The Uses of Outdoor Space: Community Plan Open Space Day , 26th July 2008
These are some of the ways Broadgreen community members and guests defined the ways in which public and private outdoor space can be used.
Positive associations of public open space
· Peace & quiet, Enjoyment
· Seating, Congregating, (i.e. open air religious services)
· Sleeping,
· Walking the dog,
· Courting
· A variety of things to do and places to do them in, including
· Multiplayer parks
· Fresh air & exercise
· Freedom: From traffic, to run/play, to relax
· Permission to use: fences, impediments, Access to & thru paths, etc
Wildlife habitat:
Loss & re-establish to connect with wildlife: Birds, squirrels
Water – natural and artificial features
Sporting & leisure activities and adventure:
Football, games, cheering on, watching sports, camping, caravanning
Play - in playgrounds & informally, supervising grand/children’s play activities. Holiday locations often chosen for vistas and views.
Celebrations & Social Activities:
Festivals & events i.e. the Mela, Community Cohesion Day.
BBQs, People watching, Meeting / gatherings
Sensory:
Noise, Colour, Metaphoric / Symbolic meanings of plants, landscape and seasons etc, Smell of fresh cut grass, Smell/ feel of damp leaves in autumn,
Public to private spectrum: Parks – formal, well-managed places – through to “wilder” informal spaces, then Private spaces: Gardens. Unadopted space (land not apparently owned by anyone) has questionable ownership usage & control.
Negative Associations:
Abuse / lack of care for public space
Dumping/ broken glass/ litter
Conflicts between age groups
Development pressure on “Brownfield” sites – parks sometimes included!
Caution, pollution, Shrubberies hide rubbish
Drug taking paraphernalia badly disposed: Litter – needles
Anti-Social Behaviour: drinking, urinating
