Sunday, July 22, 2012

Supermarket and Convenience Store Parks-Seniors need both

 When you just want a container of milk, it's a lot easier going to the nearest convenience store or deli   rather then traveling to a supermarket.

In a similar way when you just want a place to sit near your present location is a different experience then walking up to  10 minutes  to reach the nearest community park/playground or  going out for a weekend trip to the Hudson River Park  or the High Line.

 
Chelsea  needs both large supermarket parks and small places near your block where you can just sit and relax outdoors.

We currently have a "Supermarket"sized  park/playgrounds/plaza within a 10 minute walk of ever Chelsea resident.

They (seniors)  care about benches, trees, gardens and open space closest to where they live. Big parks are for occasional visits in most cases.”  Creating an Age Friendly NY One Neighborhood at a Time 



What we are lacking are "Convenience store" parks within a minute or two walk of every Chelsea resident NYC has created a great system of centralized supermarket sized parks but has failed to create a complimentary system of  decentralized "Convenience store" sized  parks that would allow you to grab a seat near where your currently located.

A  Convenience store park can be as simple as a park bench near where you live

see Citybench to request a bench like this near where you live

   here are some other examples of  Convenience store park .


Micropark in Queens at 145th Street


A CURB EXTENSION that provides space for community facilities such as bicycle parking, seating,
and other street furniture.In areas with inadequate sidewalk width to accommodate needed functional sidewalk elements for the community, the extra space provided by a curb extension can be used for
bike parking, seating, public art, gardens, plantings, or trees, alone or in combination.

Benefits:
Improves the public realm and creates useful public space, particularly in areas where public open space is in short supply

Allows limited street space to serve multiple functions, thereby increasing the performance of street infrastructure

Page 69 NYC street Design Manual
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/about/streetdesignmanual.shtml#download



Midblock Chicane Micropark

The mid-block chicane is a great way to
reclaim street space for use by the community,
and has proven an effective technique
to dramatically reduce vehicle speeds. Cars have ample space to maneuver around
the chicane; they must simply do so more slowly. (simulation). (Note this above is a Transportation Alternatives design, we would design with a combination of cement pathways and garden. )





A NYC Coffee Shop Transforms its Parking Spaces into Outdoor Seating

"The outdoor space was a hit from the beginning. The timelapse video below shows a "day in the life" of Local. 96 people enjoy the special seating in the space of a few hours, space usually taken up by two parked cars.
While I was at Local, a customer asked if they were going to install the platform again this year. The answer is yes- Liz and Craig plan on having it installed in April; it will remain in place until at least October.
On a street (and a city) where public space is limited, Liz said, the outdoor area recreated in miniature the "bench culture" of people bringing chairs to the street and creating a community. That opportunity to connect with people is especially important in cities, where, despite being surrounded by millions, it's easy to feel isolated and alone. And who needs all those cars, anyway?" link 




 Cost $11,000 



NYC DOT Sidewalks & Pedestrians Curbside Seating Platforms



Warren & Smith Streets, Brooklyn
Curbside public seating platforms offer well-designed seasonal, outdoor public open spaces and seating at places where sidewalk seating is not available. During warm-weather months, when the demand to spend time outdoors increases, curbside seating platforms may temporarily replace a few parking spots with neighborhood gathering places perfect for eating, reading, working, meeting a friend, or taking a rest. They also help beautify the streetscape with attractive landscaping.
Watch out a time-lapse video of a day in the life of a curbside seating platform
Download an evaluation of the 2011 pilot of curbside public seating (pdf)
Curbside seating platforms are designed, installed and maintained by the adjacent sponsoring business. The seating is open to the public, not restricted to patrons of any particular establishment. Waiter service or commercial activity at the tables is strictly prohibited, as is smoking and alcohol consumption. link

 

 







 


Monday, July 16, 2012

Senior Playgrounds


I recently visited  a lot of Manhattan Public Parks and Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) that offer  no activities for seniors except sitting on a bench. Here's some ideas how to create spaces that allow more to occur...

