The
first outdoor reading room in the United States was created in 1932 on
Boston Commons. New York City adopted this idea in 1935 in Bryant Park
andcontinuesto
do so today. Open aired reading rooms were organized in the US to bring
library services to groups that did not have access to them and to lift
the spirits during the depression era http://veronachild.org/Reading_Room.html
Expanding library opportunities for Community Board 4 residents
Manhattans west side is a library poor community. there are 2 libraries in cb4(Chelsea and Hells kitchen) . Compare this to CB5 and CB6. (left side of map for readers who live outside of Manhattan)Additionally the Muhlenberg library in Chelsea does not have enough room for adults . To make more room the reference collection was taken out. to make more room for seating, more book shelving was taken out. Do we need more libraries in Chelsea and hell's kitchen , yes! a new library is being asked for in the Hudson yards area . However this will take years and tens of millions of dollars to do. In the interim we can supplement the area's libraries by creating a network of library affiliated outdoor reading rooms in our communities parks. here's some examples of staffed and unstaffed outdoor reading rooms... Staffed outdoor reading rooms Bryant park outdoor reading room In midtown (CB5)there is a outdoor reading room. It is possibly NYC's only permanent outdoor reading room It's in Bryant park and attracts 350-500 readers per day. Columbus commons outdoor reading room
What can you do at a park? Run, skip, leap, walk, play, frolic, kick up your heels, let down your hair, read... Read?Yes indeed. The Columbus Commons is home to a
very special outdoor reading room. The friendly staff of the Columbus
Commons Outdoor Reading Room invite visitors to the southern end of the
park to enjoy all the pleasures of a library in the natural setting of
Columbus Commons. linkUni ProjectThanks to a remarkable partnership between all three of New York City’s
public library systems—The Brooklyn Public Library, New York Public
Library, and Queens Library—with the Uni Project, there is an outdoor
reading room throughout the summer on Governors Island, offering books,
learning activities, and children’s programs. Visitors will be able to
borrow books “in house,” register for library cards, sign up for summer
reading, learn more about the Uni, and find out about what’s happening
in each of the three New York City public library systems. Unstaffed outdoor reading roomsthe uni Columbus commons and bryant park reading room are all staffed reading rooms. Staffed outdoor reading rooms are expensive. Here's several examples of library outdoor affiliated reading rooms that are unstaffed
Little Free Libraries Open in Overton Park
East Parkway Little Free Library
Climbing through the tunnel at Rainbow Lake Playground or traversing
the monkey bars at East Parkway Playground are fun ways to spend an
afternoon. But what if the kid in your life feels like reading Hop on Pop rather than playing hopscotch?
We’re happy to say that at Overton Park, we’ve now got you covered. Over the past few weeks, we’ve opened not one but two Little Free Libraries
in the park. These small structures are full of books that kids can
take at any time, for reading at the park or at home. The libraries
operate on the concept of “take a book, leave a book,” so that a healthy
exchange will keep them stocked for the next curious kid.... Both libraries have already gone through several cycles of books, so
we’ll need your help to keep them stocked! We’ve received generous
donations from Books from Birth and Friends of the Memphis Public Library, but the libraries’ popularity means that books are usually “checked out” very quickly. read more
Middletown adds 'library' in the park
The public library installed and now stocks a Little Free Library for all to use
MIDDLETOWN — The Middletown Public Library has a new branch, albeit one that’s only about the size of, well, a box of books.The library’s newest addition is a “Little Free Library,” artfully located in Dietrich Park near the popular splash pad.
Middletown
Library Director Teresa Dennis said the idea grew in part out of a
regular library patron — herself a retired school librarian — having
noted that parents and grandparents like her who take kids to the splash
pad could use something to read while they wait.
