Public Space
Public space has different meanings and definitions to a variety of people, but generally a public space is an indoor or outdoor area, whether publically or privately owned that allows the public access by right or invitation, and whether by payment of money or not (USLegal). There are many different visions that people see as what public space means and how it should be utilized. There are those such as activists and homeless who see a park as a space marked by free interaction or unconstrained space and there is an absence of powerful institutions. For others, such as the government or city planners they view public space as a place for recreation and entertainment, subject to the usage by an appropriate public that is allowed in. For them public space constituted a controlled and orderly area that properly behaved people can experience and feel comfortable and not be driven away from certain acts or people such as political activities or the homeless (Don Mitchell, 1995). Focusing on New York City, one of the most diverse, populated and complex cities in the world, public space was observed to see how these spaces are utilized by the people in this city and the importance of them.
Relating public space to specifically New York’s City parks, it was found that they are open to everyone, but there are rules and regulations that people need to abide by and these prohibited uses are displayed at the city parks and on signs near entrances or exits of the parks. While people are allowed public access to these parks, they need to follow the regulations and rules so as not to receive penalties. Some of these prohibitions include; destruction of property or equipment, destruction or abuse to the vegetation, littering, explosives, firearms and weapons, abuse of the park animals, controlled substances, uncontrollable animals and loitering (NYC Parks) along with some seen on Figure 1 & 2. It is apparent that some of the rules vary by park as well indicating possible issues in the past for specific parks or possibly the type of neighborhood the parks are located in. There are also signs at some of the parks showing park closing times as well that vary by park and by time closures indicating that is a time limit on when exactly these public spaces can be utilized, which would affect not only the people of New York, but specifically the homeless who would not be able to stay at these parks late at night.
Relating public space to specifically New York’s City parks, it was found that they are open to everyone, but there are rules and regulations that people need to abide by and these prohibited uses are displayed at the city parks and on signs near entrances or exits of the parks. While people are allowed public access to these parks, they need to follow the regulations and rules so as not to receive penalties. Some of these prohibitions include; destruction of property or equipment, destruction or abuse to the vegetation, littering, explosives, firearms and weapons, abuse of the park animals, controlled substances, uncontrollable animals and loitering (NYC Parks) along with some seen on Figure 1 & 2. It is apparent that some of the rules vary by park as well indicating possible issues in the past for specific parks or possibly the type of neighborhood the parks are located in. There are also signs at some of the parks showing park closing times as well that vary by park and by time closures indicating that is a time limit on when exactly these public spaces can be utilized, which would affect not only the people of New York, but specifically the homeless who would not be able to stay at these parks late at night.
View Manhattan Public Spaces in a larger map
Link to the study area:http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=215423821984530944873.0004bff89ffdda3d151e7&msa=0&ll=40.767802,-73.954124&spn=0.197095,0.150719
Methodology
For the purposes of our project we traveled around to several parks in New York City to see what some of the different ways that people of New York utilize the parks. We observed various parks in Manhattan on March 22, 2012 and recorded what time we arrived at the parks, where they were located as seen in the table below (Figure 3) and what we found as far as uses for the park, such as sporting activities, playgrounds, commercial businesses, entertainment, dog parks, etc.
For the purposes of our project we traveled around to several parks in New York City to see what some of the different ways that people of New York utilize the parks. We observed various parks in Manhattan on March 22, 2012 and recorded what time we arrived at the parks, where they were located as seen in the table below (Figure 3) and what we found as far as uses for the park, such as sporting activities, playgrounds, commercial businesses, entertainment, dog parks, etc.
Table of the Parks Observed on March 22, 1012 in Manhattan, New York.
Figure 3
Results
After observing the parks we broke down what was seen as far as uses to see how a majority of the parks were utilized in Figure 3. It was found that a majority of the parks had playgrounds and some sort of entertainment, while also a high number having some sort of sporting activity. It was also found that around lunch time around noon the parks became much more populated mainly during the times of 12:30 pm to about 2:00 pm on Thursday during the work week. Dog parks were seen at a couple of parks inluding Washington Square Park and Thompkins Square park most likely due to the fact that space for residents dog's to be outside and run around is rare in New York City, so this space is utilized for this as well (Figure 5).
After observing the parks we broke down what was seen as far as uses to see how a majority of the parks were utilized in Figure 3. It was found that a majority of the parks had playgrounds and some sort of entertainment, while also a high number having some sort of sporting activity. It was also found that around lunch time around noon the parks became much more populated mainly during the times of 12:30 pm to about 2:00 pm on Thursday during the work week. Dog parks were seen at a couple of parks inluding Washington Square Park and Thompkins Square park most likely due to the fact that space for residents dog's to be outside and run around is rare in New York City, so this space is utilized for this as well (Figure 5).
Table of observations during our park research
Figure 4
Sources
"§1-04 Prohibited Uses." §1-04 Prohibited Uses : NYC Parks. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-04.
Mitchell, Don. "The End of Public Space? People's Park, Definitions of the Public, and Democracy." JSTOR. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Mar. 1995. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. <http://iesyppat.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-end-of-public-space-mitchell.pdf>.
Public Place Law & Legal Definition." Public Place Law & Legal Definition.” Web. 14 May 2012. <http://definitions.uslegal.com/p/public-place/>.
Cover photos by Iain Howe
"§1-04 Prohibited Uses." §1-04 Prohibited Uses : NYC Parks. Web. 14 May 2012. http://www.nycgovparks.org/rules/section-1-04.
Mitchell, Don. "The End of Public Space? People's Park, Definitions of the Public, and Democracy." JSTOR. Annals of the Association of American Geographers, Mar. 1995. Web. 13 Mar. 2012. <http://iesyppat.files.wordpress.com/2008/05/the-end-of-public-space-mitchell.pdf>.
Public Place Law & Legal Definition." Public Place Law & Legal Definition.” Web. 14 May 2012. <http://definitions.uslegal.com/p/public-place/>.
Cover photos by Iain Howe