safe can discour-
itors around the area. This can be related to the
age crimes from occurring and makes a space
M.L.K Jr. neighborhood in the sense that the low
more inviting (Mitra,2017).
income demographics may result in an increase
characteristics like lighting, visibility, signage, isolation, escape routes, and maintenance are
in drug sales and drug use, which may cause an
Conclusions from the Case Study
increase in violence around the area. By install-
ing certain safety techniques and gadgets such
How a park is perceived can create
obstacles for people using a park. Perceptions
as lighting, emergency services, surveillance
of criminal activity lower the number of people
cameras, neighborhood watch, etc. we believe
visiting a park. A strong community that shares
can help some of the safety issues pertaining to
96
M.L.K Park. Safety is a prevalent problem in the
18%. The program created a cohesive community and
area, and we believe that there are ways to alle-
improved the safety of the park and its surrounding
viate this problem without the use of excessive
areas. This programming can be implemented in
police presence.
M.L.K Park, and deter crime through engagement.
“Parks After Dark”: Los Angeles Park Programming To extend our idea of “safety watch,”
Emergency Services
we found a similar concept in Los Angeles that
system. Blue light emergency services are of-
we want to include in M.L.K Park called “Parks
fered in many places and are very easy to use.
After Dark.” This program presents itself in
The simplicity of this design consists of bright
Los Angeles and focuses on keeping the park
lighting and easy access to a button that sends
open during evening hours safely. This meant
the alert. The purpose of these emergency ser-
promoting more activity and programming in
vices is to create a safer environment for civilians
the park at night. This program was desired
around the area. These services are in forms or
by residents who lived in areas with high lev-
noticeable blue poles and they connect individ-
els of criminal gang activity. Parks After Dark
uals in danger, to law enforcement. We believe
provides opportunities for people of all ages to participate in outdoor activities. The activities
We also want to implement an emergency
service system, such as a blue light emergency
Figure 19
that the program offers range from recreational activities, entertainment activities, educational programs. Parks After Dark also provide fairs that give people more resources like access to health, economic, and legal services. While the program is running, sheriffs monitor the program as well as participate in the
Source: Los Angeles County Parks And Recreaction Department Sherrifs particpating in park activities with children
activities (Figure 19). This helps build a healthy
Figure 20
relationship between the community and law enforcement; making the park a safer place to gather. The parks that have had the programs, have seen a significant decrease in violence.
Source: Emsworld. com Blue emergency pole
Between the years of 2009 and 2013, the neighborhoods surrounding participating parks, had a 32% decrease in crime. During this same time, Parks that did not have the Parks After Dark program had an increase in criminal activity by
97
installing these emergency poles in M.L.K Park can create a safer setting. They can also be source Figure 21
of added lighting, which is an inicator of the perception of safety. The cost of these blue emergency poles ranges around $2,300, which can be funded through the previosly mentioned, “Planning and Funding Revitalization� initiative; that is currently working to bring imporovements to the East side of Buffalo.
Surveillance in the Park
Surveillance cameras have gained popu-
larity in parks across the nation. Parks have used this technology to prevent crime from occurring. Installing cameras in parks with the latest technology can cost about $10,000 per camera (Figure 22), which can also be taken from the large funding project. Canton, Ohio, installed surveillance Taken by Amaris Lighty The remnaints of a previosly existing emergency pole
cameras at various local parks. Since the installment of the cameras, there has been a 50% drop in police calls. The security cameras are a great resource that reduces crime in public parks. The
Figure 22
presence of cameras decreases the probability of crimes from occurring. Illegal activity like assaults, robberies, drug dealing is more likely to happen when criminals think they aren’t being monitored. The crime rates have dropped because of the use of easily read signs and surveillance cameras that are placed in areas, so they are easily visible to the public. Modern cameras now have technology that
Source: Govtech.com Security camera
allows officers to view live feeds of crimes occurring at parks. Officers utilize this technology to keep the public safe and provide evidence to convict those who are involved in criminal activity.