The
result is a “dollhouse-style” widowed box built by Dennis’ husband and
installed in the park, “positioned about kid-level.” Library staffers
now regularly stock the box with donated adults and children’s books —
nice ones, not scuffed ones, the director noted — that are free for the
taking. Users are invited to “Take one, leave one,” though that’s not a
requirement, and Dennis hasn’t noticed anyone else leaving books — yet.read more
Implementing unmanned outdoor reading room system in NYC parks Stocking the reading rooms - How about having the reading rooms stocked by NYPL discards and donated children's books with the parks department having responsibility for maintaining the reading rooms and placing new books in the reading rooms on a regular basis. -the NYPL has trucks that delivers inter library loan books to its different branches on a frequent basis. - adding an additional stop to parks dept district HQ's to distribute reading room book. -Parks dept staff would then distribute the books to outdoor reading rooms in their districts parks and playgrounds .number of books property of labels-On book covers a sticker would be placed saying the book is part of the reading room. Please read and return to the room. updating selections swap books between parks. on a regular basis books from park a moved to park b, b to c and c to a. add outdoor reading rooms outside of existing libraries This bench will create an outdoor reading room in fromt of the muhlenberg library, when it is returned, after library renovations are completed. literacy artcle; http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-08-adult-literacy_N.htm \
nces.ed.gov/naal/estimates/index.aspx libraries-very few libraries+a lot of books in each+collection constantly updates (sticky return)parks+a lot of parks and plazas -very few activities-almost never change
...But while obesity may not be the Black Death, it is a severe
public health crisis. Experts agree that as more and more obese children become obese
adults, the diseases associated with obesity, such as heart disease, cancer, and
especially diabetes will surge. That will
mean a lot of sick people.
According to Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH, chair of the department
of nutrition and food studies at New
York University, the costs of these illnesses will be
"astronomical."
James O. Hill, PhD, agrees. Hill, director of the Center for
Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, claims
that at the rate we're going, obesity-related diabetes alone "will break
the bank of our healthcare system." WebMD
Active
park users were less likely to be overweight than those who had
longer park visits and either used the park for passive activities or
did not use the park at all;
Active park use was negatively related to visits to a physician other than routine checkups;
Active design is one of the tools to help reign in this crisis.
What is Active Design?
Active Design is the idea that we can design cities and buildings to
encourage people to get more exercise. This is not about encouraging us
to go to the gym and working out more, but instead, it's about giving
citizens more of a workout through how we interact with our environment
on a daily basis. This could include walking
instead of driving, taking stairs instead of elevators, and creating
parks and other interesting engaging environments to walk through. By
attacking obesity through urban design and architecture, governments are
beginning to realize that designers might be their best warriors in the
battle against obesity and its costs link
Currently there is no Active design manual covering parklets. This blog post is an attempt help fill that gap, until such a guide is published.
What is a Parklet?
A parklet is a small space serving as an extension of the sidewalk to provide amenities and green space for people using the street. It is typically the size of several parking spaces. link
Parklets are commonly places of passive activity. However, as small parks, they also provide a unique and thus far unexplored opportunity to create spaces for physical exercise. Given the cost of creating large-scale parks in urban environments, as well as the public and private costs associated with overweight and obesity, active recreation parklets could provide a solution to help address these challenges. link
Spring Street Active Recreation Parklet
The worlds first permanent active design parklet is now installed on Spring Street in Los Angeles. It offers fitness zone equipment, Foosball and swing seats.
The parklet is designed using the same outdoor fitness equipment found in Los Angeles’ fitness zones (see description in Chapter 1). Various types of outdoor fitness equipment are available and can be installed at the parklet. Equipment used in a parklet should be relatively compact and intuitive for people to operate. link
Los Angeles is currently experimenting with 3 parklets, the above active design being one of the three. If the experiment is successful, L.A. wants to install hundreds of parklets. Noregia parklet in the days before the automobile kids could play in the streets....
...With the exception of Play streets those days are pretty much gone. but here's a parklet that shows some possibilities of once again allowing kids to play in the streets.
