Activating Green Space

Activating Green Space

Creating Active Parks is an effective and innovative way of designing parks to encourage resident usage for physical, social and recreational activity. The primary foundation of the Active Park theory is to ensure that, regardless of the size and location of the park, its full potential as an active space for social, physical and recreational activity is realized (Building Spaces and Places for Children and Young People). Growing issues of childhood obesity and related health issues such as diabetes and heart disease are on the rise for children worldwide (Kellett and Rofe). There is considerable evidence that the urban form of our neighbourhoods, towns and cities influences our health, including how active or inactive we are (Building Spaces and Places for Children and Young People).  Well-planned green spaces can improve the lifestyles of people and imprint a healthy lifestyle onto children so they will continue this trend as they grow older. This report outlines the recommendations that can be implemented in any inactive green spaces in order to achieve the benefits of any active parks. Prospect View Park located in Smithfield, Sydney is an ideal example of an inactive park that can be re-designed to enable fuller use of the area. The analysis of a combination of international and national case studies on active parks has assisted the design process of this location to better achieve its intended success.

Sydney Park

[pic 1]Sydney Park is located in the southern-east of Sydney, which is the largest park owned and managed by the City of Sydney(2014b). It is a popular park in Sydney, and can be used by the residents of bounded suburbs- Alexandria, Erskineville, Newtown, St Peters, and further residents in Sydney. Moreover, the Sydney Park has a well-developed plan of public connection, which included the three public car park, bus station on the northern side and the St Peters train station right across to the Main Entry on the northern-west point.[pic 2]

With a diverse ecosystem, historical sites and extensive parklands, Sydney Park is a sanctuary for unique urban wildlife as well as the growing numbers of residents in the city’s south and Green Square. As an active park, the Sydney Park has a variety plan of spaces, which included the parkland, water system, community spaces, sports ground and areas of cultural and memorable significants. The mainly element in the Sydney Park is the large public green space with the dramatic change in the landform and the combaining use of the different plants species in different founctions. It provides a great active space for children and their families to enjoy the nature environment and start to learn about the process for the nature system. The famous storm water harvesting and water reuse system, which designed by the AECOM company and won the award for Design in Landscape Architecture in 2014. There are five wetland linked together, which is oriented south and north direction and achieve a dynamic artificial sustainable environment for the various habitat and the residential communities. The significant vegetation use in the green space and in the water system was well supporting the site as a great public open space for the social activities, community use, the dog-friendly service and bring the more abundant habitat in the site.