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P A K &
<br /> RECREATION , '` N
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<br /> Regional planning and grassroots campaigns characterize the > A
<br /> latest in urban parks development as cities move to reverse the
<br /> past and plan for the future.
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<br /> I n the last several decades, the list of and parks, we have to do something � . \ .
<br /> I problems that big cities must deal now. We cannot sit back and watch .., . j ::.s,.,, _ 1
<br /> I with has grown longer and longer. development happen," says Ron Klein, /
<br /> ' From affordable housing to com senior regional planner and outreach 't� «. ' .‹ .‘ r , * .
<br /> sewer overflows to rampant crime and education specialist for the Metropolitan '�'
<br /> ■ poverty, the problems are growing worse Greenspaces program in Portland, Ore. . -' ' '
<br /> and their solutions more expensive. Giv- s ,; '. ♦�;
<br /> en these ills, providing green spaces for REGIONAL PLANNING :% �,�;,, �,�" �, `
<br /> urban residents has often paled in impor- In addition to creating recreational •.- -, ^' v -'
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<br /> tance. space, downtown parks provide buffers {; • i ' � � \ti k �y w. R •
<br /> But with citizen voices growing louder between business and residential areas '., t t ' . ') ., • g g
<br /> and studies pointing to the significance and allow cities to capitalize on what ,,
<br /> of recreation to society and efficacy of makes them unique. New Orleans, for %t • ;, z �' !�' "
<br /> parks in revitalizing downtown example, is looking at creating an his- �,,,... 4.;,,, % - -,...�` = -" ..,
<br /> econom and property values, many torical downtown park that will cele- .,� ',�; ', ./. ; r7:.., `
<br /> cities are beginning to re- evaluate old brate the evolution of jazz. �. ,• w
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<br /> assumptions. In Portland, Ore.; Boston; An often - overlooked benefit of parks •' ,.,6, ., •':'` ' :.'
<br /> Seattle and New York, for example, offi- is their effect on crime, which was ,,;i`.4, . { -0:1 -;,:i -; - .,, •
<br /> cials are adopting long -term planning recently documented by the San Fran- v " +- '`'''•° d:? ;,4 r '-, yt �s
<br /> and land -purchase policies, as well as cisco -based Trust For Public Land P' ..0.,4,7,-1",... k _ *..•.1 !,.,..•..
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<br /> some innovative land -use policies, to (TPL). In a report entitled Green Cities ",„ 7 :',.;.' `ai y;2.. s ;;
<br /> ensure the availability of park land for Initiative, TPL concludes that crime rates ;�y,,V .;.,. f ,y
<br /> years to come. drop when adequate parks and recre ''a�''n ".
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<br /> "If we want to have a plan of trails ational activities are available in inner . ,,, • - ,5
<br /> By Heather Hepler t ' ,.. . k : .
<br /> 20 February 1995 AMERICAN CITY & COUNTY
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