98
Community Engagement in Low Income Communities: Case Study Community engagement is something
to vote but did not participate in voting for most
that can significantly improve the well being
ularly visiting the church and attending religious
of individuals in low income areas. The prob-
services. The other forms of social engagement,
lem that often arises is that of limited resources
presented in the survey, were minimal among
(McBride, Sherraden & Pritzker, 2006). A study
the respondents. More than half of the respon-
done in the Fair Park area in Texas presented
dents had never participated in community meet-
a survey to randomly selected residents of the
ings in the past year. As far as the level of trust
Fair Park neighborhood. This was done to mea-
among neighbors, respondents felt that, while
sure community engagement in the area. The
neighbors were quite willing to help each other,
survey included nine indicators of engagement:
they were much less willing to trust. Lastly, there
elections. The most important activity for the respondents, in terms of social engagement, is reg-
1. Voting and registration to vote 2. Frequency of participation in community group meetings 3. Time donated to religious services 4. Time donated to non-church not-for-profit activities 5. Willingness to help neighbors 6. Willingness to trust neighbors 7. Willingness to take prompt and active action to solve community problems 8. Community bonding through sharing similar values 9. Willingness to proactively support entrepre neurship efforts within the community
The average age of the sample popula-
tion was 46 years. 89% of the population was African American, and 7% were Hispanic. Nearly half of the respondents had an annual income of less than $10,000, and the unemployment rate was 55%.
Results and Conclusion from Fair Park Case Study When looking at political engagement, the surveys showed that 45% of the respondents
was a disparity in supporting entrepreneurship activities within the community. 58% of respondents felt that it would be hard even for a well known neighbor to raise money for their business through local borrowing.
This community displays a lack of com-
munity engagement, and this study argues the due to the area being low income, they do not have the resources to facilitate such engagement (Nath, 2013). Previous studies reveal that greater civic engagement is generally correlated with higher levels of educational attainment (Nath, 2013). Those who have access to knowledge about prevalent issues are more likely to engage in volunteer efforts (Flanagan & Levine, 2010). Therefore, the challenge of promoting more community engagement seems more commonly prevalent in low income neighborhoods. Ideally, the changes we recommend for M.L.K Park will help further enrich the local residents, and further promote participation among the community.
were either not registered to vote or registered
99
Figure 23
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (Graph retreived from Work Force Buffalo)
Resourceful Programming in M.L.K Jr. Park Something that could bring about posi-
Park would be very beneficial to the community.
tive growth in the neighborhood is implement-
Since 2015, Workforce Buffalo has served 19,601
ing a job and career fair as activity program-
participants and provided 13,916 participants
ming in the park. This can bring resources to
with job placement. The organization has had a
the community while utilizing a familiar public
significant impact on the residents of Buffalo and
space. The implementation of this kind of pro-
Erie County. Since 2017, Western New York’s un-
gram would require partnering with a program
employment rate (4.4%) (Figure 24) has been the
or organization with the similar goal of closing
sixth most improved in the United States (Bureau
the gap in unemployment.
of Labor Statistics). Providing services to more
This organization is focused on giving opportunities to those that would otherwise not have them.
individuals and expanding the program to reach
Work Force Buffalo
specific neighborhoods concentrated in poverty
can create an even larger impact.
Work Force Buffalo is an organization
that runs three career centers in the city of Buf-
Figure 24
falo, and it is the ideal organization for the park to work with in implementing programs. These centers provide resources for those who are seeking employment, changing jobs, reentering the workforce, or learning new skills. This organization recently hosted a career and job fair at John F. Kennedy Park in Buffalo. They brought representatives from the Buffalo Employment & Training Center as well as local employers (Figure 23). Bringing something similar to M.L.K
100
Source: BuffaloNY.gov J.F.K Park Job Fair
Bringing a Community Center to the Park A more ambitious and long term plan that
A community center located in the park could
we believe would be highly beneficial to the com-
Side Buffalo area.
act as a beacon of resources and opportunity for M.L.K Jr. neighborhood and the greater East
munity would be the addition of a community center to the park. A center would take up more
so we believe it is worth sacrificing some of the
Possible Funding to Develop and Operate a Community Center Implementing such a project would
green space.
require funding, and we believe the best way
to fund the construction and to operate a com-
green space. However, it could be a space that significantly contributes to the neighborhood,
The community center would include a
housing program and a career and job program.
munity center is through available grants from
The housing program would provide resources
various foundations that support the renewing
for housing repair, finding housing, as well as
and improvement of parks. This year, the Buf-
resources and education for homeownership.
