WanderLand-propect of future recreation in Amherst-NY

Report done by: Sejan Ahmed

Terrence Li

Claire Brinkworth

Ana Pereira

Oluwadamilola Bankole

Steven Pereira

Alyssa Cruz

Julia Slowik

Athena Graham

Instructor: Ernest Sternberg

Table of Contents 1. Introduction……………………………………………………….……………………………………… ………………...1 2. An Outlook Tower for Amherst…….……………………………………………………………………………….5 3. Garden Place.……………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……...10 4. Outdoor Sculpture and Art……………………………………………………………………………………………14 5. Outdoor Gym………………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……..18 6. Water Recreation………………………………………………………………………………………………… ……….22 7. Augmented Reality.……………………………………………..……………………………………………………….

26 8. Public Video Gaming…………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 0 9. Drones and Robots…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…..

36 10. Indoor/Outdoor Playground.………………………………………………………………………………………..40 11. What to do to Create WanderLand………………………………………………….…………………………...45

List of Figures and Tables Chapter 1: Introduction 1-1. Recreational Plan for Amherst 2018. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-2. Activities and how they affect the body’s health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-3. Benefits of Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1-4. Effects of Exercise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 2: An Outlook Tower for Amherst

2-1. Iconic Urban Towers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-2. Top View of the Kensico Dam during Winter Wonderland. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-3. Bottom View of the Kensico Dam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-4. The Buffalo Tower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-5. The Treetop Experience. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-6. The Honeycomb in NYC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2-7. Phoenix Observation Tower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 3: Garden Place 3-1. Pollinator Garden Example 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-1. Pollinator Garden Example 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-1. Pollinator Garden Example 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-2. Herb Garden Example 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-2. Herb Garden Example 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-2. Herb Garden Example 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-3. Food Garden Example 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-3. Food Garden Example 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-3. Food Garden Example 3. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-4. Sensory Garden Example 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3-4. Sensory Garden Example 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 4: Outdoor Sculptures and Art 4-1. Tanglewood Sculpture in Amherst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-2. Example of Buffalo Statue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-3. “Love” Statue in NYC/Philadelphia. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-4. Curved Pathway Example. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-5. Natural Material Art Example 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4-6. Natural Material Art Example 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 5: Outdoor Gyms 5-1. A Station at a Park in Lockport. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5-2. Layout of an Outdoor Gym. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5-3. Regular Outdoor Gym Equipment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5-4. Outdoor Gym. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 6: Water Recreation 6-1. Ellicott Creek around Audubon Town Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6-2. Potential Boat Dock Area. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

6-3. Ellicott Creek Potential Water Diversion Location. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 7: Augmented Reality 7-1. Interactive Gym. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 8: Public Video Gaming 8-1. Global Games Market (2018). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8-2. Gaming Tournament (2012). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8-3. Gaming Setup with Hardware. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8-4. DOTA2 Tournament. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 9: Drones and Robots Chapter 10: Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds 10-1. Toddler Park in Amherst. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10-2. Buffalo Harbor State Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10-3. Plan for Buffalo Harbor State Park. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10-4. Please Touch Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

10-5. Nature Themed Exhibit in Museum. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Chapter 11: What to do to Create WanderLand 11-1. Potential Locations of WanderLand………………………………………………………

11-2. Grid Pattern………………………………………………………………………………....

11-3. Maze Pattern………………………………………………………………………………..

11-4. Concentric Pattern………………………………………………………………………….

11.5. Radial Pattern……………………………………………………………………………….

Acknowledgment We would like to thank Supervisor Brian Kulpa and Ms. Maggie Winship of the Town of Amherst for giving us the opportunity to learn and research about the town and its recreational character. We also thank Mr. Kulpa for giving us a fine tour around the town. Also, we appreciate Professor Hiroaki Hata and Professor Julia Jamrozik for their great advice and comments. In addition, Will Wiszowaty for contributing to our early drafts. We want to thank the Experiential Learning Network for supporting our course project.

Chapter 1: Introduction

Who We Are This report was prepared by freshman and sophomore students in a UB Seminar class taught by Professor Ernest Sternberg at the University at Buffalo in spring semester 2019. Though offered in the Environmental Design program, the course was open to all students, and included students in that major, along ones in public health and students who were undecided. The purpose of the class was to involve students in the experience of conducting a real project for a real client.

Our client his class is the Town of Amherst, represented by Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa and by Ms. Margaret Winship, the town’s Director of Strategic Planning.

Supervisor Kulpa presented us with a challenge: To help envision a Central Park, after recent expansion and reorganization of parks in the town.