 

Playground in Springfield Township opens for seniors


By Kathy Antoniotti
Beacon Journal staff writer


springfield04_01
Exercise stations wait to be put into use at the new senior playground on the shores of Springfield Lake in Springfield Twp., Ohio. The site may possibly be the first of its kind in the U.S. (Ed Suba Jr./Akron Beacon Journal)
SPRINGFIELD TWP.: If you build it, they will come — especially if it is designed for fun.
That’s the premise Bobby Dinkins, director of the Boyd Esler Senior and Community Center, used when he launched the plan to get an adult playground built on the edge of Springfield Lake.
The playground, in the planning stages for more than a year, opened with much fanfare Thursday.
The eight pieces of low-impact athletic equipment designed especially for older adults is believed to be only the second of its kind in the country, Dinkins said. He has been told the only other playground in the U.S dedicated to seniors is located in Arizona.
He is certain it is the first built in Ohio.
“In 2010, I started looking for more activities for seniors and Googled ‘playgrounds,’ ” Dinkins said Thursday. The only ones he could find online are in several European countries.
Dinkins took his proposal to Summit County Councilwoman Paula Prentice, who suggested he look into obtaining a Community Block Development Grant to finance the playground. She put him in touch with several people who were willing to help with the application.
“I heard that it takes a village to raise a kid, but I found out very quickly that it takes a village to apply for a CBD Grant,” Dinkins said to laughter from the crowd, made up of seniors, township trustees and several county officeholders.
In October, the township learned it was awarded $33,500 to buy the equipment and have it erected.
On Thursday, several adults from the senior center tried out the new line of equipment from KOMPAN Inc. of Tacoma, Wash., as the Goodyear blimp cruised overhead in blue sky.
Usually, the senior center members get together for card games — pinochle on Mondays and euchre on Fridays, said Brenda Turner, 71, and Wanda Lee, 73, who waited for their turns to try out a machine they thought would help them trim their waistlines.
“After sitting for a few hours [playing cards], it will be fun to come out here,” Lee said.
Bill Croghan was climbing on a pedal machine when he reminded the women what is on the menu for today’s card game.
“Don’t forget. We’re having pizza this Friday,” he said.
“Then we can come down here and work it off,” Lee shot back at him.
County Councilwoman Sandra Kurt said the playground would give seniors another reason to come out and enjoy each other’s company while having fun in the process.
“Interacting socially with others benefits the mind, which is vital to a healthy aging process, and lowers the need for medical services,” Kurt said.
County Executive Russ Pry congratulated Dinkins and township officials on the acquisition of the playground.
“This will really make a big difference in the lives of the seniors in this area,” Pry said.
Kathy Antoniotti can be reached at 330-996-3565 or kantoniotti@thebeaconjournal.com

 link

 

 Hyde Park Senior Playground

 


NOW OPEN
9am-9pm - April to September
10am-4pm - October to March
A FREE outdoor playground is now open in Hyde Park.
The new facility includes six pieces of exercise equipment to help users improve core strength, flexibility and balance. Equipment has been selected to ensure that a high level of accessibility, ease of use and enjoyment can be ensured for all users.
The playground has been especially designed for older people to enjoy and is not suitable for use by people under the age of 15 years.
It is located within the Hyde Park Bowls and Tennis Centre enclosure.
Hyde Park Senior Playground

Background

During 2008/09 The Royal Parks was approached by the Knightsbridge Association to provide an Older People's Play Area in Hyde Park, funded by Westminster City Council's neighbourhood budget scheme for Knightsbridge and Belgravia via residents and the Knightsbridge Association.
The Royal Parks then commissioned a feasibility study to explore the idea further and consulted with a number of local and special interest groups.
Similar projects have been successfully installed at Dam Head Park (Manchester), Heathfield Recreation Ground (Whitton) and Hampton Common (Richmond).