Morristown Bicycle powered Cellphone charger
In Morristown NJ they are designing a parklet with a a bicycle-powered cell phone charging station. .. link
"Last year, Lexington set up a bike corral in the same area as the
parklet, and the town said it received positive feedback about the
bicycle parking. Selectmen then decided to install a more permanent
structure this year." link
Nancercize
Here's a couple parklets with benches...
to most people these parklets would seem pretty much paassive seating locations. but not to nancy Bruning. Nancy trsnsforms passive benches to active fitness equipment.
What's needed is to add graphics to parklets lo let people know that benches are for fitness too.
walking and seating
One of my neighbors had knee surgery.
She told me she now won't walk more than 7 blocks. Over the past year we've had benches installed throughout the neighborhood. she now says thanks to them she can walk further. the availability of seating areas is geneally viewed as a necessary urban feature for older people: it is difficult for many older people to walk around their local area without somewhere to rest World health Organization
The whole is more than the sum of its parks
An article in Landscape Architects Magazine said this about parklets... Some city planners would like to use parklets more assertively. “So far
each one has been something in and of itself, but we’re beginning to
think about their potential as tools for larger change,” says David
Alumbaugh, who directs the department’s City Design Group, which
includes the parklets team. He contemplates using a series of parklets
as a way to pull people into neighborhoods that otherwise might be
avoided by outsiders, or concentrating them in such a way as to form a
sort of traffic-calming system: “There might be ways to tie several of
these spaces together…. A few years ago, any proposal to do something in
the street was met with such resistance. Now that they’re popular, it’s
‘Why not do more?’” link
Tying together passive public spaces creates active walking spaces
this map shows all the public spaces with seating in the midtown south area. The white icons are
benches that have recently been installed on avenues, these have allowed seniors to walk
greater distances. The red icons are planned and proposed parklets with seating . By creating parklets that offer
activities, not just seating, we'll give community residents a reason
to walk to the parklets.
Parking day parklets
The most common amenities in permanent parklets are seating and greenery. Bike parking is the only common active recreation feature in the permanent parklets I've surveyed. This is curious because once a year on Park(ing) day, parklets are put up for a day only and on this day, a far greater variety of active features are shown ass possibilities then can be found in permanent parklets...
ping pong balls landing in traffic would seem to make this a bad idea. but what if a high fence on the traffic sides of the street kept the balls from going into traffic areas?
an Outdoor reading Room parklet is active design for the mind!
The Van Alen bookstore parking day parklet offered an outdoor reading room. they are currently designing a permanent parklet, hopefully it will once again contain a reading room.
more active recreation for the mind
Thumblina park and community Garden
Community garden parklet (permanent) in foreground, Scrabble board on table in background is parking day only
Always one looking to be in the spotlight, Larry, the official dog of Hook, was loaned to our friends at Touchpoint Communications to take part in National Park(ing) Day.
Larry spent her time in the “mini dog park” pleading for treats. A
parking lot on the corner of Market & Church Streets was the site of
the second annual Park(ing) Day in Charleston. 90 cities across the
U.S. participated in the event, which celebrates parks in cities and
promotes the need for more parks.
If you think about it bike share docking stations are active recreation parklets for Bike
share users, and bike corrals are active recreation parklets for bike
user.
Both of these "parklets" are great for bikers, but do little for the other
residents of the neighborhoods they are in. This is not very different from
the old car-centric model of street use that they are replacing. What
if bike share kiosks can be transformed from spaces solely for bike
share riders to community spaces that benefit all who live in a community?
Here's a bike share parklet with a rock available for seating
Here's a simulation of a bike share dock with a seat and reading material placed on the sidewalk side of the dock.
In both these cases a special purpose active recreation parklet that was useful for only one segment of the population was transformed into a general purpose one that will enhance walkability of the area, especially for seniors.