falo Olmsted Park Conservancy was awarded
Educating the community on homeownership
a $3,000,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson
would help more and more residents move to-
Foundation. This money is intended to go into
wards or more conducive future where they can
improvements in the parks throughout the Olm-
have more stability and security through owning
stead Parks. This is a possible source of funding
property. Belmont Housing Resources currently
to build the community center. This foundation
provides assistance and information for residents
has awarded grants to the conservancy in the
of Western New York. This organization helps
past, this most recent award being the largest.
connect individuals to affordable rental housing,
If the community center is built on behalf of
as well as educates individuals on buying homes
the conservancy, there is more access to larger
and maintaining homes as a homeowner. Collab-
grants. As opposed to a community group that
orating with an organization like this could bring
may not have as many resources or as much
so many resources to not only M.L.K Jr. Neigh-
credibility that would allow them to make such
borhood, but also the area of East Buffalo, which
large grant request.
is currently suffering from similar housing and
employment problems as the neighborhood.
out to is the Western New York Foundation.
This foundation provides grants for qualifying
As far as a program for career and job
Another foundation that we could reach
services, working with the previously mentioned,
nonprofits and organizations, which allows for
Workforce Buffalo organization. They would
further expansion and improvement on pro-
be able to facilitate workshops and classes in
grams that will contribute to the residents of
the proposed center, as well as have resources
Western New York. This foundation awards
available to connect individuals to employers.
between $500 and $50,000 for each grant. This
101
may not be enough to facilitate building a new structure. However, this could go towards the actual operations of the community center, such as hiring and training employees to work in the center and purchasing physical resources and equipment (pamphlets, computers, educational materials, etc.).
Conclusion
M.L.K Park has changed and evolved as time passed, and as its environment changed. The
park has always acted as a public space that provided people with the opportunity to connect, interact, and engage. As the needs of the neighborhood change, the park has to keep up with the surrounding demographics. This plan displays how the park can be improved in a way that better suit the needs of its local residents. Based on research conducted, we found that the residents needed employment, opportunity, and a safe space. Therefore, our recommendations attempt to tackle these issues by bringing in more resources and implementing more engaging programs that bring the neighborhood together at the park. What we hope is that with the recommended improvements, the park can be a hub for resources and opportunity, while acting as a safe space that facilitates people coming together as a community.
Sketch of M.L.K Park by Xiyan Ding
102
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Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/19/a-conviction-in-
the-kind-of-street-crime-that-can-get-lost-in-the-shuffle/.
2. Besecker, A. (2018, December 5). Man reports gunpoint robbery in MLK Park. Retrieved
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in-mlk-park/.
3. Blatto, A. (2018). A City Divided: A Brief History of Segregation in Buffalo. Partnership for the
Public Good.
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6. Cohen, D., Han, B., Derose, K., Williamson, S., Marsh, T., Raaen, L., … Sallis, J. (2016).
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Appendix A.1 Population by Age and Gender Data Table- Census Tract 35, Erie County
A.2 Race Population- Census Tract 35, Erie County
105
A.3 User Survey
106
Case Study PowerPoint Anthony Pineda Amaris Lighty, Jake Wozniak, Xiyan Ding Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer (Switched to Landscape)
107
Martin Luther King Jr. Park Master Plan: Connecting the Park to the People Amaris Lighty, Jake Wozniak, Xiyan Ding, Anthony Pineda Group 6
108
INTRODUCTION
●
Location
●
Conditions
●
Demographics
●
History
●
Opportunities
●
User Surveys
Context
●
●
1
STATE OF AFFAIRS
RESIDENTS & PARK RECOMMENDATIONS USERS
2
Challenges
3
● ● ●
Case Studies Safety Recommendations Community and Park Engagement Recommendations
4
109
Introduction
Location ●
Located in Buffalo’s East Side
●
Bordered by Northampton St., Best St., North Parade St., and West Parade St.
●
With North Fillmore Ave. cutting through the middle of the park.
Source: Google Earth Neighborhood surrounding M.L.K Jr. Park To the left: Close up of M.L.K Jr. Park
110
Introduction
History ●
Designed in 1868 By Frederick Olmsted and Calvert
Source: Webmaster’s collection (Buffalo Architecture and History) Illustration of the Parade House plan (1875)
Vaux ●
Originally called “The Parade”
●
Included: -Large field for military drills and sporting events -Large children’s playground -The Parade House Source: Webmaster’s collection (Buffalo Architecture and History) The Parade House
111
Introduction
History â—?
