INCLUSIVE DESIGN

CULTURE RACE CLASS GENDERAND LANDSCAPE DESIGNInstructor: Steve CancianLA.4782.02 (S19)

PHILIP GANNMaster of Landscape Architecture 1st year

SUMMARY

These posters are two of the three redesigns completed for Steve Rasmussen Cancian’s course, Evolving Issues in Environmental Design; Culture, Race, Class and Gender in Landscape Design. Park design, programming, and materials can all contribute to a parks diversity or the lack of. This course focused on readings followed by seminars and guided discussions that conjured up new possibilities for more inclusive park design. I redesigned Heritage Park in West Covina CA and Vista Village Creek in my home town of Vista CA.

Heritage Park West Covina Multi-Use Renovations 3510 E Cameron Ave

West Covina, CA 91791

Existing site plan

Taylor House at Heritage Park Immediate lawn next to parking lot Existing DG-paths View from a top of Heritage Park

4 Additional parking The park is not easy to access for people without a vehicle. This makes the park feel more like an island which would benefit from additional parking to accommodate the estimated increase in park users after the park renovations.

5 Multi-use CooktopsAbove ground stone stoves will feature stainless steel grill grates, stove tops, and also stainless steel flat sheet metal cooktops. These multi use cooktops invite a wider range of cooking styles and cultural differences. This can help prevent the lack of use we currently see with one dimensional park grills.

6 Increased access to canopy and streamThere is limited access to the canopy at the park which could benefit from having more openness to the younger population. Carving small paths down to the water’s edge can make playing in the creek more accessible for children.

2 Manicured strolling gardens Create a well manicured portion of the park with more diverse planting. Selecting plants from different continents can give the park’s visitors a taste of home. The planting can reference regions of the world outside that of southern California. Insuring this strolling garden is well maintained can encourage newcomers to the park who seek parks and gardens for their beauty.

1 Signage in multiple languagesPark guest from diverse backgrounds can feel welcome in Heritage Park if signage in their cultural language can be one of the first things they see.

3 Cultural historic monuments Installing a monument that pays homage to diverse cultures will be a warm welcome to the park. A monument can help bring new diversity to the park from cultures that have previously been marginalized. The key element of the monument will be the cast bronze hands of key cultural figures that the public can touch and interact with. The obelisk will be constructed out of local stone and the bronze plaques will be attached to core-ten steel.

7 Improve park trailsCurrently the trails have been damaged by the heavy rains. Improved drainage and grading can insure path longevity on this challenging site.

Materials & PatternsArchitectural materials can be more diverse. Using tiles and patterns sourced from across the globe is an efficient way to reference culturally rich materials and patterns.

8 Smoking AreasI’ve noticed an abundance of youths coming to the park to smoke weed and hang out. These groups are not damaging or vandalizing the park. They simply are seeking a public space they feel safe smoking weed at. This is not a popular thing but I think public spaces should serve the needs of it’s community and safe smoke spots is obviously one of them. Putting smoke spots at the top of the park harder to reach for some is more ideal and off the beaten path.

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Path

Easy accessiblity

Less accessiblity

www.mnn.com / www.tripadvisor.com / www.123rf.com / www.istockphoto.com / http://aaronsmountainadventures.blogspot.com/ / www.fs.fed.us / galaxytraining.com.au / www.laweekly.com / Google Earth / Google Maps

Vista Village Creek San Diego’s Most Inclusive Park

www.cityofvista.com | www.areavibes.com/vista-ca/demographics/ | twitter.com/vista_yearbook | www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/california/districts/vista-unified/vista-high-3625 | http://www.ed-data.org/school/San-Diego/Vista-Unified/Vista-High | designmodo.com/yong-ho-ji/ | twitter.com/kewgardens | www.worldatlas.com

Other race51.5%

Hispanic or Latino 48.5%

Vista

Other race7.6%Mixed race3.6%American Indian0.4%Asian5.2%Black or African 3.1%

White79.9%

Vista

Demographic Data

Other race13.3%Mixed race4.6%Native Hawaiian0.4%American Indian0.7%Asian13.9%

Black or African 5.9%

White61.3%

California

Other race4.7%Mixed race3.1%Asian5.2%Black or African 12.6%

White73.3%

National

The point is to get more use out of the available space by programing multistability characters into the park space. I think more public restrooms are needed everywhere and programing around them can make sure they do not get over run and stay maintained. Vista’s population is almost 80% white with 48.5% of the population claiming Hispanic or Latino origin. Vista in pompairson to California and National standards has a low percentage of African American and Asian, which who we aim to make feel just as welcomed as other demographic groups. By programing the park’s use for racial and ethnics groups, as well as gender and class, we aim to make Vista Village Park a leader in inclusive and sustainable park design.

The main new feature will be a more interactive park front for socializing. This predominantly hardscaped Park-Plaza will feature picnic tables and standing bars, raised planters for shade trees, grill tops, benches, and nearby restrooms across the road. Across the road will also be a children’s playstation. To keep it safe the playstation will be offset from the road and parking lot. The nearby street will be reduced to one way traffic to lower the number of cars driving through. The plaza will stretch out along the one way street to create channeling for a nice path of travel. Along that path way there will be benches for socializing and resting.

Multicultural cook topsCook tops that welcome a wide range of cooking abilities. No sense only having a grill when you can maximize the use with 3 different cooktops.

Multistable bathroomsMixed gender restrooms with large stalls for handicapped users and those needing a refreshment or change of clothes.

Strategically placed multistable benchesReal benches designed for sitting, stretching, laying, and working out. Location of benches is key. Keep benches visible and in areas that attract use in the early morning hours.

“Homeless” those who you do not speak ofYeah they are people too and are just as warm and welcoming as the rest of us. Designing with the homeless in mind can actually make them less-visible to you and I. You may not even be aware that the well rested and clean individual next to you in line, is in fact homeless.

Overnight Parking With Day time 1hr limit. Place for homeless to park vehicles close to restrooms.

Path loops enjoyable for allOne of the top universal elements enjoyed by all is a looping path way, so you end back at where you started

Well maintained plant lifeA higher quality of maintenance and plant care will also attract a more diverse user group of gender, class, and race.

Signage for multi-use and programingClear description of the intended uses of the park features. Such as the benches are sleep friendly from the designated time frames. The programing of the park characters to self police.

Pedestrian friendly streets - OnewayOne way street to limit and slow traffic. Slow down traffic to make for safer pedestrian environment but maintain accessibility.

Park-plaza to encourage social mixing More hardscape elements like those in Latin America. Plazas with raised planters and shade that are right up against the street’s edge.

Loop path for pedestrians and playBuild another narrow waterfront access that interfaces with the creek. Park pathway to enhance pedestrian travel. Simple stretching and exercise equipment will be located along the path way so insure multistability. A children’s play structure will be along this path of travel with benches and picnic tables.

Pedestrian friendly streetsOne way street to limit and slow traffic. Slow down traffic to make for safer pedestrian environment but maintain accessibility.

Childrens natural playstation with multicultural elementsPlaystation with a world theme. Include elements from every corner of the world to champion racial and ethnic diversity. “Worldy Quotes”

black panther

Vista Village Drive Vista, CA 92083 Philip B. Gann Re-Design 3 Steve Cancian LA4782 Spring 2019