link

 

 
(Kirsty Wigglesworth / AP) Pensioners Winston Fletcher, right, and Frances Blois enjoy equipment in London's first playground designed for seniors in Hyde Park, London. The outdoor facility features keep-fit equipment to help adults in their later years to keep fit and improve strength and flexibility

 link

 

Playgrounds for seniors go worldwide

 (NaturalNews) Last spring the UK made news by opening the first senior playground in London's Hyde Park. The new Hyde Park playground has six pieces of equipment including a stationary bicycle, a cross-trainer and a sit-up bench. Since then new playgrounds have sprung up on four continents.

When they exercise outdoors, seniors say, they laugh. That's the first thing that happens. They socialize and swap recipes. They benefit from stronger bodies, the chance to meet others, and, especially, the laughter.

In 2008, the first playground for people over 60 was opened in Dam Head Park, Manchester, United Kingdom. The park featured low impact exercise equipment designed to help older people improve their balance and flexibility. Seniors often do not use gyms because they can't afford the fees or they do not feel comfortable. They don't like having to adjust the machines, and they might find the surround sound music, with young people vigorously pumping iron, intimidating.

But exercise is important for seniors. Active seniors are more likely to remain independent. Exercise promotes good balance and flexibility and reduces overall health problems.

The new playground equipment, designed for seniors, can be used by a pair in tandem, or singly. Each piece has detailed instructions for use. They are easy to use and focus on cardiovascular exercise, core strength and balance.

Actually, the concept of senior playgrounds did not originate in the UK. China, Japan and Finland have long encouraged generational exercise. In Japan, which has some of the longest-lived people in the world, the city of Tokyo opened Nursing Care Prevention Parks in 2004 which featured work stations and colorful equipment such as jungle gyms, balance beams and stretch apparatus.

Such facilities also existed in the United States but were often located at senior centers or retirement communities rather than public parks. In the 70s, in the U.S. outdoor parks featured walks with exercise stations for anyone to use.

That concept was based on a perceived preference for walking. Now, however, the trend is toward working out. With the first wave of Boomers turning 64, and the cost of senior playgrounds comparing favorably with the cost of indoor equipment and facilities, an expansion of senior playgrounds is imminent in U.S. parks.


Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/030891_seniors_playgrounds.html#ixzz20ool3gCH



Column: Senior ‘playgrounds' an idea worth considering

January 25, 2011 9:00 pm  • 
Many countries around the world are building and utilizing playgrounds for the elderly.
With birthrates falling and the number of senior citizens rising, many of the unused playgrounds around the world are being revamped for seniors to use.
The Association of Physical Fitness and Promotional Guidance has stated that the needs are growing, and many countries have jumped on the bandwagon for these new playgrounds. The old playgrounds that are not used any longer by children are rebuilt to give seniors the opportunity to work on hips, legs and torsos, and even stations for pull-ups, push-ups, stretching exercises and pedaling. The low-impact stations will aid in recovery from surgeries and falls, as well as keep seniors fit.
Being outdoors is also a benefit for seniors, letting them gain fresh air and network with other seniors they may not otherwise visit. Many of these parks are under supervision by physical therapists or other physical trainers.
More than 15,000 pieces of workout equipment have been installed in Japan, and the number of seniors who utilize the playgrounds daily has doubled. Japan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Germany, to name a few, have begun this revamping in their parks for seniors to help them gain regular, gentle exercise for body maintenance and physical fitness.
In some cases, there is a heightened feeling of well-being after the exercise regimen is completed. One lady interviewed said that she stood up and walked straighter after the trip to her park. She went on to say that she tended to slouch or walk bent over at home.
If you do not have a senior park in your area, why not lobby your local officials to start one? There are all kinds of designs and things that can be incorporated, including balance beams just a few inches off the ground, pedaling cycles, exercise bars for chin-ups and pull-ups, walkways and other general exercise equipment that is considered low impact. There is even equipment available that can be used by someone in a wheelchair to build upper body strength.
Check your area for workout sites that are outdoors. The spring, summer and fall are excellent times to get out and walk, work out to a low-impact regimen and visit with others of the same age. There is no fee and plenty of opportunities to raise the quality of life for our senior citizens while they are outdoors gaining fresh air.
Wii games have done a wonderful thing in nursing homes to help seniors move again and loosen up tight muscles. It is time to take the action outside. We have a lovely bike path to use for walking and biking. Now we should lobby for these workout sites. Let's get going!
Rexlyn Nicole is a senior outreach case manager with CHELP. Call her at 422-9888