The Parade was redesigned in 1895 and renamed Humboldt Park
â—?
Addition: -Humboldt Basin: 5-acre reflecting pool (basin for plants with a large fountain in the center)
Source: James Mendola Historic postcard featuring Humboldt Basin
112
Introduction
History ●
The park was connected to Delaware Park through the Humboldt Parkway
●
The parkway was a tree lined boulevard that connected residents from surrounding neighborhoods
●
Source: Restore our Community Coalition Buffalo, NY Humboldt Parkway c. 1914
This connection was broken by the development of Kensington Expressway in 1960
Source: Buffalo News archives The hourglass portion of the Kensington Expressway, nearing completion (1970)
113
Introduction
Context â—?
East Buffalo was once a
2010 Racial Density, Dot Map (East Side of Buffalo)
hub for immigrant groups living in Buffalo â—?
What we see now is a result of redlining, infrastructural changes, and spatial segregation
Source: University of Virginia
114
Introduction
Context ●
Following the Great Depression, the National Housing Act created the Federal Housing Agency (FHA). Allowing for low-interest, long term loans, with low down payments.
●
The FHA mapped all of the urban areas in the United States. This data included, percentage of foreign families, percentage of “Negros” and indications of “shifting and infiltration”
Source: National Archives, College Park, MD Home Owners Corp. Residential Security Map, 1937
115
Introduction
Context ●
Redlining restricted the flow of capital in and out of minority neighborhoods.
●
Many neighborhoods began to deteriorate due to lack of investment.
●
The urban renewal process displaced
Source: La Galeria Magazine, Arleen Santana "Before and After" Washington Heights photos, taken months apart
thousands of minorities, forcing them to find cheaper refuge in other places that were of poor quality, and devoid of development.
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State of Affairs
Conditions ●
M.L.K Park is overall well kept and adequately maintained.
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Minor cracks in walkways and staircases.
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Very few broken down trees due to the weather.
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Positive investments are supplemented to the park
Photo taken by Jake Wozniak Fallen tree in the park
often such as the most recent $300,000 new playground. ●
Improvements set for the Greenhouse as well as the Casino.
Photo taken by Anthony Pineda Recently built playground, adjacent to the sheltered picnic tables
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State of Affairs
Opportunities ●
Walkways and lighting are seen as potential opportunities for improvement towards M.L.K Park.
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Beginning of spring 2019, there has been a “Planning and Funding Revitalization.”
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This funding consists of a $65 million resurrection to the East Side of Buffalo which contains Fillmore Ave. and M.L.K Park.
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The surrounding neighborhood has been alloted $6.6 million for potential improvement.
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The fillmore corridor which surrounds M.L.K Park includes 80 businesses which offers 721 jobs.
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State of Affairs
Challenges ●
Crossing the road can be seen as a challenge for some people.
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Safety at night & Child safety.
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Lighting issues (especially for the night).
Photo taken by Anthony Pineda Intersection of North Fillmore Ave. and East Park St.
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Residents & Park Users
Demographics ●
The area surrounding M.L.K Park is called the Martin Luther King Jr. neighborhood.
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This area is Census Tract 35, located in Erie County.
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This tract has a population of 2,868 with the female population exceeding the male population by 486, and the highest age population being 50-54 years of age.
Source: 2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
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Residents & Park Users
Demographics â—?
Racial diversity is severely lacking within the area, with 95% of the population being Black or African American.
Source:2017 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
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Residents & Park Users
Demographics â—?
The average household income is only $15,000-$20,000 a year
â—?
Out of the 786 families in the neighborhood, 245 of those families have an income that is below the poverty level
Source: Social Explorer Percentage of families below income level in the M.L.K Neighborhood
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Residents & Park Users
Question How can this park contribute to its surrounding community, in a way that is unifying and uplifting?
Photo taken by Xiyan Ding Basin
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Residents & Park Users
User Survey
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Residents & Park Users Table 1.Participant Demographics
User Survey ●
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Users of the park were randomly
Adult
Senior
Total
Gender
selected and interviewed.
Male
60%
40%
83%
The survey respondents were mainly
Female
100%
0
17%
Black
40%
60%
83%
White
100%
0
17%
middle to older age, African American residents, that have lived in the area for over 5 years.
