park benches

  1. From Park Benches to Parks, Why Frederick Olmsted's Influence Still Matters

    From Park Benches to Parks, Why Frederick Olmsted's Influence Still Matters

    Park bench in Olmsted-designed Central Par

    By Alysa Kleinman

    Next time you visit your local park and relax on any park benches, you can thank Frederick Olmsted.

    It's a name you might not immediately recognize from history class, but he's considered the father of American landscape and park design. His contributions during his lifetime spanned from Central Park to Niagara Falls, to parks in Midwestern cities like Chicago, Milwaukee and Detroit, to the U.S. Capitol, and all the way out to Stanford University in Palo Alto. His contributions beyond his lifetime are un-measurable.

    Setting the bar for excellence in park design very high, Olmsted's designs for Central Park continue to influence landscape architecture to this day. But to fully understand

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  2. Park Benches in Central Park Tell Thousands of Stories

    Park Benches in Central Park Tell Thousands of Stories

    Park benches in Central Park - there are 9,000 of the

    By Alysa Kleinman

    "I love you very much and look forward to marrying you ... but if we have a fight you can always sleep here."

    You just read one of around 4,100 personalized messages engraved on park benches in Central Park. The simple inscriptions make these cold benches surprisingly human, with messages from hilarious to heart warming. They add to the unique community feel that you can only find in the most visited urban park in America.

    "For C& B- who survived the Holocaust, and began a life in this city. With deep love and abiding memory- from your children and grandchildren."

    "Sit. Relax. Take a Deep Breath. Enjoy the day."

    "Angie, Have

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  3. Different Steps to Determine Best Placement of Park Benches

    Different Steps to Determine Best Placement of Park Benches

    Tips on the placement of park benches - great scenery demands great seatin

    Park benches can turn any spot into a gathering place for relaxation and play. Whether you are people-watching, reading a book, relaxing outdoors, or enjoying your lunch, the placement of a bench in the right spot is critical to optimize the use of outdoor site furnishings.

    Most people aren't aware of the planning and strategy that goes into placing a park bench, but bench placement can certainly cause controversy. For example, in one town, the city placed new benches away from the road and facing downtown businesses instead. The reason for this placement was to improve safety and encourage interaction with businesses.

    Many local residents were unhappy with the park bench placement, arguing that it wasn't conducive

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  4. Use these Tools to Create Walkable and Bike-Friendly Cities

    Use these Tools to Create Walkable and Bike-Friendly Cities

    Copenhagen is a prime example of bike-friendly citie

    What does it take to make more walkable and bike-friendly cities?

    In a word - codes. Zoning codes.

    Obviously there's more to transforming streets for use by all members of the public. But a change in zoning codes for citizens who walk or bike shows a fundamental mindset that a town is serious about moving away from cars and closer to alternative modes of transportation.

    Why does a town need to do this? Because citizens all over America are demanding change.

    For too long, America's infrastructure was built around the automobile and cheap gas. The country created massive suburban communities so more people could own a house, a lawn and a backyard.

    The problem is that this caused communities to be spread out over large tracts of land. For a resident to buy food, they had to get in their car and drive across town to the grocery store. The construction of strips mall and mega-malls encouraged this

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  5. Gil Penalosa and His Urgent Message to Make Cities Bike and Park Friendly for 8 to 80 year olds

    Gil Penalosa and His Urgent Message to Make Cities Bike and Park Friendly for 8 to 80 year olds

    Gil Penalosa and his message about people-centric cities. Source 8 80 Citie

    If you look at the speaking schedule for a guy named Gil Penalosa, you'll notice he is everywhere. Why? Because his message about doing something now to change cities in the future is resonating with quite a few people.

    In fact, Penalosa will be the keynote speaker at the annual National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) conference in Las Vegas Sept. 15-17.

    Essentially what he is saying is really a no-brainer. We ALL know this is going to happen. How we shape the way we manage what is going to happen is another story, another story that Penalosa urges us to act on NOW.

    Here's the scenario. The population of people living in cities is going to double from 3.5 billion to more than 7 billion in just 35 years. Do you think it

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