Park Talk
Get the latest updates on this July's Great Parks / Great Cities conference in London. Plus, parks in the news.
From July 10 to 13, London will host the ninth international Great Parks / Great Cities conference. Organized by Project for Public Spaces and GreenSpace, a UK nonprofit that helps those committed to the planning, design, management and use of public parks and open spaces, the conference will provide a rare opportunity for parks professionals from around the world to gather together and learn from each other in an inspiring and enlightening environment.
"London has such a lot to offer in terms of well-planned, designed and managed parks and green spaces," said Paul Bramhill, Chief Executive of GreenSpace. "We are very keen to learn about the great developments happening with parks around the world, and it will also be a great opportunity to share our experiences with our international colleagues."
London's South Bank is one of the exciting places that conference-goers will experience first-hand
The conference will be centered around four themes: Design, Management, Planning, and Placemaking. Through interactive workshops, site visits to parks and projects throughout London, and plenary sessions with acclaimed speakers from the UK and abroad, participants will explore these themes in-depth and take home new skills to create great places in their local communities.
Highlights include:
Saturday, July 10 - The conference kicks off with an informal reception held in Battersea Park. Break the ice with fellow participants over lunch, and take advantage of the variety of mini site tours throughout this recently restored park.
Sunday, July 11 - Participants will embark on a range of site visits throughout central London. Experience a wide variety of parks and public spaces first-hand, and learn about innovative projects taking place in the UK capital.
Monday, July 12 - A plenary panel of UK experts, including Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project, will present "The UK Story," focusing on current strategies and the future development of the UK's parks and green spaces. This will include presentations on the creation of sustainable communities, the role of green space in urban regeneration, and the potential of public-private partnerships to revolutionize parks management.
Tuesday, July 13 - Presentations will include a plenary panel of international experts who will present "A Global Perspective" on parks and public spaces. Speakers will share stories about community involvement in Washington DC's parks and open spaces, the innovative Paris-Plage project, and an Australian perspective on developing an active living approach to creating healthy and vibrant communities.
In addition to the main conference program, delegates will experience exciting evening events taking place at exclusive London venues, including City Hall, South Bank, the Tate Britain Gallery, and Westminster Abbey's College Gardens.
To learn more about the conference program and to book your place, visit greatparksgreatcities.com.
Parks in the News
Vancouver Looks to Finish 8-Mile Burnt Bridge Creek Trail
The Columbian - Transformation of Burnt Bridge Creek from polluted drainage ditch to a "green jewel" flowing through Vancouver should be completed before summer of 2005. (April 10)
Green Space Group Focuses on Georgia's Urban Areas
Miami Herald - The Conservation Fund is helping to preserve green space in the metro Atlanta area. (April 5)
Novel Fundraising Approach for CA Parks
Contra Costa Times - Contra Costa open space officials soon will try using a taxing method traditionally used to pay for street lighting, water mains, etc. to raise $175 million for parks they say will be needed to stave off sprawl. (April 1)
Seattle Dog Owners Transform Downtown Lot into Dog Park
Christian Science Monitor - The city turned over this third of an acre lot, which was once frequented by drug dealers and prostitutes, to dog owners, who have quickly transformed the space into a dog park. (March 10)
|
|
|
