Zone 4
Zone 4 of David Crombie Park proved to be quite different from the other zones in terms of physical features of the space and how it was used. From first impressions, the park was a quiet and comforting space, with direct adjacency on the south side to the Grant-Bathurst St. Lawrence Community Apartments, of which many of the residents were typical users of the park. To the South, what was previously parking is currently under construction to become new apartment units, of which will possibly bring more users to the space. The park is interesting in that it is the zone that contains the most physical pathways, asking for lots of movement throughout. Emphasis on community is prevalent, as the paths seemed to be designed specifically for the residents of the apartments, with multiple routes in proximity to entrances that will then wind users around the park to The Esplanade walkway on the opposite side.
Planters and vegetation litter the space, creating a buffer between the apartments and the surrounding streets, while also providing a great amount of green space which creates an escape from the noise, sights, and busyness of the urban surroundings. A total of six benches and one picnic table surround the circular pathway, while to the right, curved concrete benches form a path around community gardens, inviting users to sit and enjoy the environmental and ‘green’ aspects of the park. Creating a space that allows people within the city to enjoy nature is quite successful within itself, providing a relief from urban stimuli, and allows for cultivating relationships, especially with the surrounding community.3 Overall, the design of the park was very much intended for the use of locals in the area, while also creating a scenic walkway for tourists moving along The Esplanade.
Overall, zone 4 is fairly successful in creating an inviting space to move through, however has trouble in keeping people in with lack of updated infrastructure for all age groups. Looking at the Sunday data, it displays how during a rainy day very little activity was occurring. With no covered spaces, people tended to move over to the other side of The Esplanade beside the construction site to walk underneath scaffolding to keep dry. What would typically be an unattractive area, becomes more attractive to residents due to the shelter it provides. This solidifies the idea of when the conditions of the outdoor areas are of poor quality, only necessary activities occur in the space.4 However, even when conditions were good, stationary activities were sparse, and the majority of movement consisted of mostly necessary activities as well. Lack of covered spaces, immobile and lack of group seating, and no lighting strategies all contribute to deter users from staying for long periods of time. As Jan Gehl explains in Life Between Buildings, “people attract people,” and seeing other people in action, becomes an area’s main attraction.5 While the space’s environment is attractive in bringing people in, there is nothing keeping them occupied, turning the zone into what is only a space to be circulated through by locals.
Notes:
3. Jan Gehl and Birgitte Svarre, How to Study Public Life (Washington: Island Press, 2013), 14.
4. Jan Gehl, Life Between Buildings: Using Public Space (Washington: Island Press, 2011), pg. 11.
5. Ibid, pg. 23.
