Diploma thesis deals with the issue focused on the system of greenery, design of new urban park and housing estate greenery. Selected model area situated on the borderline of two urban quarters Moravské Předměstí and Třebeš in Hradec Králové characterizes the general issue connected with areas in the surrounding of housing estates which are suitable for designing new parks. The results of this part dedicated to the analysis of selected area have contributed to establishment of basic concept design. Practical study of this diploma thesis consists of three parts. Firstly was composed the design of the park integration into urban green system. After that the concept of the park design reflects the discovered issues and tries to found out the most suitable way for their elimination. Detailed design of the park prepared in the form of an architectural study focuses on creating attractive urban environment for an visitor in the future. The final composition of trees is supported by elaborated list of tree felling phasing and planting.

My continued professional and personal interest in the functions and design of public parks influenced me to generate a project theses that explores various aspects of a park's development. My intent is summarized as follows: 1. investigation of social and physical aspects of public spaces in the urban environment 2. generation of a realistic project program based on the needs and desires of the specific user groups for a case study park site 3. application of a design methodology to the case study park site 4. development of a site design that meets program requirements 5. production of the working drawings necessary for the park's implementation to further investigate construction techniques This project thesis has little value as a contribution of significant information to the landscape architectural design profession. However, it served as a viable approach for specific and thorough investigation of public spaces and an application of a park in an urban situation.

Thesis (M. Arch.)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Title from opening screen (viewed June 14, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Att vistas i naturen har sen en lång tid tillbaka visat sig ha positiva effekter på människans välbefinnande. Idag blir städerna allt mer trångbebodda samtidigt som det går att urskilja en uppåtgående trend i stressrelaterade hälsoproblem och en försämrad hälsa som följd av en allt mer sedimentär livsstil. Detta ställer således krav på våra urbana parker som plats för samvaro, återhämtning och rekreation. I det här arbetet undersöks sambandet mellan urbana parker och människors hälsa, samt hur parkens utformning påverkar användandet av parken som offentligt rum. Genom metoderna kvalitativ textanalys och platsanalys med utgångspunkt från Jan Gehls teori om 12 kvalitetskriterier, tas olika principer fram som underlag för ett gestaltningsförslag för Tullparken i Karlskrona. Gestaltningsförslaget syftar i att forma en park som bidrar positivt till människans hälsa och välbefinnande.

Rapid urbanization of cities includes common characteristics of high-density populations and large number of impervious surfaces. The high percentages of impervious surfaces like rooftops, roads and parking lots in dense cities would block the natural hydrological infiltration process and increasing flooding threats. The goal of this study is finding solutions for meeting the nonpotable water use demand by applying water harvesting while also creating open green spaces for residents in urban communities. The design thesis explored the level of benefits that can be achieved by harvesting water from impervious surfaces like rooftops to fulfill the need for water consumption, purification and green open spaces for social activities in residential high-rise condominiums (multi-family residences) in Wuhan, China. The study has compared hydrological and social benefits from 3 different design scenarios in the selected urban community: 1) the existing site design with underground parking, 2) a new design without underground parking which expands water harvesting options, and 3) a new design with underground parking which limits the application of some BMPs (Best Management Practices). This study used open space design and water harvesting as a strategy to meet 94% of non-potable water consumption by harvesting water from residential rooftops as well as to decrease and purify surface runoff to reduce the flooding threat from ground surfaces in the selected community. The proposed open space design also achieved social benefits of providing places for social interactions, supporting various recreational activities, educating children about environmental issues while having in outdoor activities, experiencing nature and keeping or improving the physical and mental well-being of people in the selected urban community. / Master of Landscape Architecture / Dense cities have the characteristics of having high-density impervious surfaces roads, bridges, rooftops as well as a large amount of population. Since a large amount of increasing population in dense cities would result in high demands for water consumption, the water shortage problem, as a global issue, has challenged the distribution of water resources in dense cities. The massive number of impervious surfaces, as a result of rapid urbanization, have blocked the process of hydrological circulation by making natural infiltration impossible. Therefore, many dense cities are facing the challenges of waterlogging or flooding threat and the decreasing amount of water resources. This study focuses on using open space design and water harvesting as a strategy to relieve the stress of limited water resources and waterlogging or flooding threat in dense cities. This thesis has chosen an urban community in Wuhan, China for making open space design and bring the hydrologic and social benefits to the selected urban community by combing the practices of water treatment into the design. The new open design in the selected community not only has the hydrological benefits of decreasing and purifying surface runoff to reduce flooding threat, but also has many social benefits such as providing places for social interactions, supporting various of recreational activities, educating children about environmental issues while participating in outdoor activities, experience nature and keeping or improving the physical and mental well-being of people.

