How do social factors affect a parks success?
Sometimes we talk about greening and ecological sustainability without thinking about the importance of social and cultural diversity. Maintaining that diversity—especially through the preservation of places of cultural and social significance—helps maintain the vitality and health of the city. It enhances a sense of inclusion and participation that ultimately leads to more democratic practice and community empowerment. In your view, what makes a successful park? For me, a successful park is one that has diverse kinds of people in it. In large, heterogeneous cities such as New York and Philadelphia, parks that serve just one group of people don’t thrive. If people aren’t represented in a park, or if their histories are erased, they won’t use the park. This comes from a study of Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, where the African-American monuments were essentially torn down to create a sort of colonial park in the 1950s. When you interview African-Americans and ask
