1.2. Reduce barriers to hosting seasonal / special events on underutilized land downtown. Work with downtown organizations and city departments to schedule and host a series of seasonal or special events on underutilized land. This could include moving beer gardens, farmers’ markets, or night markets. 1.3. Continue to reference the Downtown Parks and Open Space Master Plan in the 2010 Downtown Austin Plan. While many recommendations have been implemented, the document provides valuable strategies for enhancing Austin’s downtown parks and open spaces.
2. Invest in more lighting and increased staff and volunteer presence, especially along trails and pathways, to ensure parks feel safe after dark. 2.1. Incorporate Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles in all park plans. CPTED is a set of best practices that leverage design to reduce crime and improve the perception of safety by maximizing visual and physical access in and out of a space and improving lighting among other strategies. 2.2. Use the Park Score Cards to assess parks in need of safety improvements.
Activating Urban spaces
PARKS ON TAP IS A PROGRAM THAT BRINGS A BEER GARDEN TO VARIOUS PARKS IN PHILADELPHIA THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER SEASON. Featuring craft beer, cocktails, and food, Parks on Tap encourages people to discover, enjoy, and support open park space. Since its 2016 launch, the program has generated enough revenue to support improvements, maintenance, and programs in the city’s parks. The events are often paired with “friendsof” fundraisers and outreach events.
2.3. Assess trails for safety concerns and create a plan to address any issues. Use data collected through Park Rangers’ directed patrols to parks with concerns to find areas of most need. 2.4. Increase Park Rangers to add a more visible presence in parks and especially along trails and pathways. 2.5. Expand the structure for a park ambassador program. Park ambassadors can not only improve perceptions of safety in parks, but also provide users with information and address any potential concerns. A park ambassador program could be paired or partnered with Workforce First to provide additional sources of employment for individuals experiencing homelessness. Work with partners to investigate opportunities for Park Rangers to co-lead and grow the existing park ambassador program
Philadelphia Parks on Tap, 2018
Chapter 4 : Our Future
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