Unlike the West, where many studies have explored how people's needs are fulfilled by urban parks, Malaysia has received very little attention from researchers. One reason for this is the fact that Malaysia has only a short public park tradition. Although folk art and stories have chronicled a long history of gardens and other parks, these spaces were only accessible to royal family members and autocrats. In Malaysia, the concept of free public parks is relatively recent, having been introduced by the British colonial government. This thesis aims to analyze the current demands on urban parks in Malaysia. It specifically studies an urban park in the city of Seremban in the state of Negeri Sembilan, which was built by the British in the early 1900's. This park is apparently not meeting the needs of the public at large. Even though it is near active public facilities, such as a state mosque, a downtown area, public offices, and a public library, it suffers from a declining number of visitors. This thesis is based on data obtained from a survey questionnaire that polled public attitudes regarding Seremban Urban Park. The data was analyzed to determine the factors that influence potential park patrons, as well as the preferred activities of those who visit the park. The research suggests that accessibility, sense of territoriality, activities in the park, the natural environment, and park maintenance influence participants' decisions to visit the park. In addition, it points out that participants' preferred park activities include family gatherings and passive socializing activities. The primary implications of this thesis are that urban parks are emerging as important public spaces in Malaysian cities, and that their continuing effectiveness is largely dependent upon a prioritizing of activities and a commitment to maintenance. This research should help landscape architects and planners expand the relationship between urban parks and public life in Malaysian cities. / Master of Landscape Architecture

The McMillan sand filtration plant in Washington, D.C. is a significant industrial landscape that provided safe clean water to much of the capital during 1905-1985. At the outset, the McMillan Commission chose to make the plant and adjacent McMillan reservoir part of the park system it was mapping for Washington. Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. was appointed to landscape the tract, a task completed in 1920. Closed to the public since WWII, the site was abandoned when its operation ended. This thesis looks at its future by exploring the thickness of landscape and the site's discovered geometry. Peeling back its uniformly level 25-acre surface broken only twice by rows of concrete towers, its horizontal layers, vertical elements and strong grids are revealed, offering clues for new design strategies. Examples of how landscape geometries have been considered and works of landscape built elsewhere are reviewed. Recalling water's historically central role in the site, the latter's potential for demonstrating responsible stormwater management and other sustainable practices is emphasized. Local stakeholder interests and proven ingredients of successful urban parks are noted. A design process is outlined that exploits the earlier exploratory findings to reconcile the transition between old and new, deciding what to remove and what to add. Details are provided on the resulting new "memorial park" that both celebrates its history and responds to contemporary interests and needs of the 21st century urban landscape. / Master of Landscape Architecture

Master of Landscape Architecture / Department of Landscape Architecture/Regional and Community Planning / Howard Hahn / Public parks provide essential green space for people to congregate, exercise, and respite from the city. Urban public parks in the United States began with Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux’s Central Park in the mid-1800s (Cranz & Boland, 2004). Since then, planners and designers continue to design urban parks to best serve residents. Therefore, understanding user recreation patterns and preferences is critical for urban park design. Several factors influence leisure styles, including ethnicity, that need to be considered by planners and designers. This study examines parks in South Omaha, Nebraska. Residents living in this area make up over ten different ethnic groups. Notably, Omaha’s largest Hispanic community concentration resides in South Omaha. Through quantitative and qualitative research including site analysis, a literature search, precedent studies, and community interviews, important design considerations emerged. This project presents design considerations and a conceptual redesign for two urban parks in South Omaha: Lynch Park and Spring Lake Park. The designs incorporated the leisure preferences and recreation patterns as revealed through interviews of the majority Hispanic community as well as European, Asian, and African minority ethnic groups. Precedent studies and literature research further informed redesign decisions by providing background knowledge on leisure research, design form, and demographic trends. Nevertheless, urban parks should ultimately respond to the users, regardless of cultural backgrounds, to meet the needs and requirements of all South Omaha residents.

Master of Regional and Community Planning / Department of Landscape Architecture and Regional and Community Planning / Jason Brody / From start to finish, implementing large public infrastructure projects, like a park, can be challenging. Funding shortages, public opposition, and physical limitations are all potential problems that can halt a project’s development. This study explores the complexities of implementation by using a proposed park designed by the Kansas City Design Center as a case study for examination. The visioning process, or first stage of implementation, is explored by examining the factors that influenced the design. Through interviews, this report then examines how the actors and processes of project implementation work together or against each other in project development. Applying the learned knowledge of implementation to the proposed park of the Kansas City Design Center presented multiple challenges, as well as opportunities for the park. After understanding implementation and its application to the Rail Park, three main strategies are proposed to move the Kansas City Design Center’s proposed park past the visioning stage. The three strategies are: to collaborate between actors, garner public support, and project phasing. General conclusions about implementation in this study found that there will be challenges and not all can be anticipated, but it is important to plan for those that can be. Being flexible and persistent to move a project forward is necessary in order to accommodate stakeholders’ concerns and unforeseen problems. Knowledge of implementation and its complexities will assist actors, developers, and students to advance visions into reality.

