Park Design Characteristics

The park is a well-used place. People of different ages, genders, and backgrounds use a
park on a regular basis during all parts of the day, week and year. A good park is visible
and easy access by various means of transportation. A park should be comfortable, with a
good image and possess such amenities as seating, information, food concessions, bike
racks, and bulletin boards. These elements make a park not only attractive but enticing
for people of all ages. Most of all, a park should be a sociable place where people go to
observe the passing scene, meet friends, and interact with a wide range of people
different from themselves.

Ideal Park Elements

1. Access and CirculationA park should allow people alternative choices of movement
to provide physical permeability.

2. VisibilityA park should also allow for visual permeability allowing people to see in
and out of an area.

3. LightingLighting improves the night time legibility, use, and enjoyment of a site.

4. DiversityParks should provide variety in physical features, activities, and users.

5. Signage and park information

6. Discourage Isolation encourage sociability

There are four main requirements in creating a successful public place:

Accessibility

In order to create an accessible park, we must look at its connection to its surroundings
both physical and visual. This place should have sidewalks leading to and from where
people want to go, and should be fairly easy for people to walk to enter the site.

Comfortable

Comfort is the most important aspect of the four requirements. If people are not
comfortable in the park, they will not stay. Uses and activities are important to consider
because with design you can accommodate for the activities that you want to happen. The
last element that needs to be designed for is sociability. When you create a place that
people like to meet, it begins to draw more and more people, and the site becomes more
successful. In order for a park to be successful, there must be certain activities that take
place; this includes both passive and active activities.
A park needs certain elements to be successful. These include such things as:

Seating -Plaza -Walkways -Vegetation

Water Features -Shelter

Space -Signage

Trash Receptacles -Parking

Rest Rooms -Public Art

Access Crosswalks

There are three main forms of circulation within parks:

1. Vehicular

2. Pedestrian

3. Maintenance

Vehicular Circulation Issues

Protect resources

Have a large impact on use & maintenance

Can control & channel movement throughout the park

Can be dangerous to the recreational setting

Helps to separate vehicular traffic from pedestrian and bicycle traffic

There are 4 major park road configurations. However, they can be most effective when
combined with one another or varied slightly

Spinal Configuration

This always offers more than one entrance to the park, but usually divides it into two
halves.

Peripheral Configuration

The road is located near the park boundary, with activities located to one side.

Terminating Configuration (cul-de-sac)

 This road provides one entrance into the park, and often ends in a parking lot area.

Loop Configuration

Loop roads are often used for internal circulation within the park, and can consist of
several loops or an open loop form.

Road Width

When planning road width, traffic volume must be taken into consideration. One-way
single lane roads should have a minimum 10 ft. width. Two-way roads should have a
minimum 20 ft. width.

Parking Lots

There are countless types of parking lot and stall designs. However, 90 parking stalls
will always afford the most number of parking spaces.

Typically, at least 5% of parking will accommodate handicapped parking. Handicapped

parking stalls must be clearly marked, with a minimum width of 8 ft. and an adjacent 5 ft.
aisle for accessibility.

Shade trees are an important part of parking lot design in areas with warm to hot
summers. They will improve aesthetics while providing much needed shade for cars. A
goal of 50% shade cover 10 years after construction is a suitable goal.

Pedestrian Circulation

The main forms of pedestrian circulation within parks are:

Walks: These are utilitarian support routes and provide access to main areas throughout
the park. Minimum width for wheelchair access is 6 feet.

Trails: Generally trails are narrower and less formal than walks. They are well-suited to
hiking and mountain biking.

Paths: These are considered a compromise between walks and trails, and are informal in
design.
Maintenance Circulation

Circulation routes for maintenance vehicles are necessary in parks of almost any size. It
will increase the efficiency of maintenance and can serve the dual purpose of
providing the infrequently needed (but very necessary) access for emergency vehicles.

Accessory park facilities include:

1. Lighting

Lighting is necessary for the safety of people, the security of property, and in the
emergency of power failure. Light fixtures are available in many forms and styles.

2. Drinking Fountains

Drinking fountains should be conveniently located and sanitary. An artistic flair can
add much character to the simple necessities of light fixtures and drinking
fountains.

3. Restrooms

Restrooms should also be conveniently located, especially near areas of high

concentration such as ball fields and playgrounds.

4. Trash Receptacles

These need to be functional, yet attractive, have adequate capacity, and must
be conveniently located to encourage use.

Parkscape

This is the atmosphere of the park, including visual appearances and aesthetics Some
ways to create a pleasing parkscape are:

Screening undesirable areas (dumpsters, utility sheds, etc.)

Using plants that harmonize with the existing vegetation

Use views and open spaces to create a visual experience for roads and trails

Buffer areas against noise pollution (parking lot or highway noise)

Park Facilities

There are several facilities that are an integral part of many park designs. These are:

1. Picnic Areas

Picnic areas should be located near areas with a high concentration of activities in
order to allow for visual participation and access by car.

Alternative picnic areas should be located in naturalized parts of the park.

All picnic areas should be paved with hard surface materials in order to facilitate easy
access and maintenance.

2. Athletic Fields/Courts

Open space or designated fields should accommodate sports such as football, baseball
& softball, soccer, volleyball, basketball and tennis.

3. Amphitheaters

Should be located in an area that naturally accommodates an amphitheater and

requires the least amount of grading

Is protected from the sun by trees

Offers scenic views.

Is lighted for evening use

Has access aisles with a 8 ft. minimum width

Optimum orientation for afternoon use has audience facing North to NE

4. Interpretive Signs/Trails

These facilities will:

Help visitors enjoy the park through better understanding and appreciation of its
purposes and resources.

Increase knowledge of ecology and the role in the natural environment

Help visitors develop interest in past history

Gives practical geographic and directional information

Park Design

After a focal point is used to draw people in to the park, "spaces" are needed to keep
people in the park. These different spaces should contain or provide different types of
activities for everyone. For instance, people are more likely to stay in a park where they
can play in a fountain, sit around and play music, or simply just sit down and relax. These
spaces will improve the social atmosphere within the park.

Access and linkage are also important topics in a park design. People want to see that
there are activities for them to participate in. When it is easy to see and access the
activities, more people are likely to enter the park. There is also a safety issue to keep in
mind. If a park is not visible from the street, it becomes dangerous to elder people and
children. Better visibility equals a safer feeling for everyone.

Restoring a park is also important. Spaces can be beautified by rebuilding them, whether
it be replanting an area, rebuilding a pathway, or even fixing up an old structure. By
revitalizing a space, it enhances the overall aura of the environment and surrounding
spaces.

Natural Characteristics

The greatest challenge in achieving sustainable site design is to realize much can be
learned from nature. When nature is incorporated into designs, spaces can be more
comfortable, interesting and efficient. It is important to understand natural systems and
the way they work together for increased efficiency.

It is important to work within these constraints with the least amount of environmental
impact. Like nature, design should not be static but always evolving and adapting to
interact more intimately with its surrounding. Native planting should be incorporated into
all new developments to improve the visual integrity or natural fit of the new construction
into a natural setting. Natural vistas should also be used in design whenever possible.