Race
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Residents & Park Users
User Survey ●
The main concerns that came up were, safety at night, lack of lighting facilities, as well as the safety considerations for children.
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Really good space for activity (taking walks, riding bikes, walking dogs, etc.) The respondents expressed that the park is at a reasonable distance from their home.
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Accessible by walking, biking or driving.
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Recommendations
After studying and surveying M.L.K Jr. Park, as well as its surrounding demographics, we found that the most prevalent issues to focus on are:
Safety & Community Engagement
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Recommendations
Case Studies “Smart City Mission” ● People perceive safety and security based on others’ personal experiences. ●
Social exclusion occurs when perception of unsafe condition and results in a decrease of activity and comfort.
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Source :TheCityFix June 11, 2015
Safety is determined by
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Eyes on the street and natural surveillance
lighting,visibility, signage, isolation,
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Social environment is improved when people are gathered
escape routes, and maintenance
through programs or maintenance work 128
Recommendations
Case Studies A Study on Community Engagement in Low Income Communities- Fair Park, Texas ●
Visiting the church and attending religious services was the most popular activity..
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Other forms of social engagement were minimal
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Greater civic engagement is correlated with higher levels of educational attainment. Source:LISC Buffalo. Jan 2019
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Recommendations
Parks After Dark ● Provides recreational, entertainment, and education programs ● Fairs that offer health, economic, and legal services Blue Light Emergency Services ● Bright lighting with buttons ● Contact authorities Surveillance Cameras ● Crimes occur when there is no monitoring ● Visible signs and cameras reduce crime rates Source : Emsworld.com Blue emergency pole
Source:Source: Govtech.com Security camera
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Recommendations SOUTHEASTERN Louisiana University, Career Fair
Long Term Goal ● Community center ● Contribute to the community ● Housing Program ● Career and Job Program Delta Tech School of Business and Technology
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Thank You! Questions?
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References 1. Becker, M. (2019, May 19). A conviction in the kind of street crime that can get ‘lost in the shuffle’. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2019/05/19/a-conviction-in-the-kind-of-street-crime-that-can-get-lost-in-the-shuffle/. 2. Besecker, A. (2018, December 5). Man reports gunpoint robbery in MLK Park. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2018/12/05/man-reports-gunpoint-robbery-in-mlk-park/. 3. Blatto, A. (2018). A City Divided: A Brief History of Segregation in Buffalo. Partnership for the Public Good. 4. Buffalo Olmsted Park System: Plan for the 21st Century. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.bfloparks.org/resources/buffalo-olmsted-park-system-plan-for-the-21st-century/ 5. Caya, C. (2019, May 25). Major investment is on the way for Buffalo’s MLK Park. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://news.wbfo.org/post/major-investment-way-buffalos-mlk-park. 6. Cohen, D., Han, B., Derose, K., Williamson, S., Marsh, T., Raaen, L., … Sallis, J. (2016). The Paradox of Parks in Low-Income Areas: Park Use and Perceived Threats. Environment and Behavior, 48(1), 230–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916515614366 7. Eileen Buckley & Maggie Fleming. Vandalism to flowers at MLK Park. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://news.wbfo.org/post/vandalism-flowers-mlk-park. 8. Fischer K, Welsing A, Aragon L, Simon P. (August 2014). Parks After Dark: Preventing Violence While Promoting Healthy, Active Living. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/ivpp 9. Flanagan, C. and Levine, P. 2010. “Civic Engagement and the Transition to Adulthood.” Future of Children 20, no. 1: 159-179. 10. Groshong, L., Wilhelm Stanis, S., Kaczynski, A., & Hipp, J. (2018). Attitudes About Perceived Park Safety Among Residents in Low-Income and High Minority Kansas City, Missouri, Neighborhoods. Environment and Behavior. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916518814291 133
References 11. Martin Luther King, Jr. Park: Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy - His Legacy. Our Inheritance (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://www.bfloparks.org/parks/martin-luther-king-jr-park/. 12. McBride, A.M. 2003. “Asset ownership among low-income and low-wealth individuals: Opportunity, asset ownership, and civic engagement.” Dissertation Abstracts International, 64, 3483. 13. Mitra, P., & Bardhan, S. (2017). Tracing the Importance of Safety Audit in Making Inclusive Cities: A Step Towards Smart Cities. Procedia Environmental Sciences, 37, 420–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. 14. Nath, S. (2013). Civic Engagement in Low Income and Minority Neighborhoods, and the Role of Public Investment. The Business of Virtue: Evidence from Socially Responsible Investing in Financial Markets. Undergraduate Economic Review Retrieved from: https://digi talcommons.iwu.edu/uer/vol9/iss1/8 15. Sommer, M. (2019, October 5). Neighbors celebrate ‘awesome’ new playground at MLK Park. Retrieved November 18, 2019, from https://buffalonews.com/2019/10/04/a-new-playgroundcomes-to-mlk-park/. 16. The Buffalo Billion II East Side Corridor Economic Development Fund (Spring 2019). Empire State Development.