Os Parques Urbanos caracterizam-se como a principal área livre para o lazer e recreação da população e da manutenção dos sistemas naturais no ambiente citadino. Para que estes espaços possam cumprir com suas funções, a administração pública deve manejar de forma equitativa os aspectos naturais e de recreação e lazer. O principal objetivo desta pesquisa foi demonstrar a potencial ineficiência da conciliação entre as funções de Uso Público e Conservação em parques urbanos de tipologia ecológica, localizados em fundos de vale. Adotou-se como hipótese que, a equidade não ocorra devido à concepção paisagística, a qual favorece o uso público, ao instalar equipamentos e infraestruturas destinadas à população, em áreas originalmente frágeis, permitindo que a conservação torne-se um aspecto secundário. Para tanto, desenvolveu-se um sistema de monitoramento por meio de indicadores qualificados e mensurados por escores, os quais visaram identificar elementos que possam subsidiar o cumprimento das funções supracitadas; segregou-se os indicadores em duas categorias: i) Uso Público (7 indicadores) e ii) Conservação (7 indicadores); para determinar a existência de conciliação, os indicadores foram sintetizados em dois índices numéricos (Índice de Conservação (IC) e Índice de Uso Público (IUP), escalonados entre 0 e 10) e posteriormente cruzados em uma matriz de interação, a qual permite inferir 5 classes de conciliação: i) Alta Equidade, ii) Boa Equidade, iii) Moderada Equidade, iv) Baixa Equidade, e v) Inexistente. Com o intuito de assegurar a replicabilidade, o sistema foi aplicado em 3 (três) parques na cidade de Curitiba (PR), com diferentes características de formação e concepção paisagística. A primeira unidade de análise, o Parque Municipal Nascentes do Belém, apresentou o melhor IC (9,6) e o menor IUP (2,8), atribuindo a área o cumprimento da função de conservação e o baixo cumprimento da função de uso público, permitindo que não ocorra conciliação, classificando-o como Baixa Equidade; o Parque Municipal Cajuru, obteve um IC de 4,7 pontos e um IUP de 5,1, fator que indica que as funções sejam cumpridas moderadamente e que ocorra conciliação entre elas; o Parque Municipal Passaúna, apresentou o melhor IC e IUP, respectivamente, 8,2 e 7,3 pontos, apresentando condições de conciliação entre as funções. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a hipótese inicial foi refutada, principalmente frente ao estudo conduzido no Parque Municipal Nascentes do Belém, onde se verificou maior atenção para a manutenção dos aspectos naturais e a insuficiência de elementos para fins de uso público, ocorrendo exatamente o inverso das conjecturas levantadas; os estudos conduzidos nos Parques Cajuru e Passaúna, também corroboram os resultados. O sistema de monitoramento mostrou-se eficiente ao seu propósito, em apontar se o parque cumpre com as funções e se ocorre conciliação, segundo critérios pré-estabelecidos, além de apontar eventuais falhas na gestão e nortear áreas prioritárias ao manejo. / The Urban Parks are characterized as the main free area for leisure and recreation of population and the main form of upkeep of natural systems environmental urban. In order that those spaces can perform with their function the public administration should manage from form equitable the aspects naturals and recreation and lounge. The main objective this research was to evidence the potential inefficiency of conciliation between the functions of Public Use and Conservation in urban parks of ecological typology, located in river corridors. Was adopted as hypothesis that, equity dont happen due to landscape conception, what favor the public, use to install equipment and infrastructure intended to population in originally fragile areas, allowing the conservation become as secondary aspect. For this, developed a system of monitoring through qualified indicators and measured by scores, which aimed at identifying elements who can subsidize performance of the duties cited, segregating the indicators in two categories: i) Public Use (7 indicators) and ii) Conservation (7 indicators); for set the existence of conciliation, the indicators were synthesized in two numerical indices (Conservation Indice (CI) and Public Use Indice (PUI), staggered between 0 and 10) and subsequently crossed in a interaction matrix, which allows interfere 5 grade of conciliation: i) High Equity, ii ) Good Equity, iii)Moderate Equity, iv) Low Equity and v) Nonexistent Equity. With the aim to ensuring the replicability, the system was applied in 3 (three) parks in Curitiba (PR), with different characteristics of formation and landscape conception. The first analysis unit, the Municipal Park Nascentes do Belém show the best CI (9,6) and the PUI lowest (2,8) assigning area of compliance function of conservation and the low assigning of function of public use, allowing not occur reconciliation, classifying as Low Equity; the Municipal Park Cajuru, obtain a CI of 4,7 points and a PUI of 5,1, factor that indicates that functions are fulfilled moderately and that reconciliation occurs between them; the Municipal Park Passúna, submitted the best CI and PUI, respectively, 8,2 and 7,3 points, presenting conditions of equilibrium between the functions. According with the result obtained, the initial hypothesis are refuted, principally because of the study on Municipal Park Nascentes do Belem, which was found large attention for upkeep of natural aspects and the failure of elements for purposes of public use, occurring exactly the opposite of the conjecture raised; Studies conducted in the Park Cajuru and Passaúna, corroborates to the results. The monitoring system was efficient for its purpose, in point out that the park meets with the functions and occurs conciliation, according to previously established criteria, while pointing out possible flaws failures in management and priority areas to guide management.