Urban parks, Ecology and America

Question 1:

Michael Hough talks about two kinds of urban landscape: the first 'pedigreed' and the second 'fortuitous'. He also goes on to describe a third, a 'humanized', 'vernacular' landscape. Are all of these landscapes 'parks'? Are they 'green open space' or 'brownfield land'? Is it important, after all, what we call them?

I thought it was interesting that he separated the groups out and coupled the analysis of the traditionally derelict urban landscape and the ethnic neighborhoods in the city. His choice of words of pedigree and fortuitous are also very interesting and I'm still havent exactly wrapped my brain around what assigning these words do. I found myself disagreeing with parts of what he had written and his take on the ecology of the urban environment.

On one level I can understand his argument about diversity in run down and 'uglier' urban landscapes, i.e., ones that have not been professionally landscaped or set aside by the city as a 'beautification' project. I think that there is important diversity in these traditionally rundown and ignored landscapes but that I disagree with his statement that reclaiming or restoring an empty lot to a planned landscape would destroy or reduce the diversity that exists. I believe with careful attention payed to site analysis and ecological inventory that you can bring an empty lot around and enhance its diversity without completely mowing over it and eliminating what is already there. I believe that is what we should be focusing on in urban environments, taking the nature and ecosystems that have perservered in these rugged and untraditionally inhospitable landscapes and promoting their diversity and additionally making an area more aesthetically pleasing.

(Cape Cod National Seashore where I worked with Endgangered Species)

I wouldnt categorize all of the landscapes that he labeled as parks. I see parks as the American definition in that they are planned public spaces intent of bringing the public together and to provide joy and greenery in open space. I dont think its important what we call them. People can define their own idea of a park. If someone wants to call and empty parking lot a park then go for it but for me a park will always conjure up the vision of Central Park in NYC or even the mall in D.C., where I spent most of my childhood. My idea of a park is also heavily influenced by my time spent working for the federal and state park systems in America.



photo credits:
http://www.odt.co.nz/files/blog/2009/07/anna_s_blog_to_come_1669714187.JPG