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Case Study Speech Script Anthony Pineda Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Anthony Pineda
Script M.L.K Jr Park Case Studies One of the case studies that we looked at focuses on the perception of safety based on the experiences of others, as well as their personal experiences. Social exclusion occurs when negative perceptions decrease activity and comfort. Safety audits were conducted in order to see how vulnerable an area is towards crime. Physical characteristics that determine safety are lighting, visibility, signage, isolation, escape routes, and maintenance. Other concepts that were discussed where eyes on the streets and natural surveillance, which focus on how an area is being used and its perception of safety. The perception of unsafe conditions lowers park visitors. The social environment was improved by adding programs and having people present. For every additional activity 25% more people visited the park. We looked at how community engagement can improve the well being of people in low-income areas. Low income areas are less likely to have available resources and results in low community engagement. Going to church and attending religious services was the respondent’s most popular activity. Other forms of social engagement were minimal. Research For our recommendations, we wanted to focus on safety issues. MLK neighborhood has a high unemployment rate which causes disparities and a lack of opportunities and resources. We would like to include safety programs and technologies with collaboration with the Buffalo police department. A program in Los Angles called Parks After Dark is a type of safety watch. The program keeps the park running during the evening hours and provides opportunists for people of all ages, such as recreational, entertainment, and educational programs. The program also helps the community by providing fairs with resources like health, economic, and legal services. The program saw a 35% decrease in crime and other parks across the country started to use it. Some safety tools that help the public feel more comfortable are blue light emergency services and surveillance cameras. Both tools create a sense of security, the blue light emergency services are easy to use. It consists of bright lighting and buttons that alert the authorities. Surveillance cameras also prevent crime from occurring. Visible signs and cameras reduce the likelihood of crime from occurring. Most crimes occur when people think they aren’t being monitored. Goals What we hope to see in the future is a community center added to the park that would contribute to the community. The community center would consist of a housing program and a career and job program. The housing program would include housing repairs, finding affordable homes, and educate people in homeownership. The career and job program would provide employment opportunities, teach new skill sets and connections to local employers. Workforce Buffalo would be a key collaborator in making the program succeed. They helped over 13,000 people find jobs.
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Case Study Handout Anthony Pineda Amaris Lighty, Jake Wozniak, Xiyan Ding Instructor: Jonathan Bleuer Teacher Assistant: Andrew Schaefer
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Martin Luther King Jr. Park Master Plan: Connecting the Park to the People Amaris Lighty, Jake Wozniak, Xiyan Ding, Anthony Pineda INTRODUCTION: We want to begin our presentation with the origins and history of M.L.K Park. We take a closer look into the location and surrounding areas to create a sense of growth that M.L.K Park has experienced as well as surrounding neighborhoods. ●
Location
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History
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Context
STATE OF AFFAIRS: We take a closer look into the overall shape of M.L.K Park and certain factors that may limit the parks full potential. We also find different ways in how the park might benefit from certain opportunities. ●
Conditions
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Opportunities
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Challenges
RESIDENTS & PARK USERS: This part of the presentation takes you inside the perspective of many of the residents and visitors around M.L.K Park. We also break down the numbers relating to the citizens around the area. ●
Demographics
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User Surveys
RECOMMENDATIONS: After obtaining much of the information needed, this is where we give our input for ways to improve M.L.K Park. We take into account other parks and public spaces as guidelines for many different ways improvements can be applied towards M.L.K Park. ●
Case studies
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Safety Recommendations
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Community and Park Engagement Recommendations
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