 

 

 

Playgrounds for seniors

November 10, 2007 at 11:27 pm | In cities, health, victoria | 1 Comment I previously heard of playgrounds for the elderly through various newspaper articles, but Tokyo-based Ping Magazine has a beautiful blog entry that includes many pictures, to give us an idea of what the gear actually looks like. Surf over to Playgrounds For The Elderly:Fit In An Aging Society.
Ping Magazine‘s entry includes not just pictures, but also a terrific interview with Mr. Karakawa of the Takao Corporation, which makes these playgrounds. Here are some excerpts of Karakawa’s answers, beginning with some background information:
In 2004, the Chiyoda Ward commissioned us to build an experimental model community centre to promote exercise for the elderly and decrease dependence on nursing care. The Chiyoda Ward had already started some programs conducted indoors, in which the elderly do light tactile exercise to prevent senility. However, they didn’t have any means for them to exercise outdoors, so they asked us to construct something to be used in a park.
(…)
We have been making what we call healthy playgrounds with an emphasis on exercise for decades. However, our new concept with this equipment is nursing care prevention playgrounds. We took our previous designs for equipment to help sit-ups and push-ups and modified them for light exercise especially for the elderly.
(…)
A year after our first project in Nishi-Kanda Park, we installed nursing care prevention gear at another park in the ward. At that time, professors from the nearby Tokyo National University of Fine Arts & Music and residence of Chiyoda Ward helped us with what colours for the equipment would suite best the park. They also advised on how to better name the equipment. As in our first project, we gave the gear English names, such as “stretch-step.” But this time we used simple Japanese names that the elderly can understand more easily .
Sounds like a win-win for the users and for the community as a whole.

link

 

 


Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Origami Place




In honor of Origami USA 2012 and Lillian Oppenheimer Origami Place was dedicated by Proclamation June 23-25 2012



PROCLAMATION
A PROCLAMATION by the Park Chelsea Parks Commissioner,
recognizing “OrigamiUSA 2012” on June 22-25th, 2012.
WHEREAS, ParkChelsea is concerned about the lack of enough great outdoor activities in the Chelsea neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, the ParkChelsea's mission is to encourage and create more outdoor space activities in the Chelsea neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, in order to do so ParkChelsea partners with local institutions to create these opportunities; and
WHEREAS, Origami USA 2012 participants have promised to place several Origami creations at Park Chelsea's Park and Community Garden on 26th St and 8th Ave, NW Corner.
WHEREAS, Lillian Oppenheimer, storyteller, puppeteer and founder of the Origami center was a friend of Ranger Bob, Park Chelsea Parks Commissioner.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that ParkChelsea hereby officially recognize the OrigamiUSA 2012 to be in the best interest of the citizens of Chelsea and that henceforth the site of Park Chelsea's Park and Community Garden on 26th St and 8th Ave, NW Corner shall be known as Origami Place (in memory of Lillian Oppenheimer) from June 23,2012 to June 25, 2012.
___________________
Ranger Bob
ParkChelsea Parks Commissioner


New Rangers and More





Ranger Sunflower, has agreed to water the Sunflower on 27th and 8th Avenue