Redesign Idea, Delving into the Parks Surrounding Me

Redesigning Our Parks

Last week in class, every student arrived with small pinpricks of change written on a map of the places that he or she most often goes to. For me, this map is not extremely large, and knowledge of the land is not extensive. However, as a person who frequently plays volleyball at the parks surrounding my home, I would like to address redesigning those parks for the greater good. I will begin with Sugarhouse Park, as it is the one closest to my house.

Sugarhouse Park: Now, this park is very large. Precisely 110.5 acres. However, the park is not very well lit at all, and despite its size is not usually very populated. I take my dog running in this park almost every day, and I rarely ever see people who are not doing exactly what I am: running through it. The only time I see a ton of people here is on July 4, and July 24 to watch fireworks. I know that the park would feel more safe to me at night if there were more lights on! I run on the outer path paved with asphalt, and there is virtually no lighting during the night. I also believe that the addition of more lighting would allow more people to come and utilize the resources it has to offer during the night. This huge park should also be used for more than just running through. Maybe, at some point in the future a farmer's market could be brought into it. Also, more events could take place here, such as the start or finish of running events, surrounding school field days, community outreach programs, etc.

Fairmont Park: This park is simply terrifying after dark. Even during the summer when it doesn't get dark until late, at dusk, many homeless individuals will come and pester you while you are trying to barbeque with your friends. If you refuse, some may get angry and threaten you, but it's their ground, not yours. I would like to see this park cleaned up for the better. Adding lights here would certainly help with this. I hate how most of the lighting in a park is in the parking lots. Where is the sense in that? I mean it is safe to have them there, but I personally do not go to a public park to hang out in the parking lot. I would love to see more community activities here as well. Many people are not aware that there is a famer's market in sugarhouse, literally down the street from this park. However, it is not in the park, I'm sure, because people do not feel safe going into it and making purchases.

Liberty Park: This park is very large as well. It is used for many activities and is much more populated than Sugarhouse Park. However, this place is a ghost-town essentially after the sun goes down because, once again, there is very little lighting. Adding more lights, that you would not have to PAY for after dark would be lovely. Making sure that every nook and ccranny of the park has some light would significantly improve the safety conditions at night. I love to be outside and sometimes I can't until later, or I like to stay out later, but without light I am unable to do so.

All three of these parks have specific aspects that need to be redesigned, but the major one is more or better lighting. I have no doubt that more lighting would make them more accessible and it would bring people out of their homes to take a stroll, or have a picnic without fear. This does not need to be a very expensive fix either. Solar powered street lamps may be expensive to put in at first, but the cost of upkeep would be significantly lower than using electricity, and would last for a very long tim. Another addition to these parks would be more community events to allow better access. A "square" for activities or maybe even food trucks and such would bring life back into these places that we have forgotten to go. In Park City, on Main Street there is a life size chess board, and adding things like this down in the valley would greatly improve the park life.