Ok, let's have a look at Barbara Hall Park for
@TossYourJacket
Lets start with an aerial photo and a run down of what the program is for the space. (first without labels)
Now with labels for key features:
The total site area is 0.6 hectares or 1.5 acres
As noted the site contains 3 clear feature areas, one aimed at children w/some play equipment for the younger set (toddler age); and a waterplay;
another for dog owners in the form of an off-leash area, and finally the memorial those who died of AIDS.
The remaining space is largely planting beds, seating and a small open lawn.
So, now the questions arise; is the space successful in its current form?
Is it over-programmed?
How is the physical infra, and the planting material holding up?
So let's look at these photos I took yesterday, Sunday May 29, mid-afternoon, on a beautiful day.
Looking first at the larger, more northerly entrance and seating area, this area seems reasonably successful. It was relatively busy, there was a small community event of some kind, most of trees are relatively healthy
only a couple showing some strain, the paving was in good condition, as were the benches........seems decent.
Now lets move over and check out the second, smaller, more southerly entrance:
The initial look suggests a similar state to the more northerly entrance, but due to being smaller, if nothing else, considerably less busy. It does, however, get very dark and very closed-in, very quickly as you enter the space:
The 'fast fence' here is presumably to keep people from setting up an encampment (I'm guessing); it has the unfortunate effect of taking an already small space and narrowing it considerably. While it certainly didn't bother me at that point
from a safety perspective as a middle-aged, able-bodied man, in the middle of the day, I can see where it might be concerning to some, particularly when daylight wanes or the park is emptier.
As can be see both above and below, the area has become an open area for litter.
There are no surviving plants except for the towering Norway Maples above, I'm not sure if there was vegetation here prior to any encampments, as the shade is pretty intense, but certainly any activities of this type
would have trampled anything that was there.
Looking ahead along the path (below) we see the fencing for the DOLA on the right, and for the Children's area on the left.
I consider this bad design from a safety perspective as it limits one's ability to evade trouble.
This is one way in which one may argue the space is over-programmed; though, there are possible ways to address it.
I don't know how busy the DOLA is a peak hours, but I have to say it seemed under-utilized when I was there, there was exactly one dog/dog owner and 2 other people resting on a bench inside the DOLA.
This may well be a very useful feature to the community, and perhaps the total size is required for peak-times, but I would wonder about perhaps shrinking it just a bit.
How about the Children's Play Area?
Exactly one parent and one child. On a near perfect, weekend day. I'm a bit underwhelmed. It doesn't look like a bad facility, but certainly at this one moment in time, its draw was not strong.
Lets now look at the AIDS Memorial:
I have to say, overall, its in pretty good shape...........and hey, the Birch trees are actually doing well here!
The Memorial itself seems in good condition, free from any overt vandalism or damage.
One slight knock, there was no one but me looking at it.
There are bits and bobs of vegetation damage just beyond the Memorial, mostly trampling through or at edge of some planting beds:
This is easy enough to address with either some protective railings/fences and replanting, I don't think this is a spot to formalize access to the Memorial as it would not read as correct w/people walking between the memorial columns on which the names are displayed.
***
As we get to the far side of the Memorial we look at the north-east (rear) of the park, opposite the DOLA:
This space seems to lack any program function, which is just fine as far as I'm concerned; though it does seem, perhaps, a bit lackluster, and a bit under used.
Finally, we're back around to where we started, looking at the north entrance, from the opposite side:
I will shift my comments to a second post as it appears this one is too large to save all together.
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