Here is a neighbor of mine using a bike share kiosk for exercise. By adding signage with pictures like this, to a bike share parklet it becomes a fitness equipment recreation parklet that everyone can enjoy not just bike share users.
the NYC bike share program will have 3000 locations if it reaches its planned size. By designing new installations with active recreation features for the whole community in mind, not just bike share users, this can result in thousands of active recreation parklets throughout NYC at a minimal cost to NYC.also see101 Uses for a bike share dock
Fire Hydrants Parklets
I've seen cars illegally parked at fire hydrants, and read stories of fireman having to break into the car and put the hose through the cars window to get to the hydrant. Not good. what if these spaces became parklets that cars could not park in? the No Park
Most parklets are currently one off custom designs. Why?
A small number of NYC residents have architects design the houses they live in. but Most NYC residents move into unfurnished apartments or houses where they
customize the interiors to their desire, but don't have to build the
outer walls.
communities interested in Parklets should be given the same options.
-NYC bus shelters, Citybenches, newstands and Citibike docks are all standard designed items that have already been approved by the city and because of this hundreds can be installed in months not years.
By creating a standardized parklet outer shell. communities no longer have to worry about designing and approval of the shell.
the interior furnishing of the parklet can be
- custom built to a communities specifications and/or
-picked from a catalog of standard parklet furnishings
Community involvement over time
No matter how a parklet is built custom or standardized, once it's built it is generally not meant to be changed. You get what the original planners designed and rarely anything more.
How about creating parklets that allow the community to modify over time to fit their needs.
-put out a suggestion Box and allow the community to suggest new features for the parklet
-install a waterproof cabinet which can be initially stocked by the designers/sponsors and the community can be allowed to add new items to over time.
A swap box can hold, books, games, fitness equipment or anything that its users deem useful to share.
Space is at a premium in a parklet, this attractive bench..
.
can double as active recreation equipment storage
see play-fi for more examples of equipment to stock in the bench
partklet maintenance Trash collection at a parklet is an important issue. This can possibly be done by the business sponsoring the parklet, a Business Improvement districts, or groups like the Doe fund. NYC is currently
looking to get ACE Programs for the Homeless involved in plaza maintenance.
here's one way to klessen the trash issue...
Powered trash compactor
Trash is a real problem in public spaces that are not part of a Business improvement district. Trash cans overflow.
Gramacy park had free trash pickup from the DOE Fund
...But the free pilot ended on July 13, and without
any organization stepping forward to provide the funding needed to keep
it going, the five Doe Fund workers who were assigned to the area five
days a week are no longer changing trash bags or picking up litter from
the sidewalk.
"They don’t come here anymore, and suddenly there
was this volcano of trash," said Pamela Vassil, a longtime resident of
60 Gramercy Park North, describing the overflowing trash cans she saw
after The Doe Fund departed.
While the Sanitation Department's
three-times-a-week garbage pickup schedule has remained unchanged,
Vassil and other residents said it's not enough to keep up with the
mounds of garbage in the neighborhood.
Parklets
will be used for eating and will generate trash. I suspect like Gramacy
trash may overflow in the area. A .big belly solar trash compactor
might solve the problem.
This will save space in a parklet but this isn't active design.
If big belly could be persuaded to produce a bicycle powered model, you could have a active recreation trash compactor for parklets.
getting to the The five minute active recreation park/parklet
Nearly 45 percent of California teens who live near a park — within a
quarter-mile of a small park or a half-mile of a large one — reported
that they bike, run, play sports or engage in other physical activities
for at least one hour a day, at least five days a week. Only one-third
of teens who don't have access to a nearby park reported the same level
of physical activity. link
1/2 mile = 10 minutes
1/4 mile = 5 minutes
NYC Plan 2030;Goal: Ensure all New Yorkers live within a ten-minute walk of a park. link
NYC Plan 2030 promises 10 minutes to a park. However; -this is more than the quarter mile -it does not promise any active recreation at the park -it may not have the active recreation activity of choice for you
solutions: -add more active recreation for different age groups to parks -supplement this with active recreation parklets -swappable activities that allow different age groups to use same space
A swappable area at Rockefeller park(above), a room filled with swappable activities at the same park-