Why reimagine the recreational future?

Supervisor Kulpa and Ms. Winship also presented us with a challenge of thinking about the future of Amherst recreation. They did this a a response to the ​Recreation and Parks Master Plan​, which was commissioned by the Town of Amherst in 2017 and finalized in 2018 (Figure 1-1).

The report focused mainly on plans for regular sports, such as basketball and baseball. The Town asked us to look at more innovative ideas. We had a number of rationales for thinking differently about why recreation might be different than it had been in the past: ● Recreation is becoming a way for people to get together. Places for recreation can even become town centers. ● Changes are technology are creating new and different opportunities for recreation ● Generation Z is growing up with technology and would like to be involved with technology-centered recreation

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● In some places, art is made part of the environment and can be a way to increase interest in walking or passing through the environment ● Ever more medical research shows the importance of exercise to health ● Because people lead sedentary lives, it is becoming even more important for cities and towns to get people involved in recreation In Amherst, which does not have a downtown, the main centers of activity have been shopping malls. However, many shopping malls have been in decline for the past few years, Mainly due to the evolution in online shopping, much of the American population is inactive, many of those people being overweight and having other physical issues. To remedy this, many medical professionals are recommending at least an hour of physical activity, preferably outdoors. With this comes an influx of people who are willing to participate in outdoor activity, but many lose interest when participating in one activity for a strenuous amount of time.

With the development of technology, today’s recreational focus is on implementing new and refreshing technological advancements wherever applicable. Amherst should not neglect the opportunities offered by the technological advancements but instead, embrace them and implement them into its recreational plan.

Promoting Public Health The overall health in a community is extremely important for many reasons. Residents in a community who are living a healthy lifestyle are much happier and more productive. Having an easy access public area to promote individuals to get out and exercise will help the community in many ways.

According to Rachael Rettner (Centers for Disease Control) in the United States, 40 percent of adults are obese, with effects that can include coronary artery disease. Obesity can also cause type 2 diabetes. According to the Centers for Disease Control webpage, over 30 million adults in America have diabetes and 90 percent of them have type 2 diabetes. As shown in Figure 1-2, people can exercise and cause positive effects on the body, and these will prevent chronic and fatal diseases.

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According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Heart Disease Facts & Statistics,” the number one cause of death in the United States of America is heart disease. That is, one in every four deaths are associated with heart disease—another reason why having healthy heart lifestyle is crucial in a community..

Outdoor exercise may be appealing to certain people and not to others.

It is important to exercise whether it be indoor or outdoor; still there are some pros to outdoor exercise.

According to an article by Chris Iliades, your body is actually being pushed more when working out outdoors. This is because your body has to adapt to the environment.

Figure 1-3 is a visual on the effect of outdoor exercise, including the obtaining of vitamin D naturally from the sunlight. And lastly there are no membership fees, allowing everyone in the community access.

The great thing about outdoor exercise is that it decreases stress. When exercising your body produces cortisol which is a hormone to help reduce stress. Also stress can cause other health issues such as anxiety, and eating disorders. Having Central area in Amherst to allow these stressors be let out will greatly improve community wellbeing.

Having an outdoor area where people can go and be able to see a beautiful garden or even having activities to keep busy and have something to do. Mental health is very important and should always be taken into account when planning for recreation in Amherst. Figure 1-4 shows the effects of exercise on physical and mental health.

Another consideration in recreation planning for Amherst is to be able to accommodate all walks of life when it comes to a park. Individuals in wheelchairs should be accommodated with ramps to any facility involved in the park. Facilities should accommodate a flow almost to the point where different abilities are not even noticed.

Overall exercise is great thing for a community, for reasons ranging from from stress relief to a healthy lifestyle to prevention of heart disease. But at the end of the day it also brings a community together.

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Chapter 2: An Outlook Tower for Amherst

Observation tower in Latvia's Pape Nature Park https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-news/cvnhz/pape-bird-observation-tower-winners-announced-for-latviais-pape-naturepark.html

Throughout the world, observation towers are popular for giving a city its identity.

Usually, an observation deck or viewing platform is situated upon a tall structure such as a tower. Some of the most known towers are the Eiffel Tower in Paris, CN Tower in Toronto, Space Needle in Seattle, and even the Arch in St. Louis (Figures 2-1). These are just some of many more examples of structures that identify a city.

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Not only in a big city can observation decks exists: There are examples of observation decks in medium-sized cities and towns. In Amherst, a tall structure in the park would be a great way to bring people together, would give Amherst a special identity compared to other suburbs in the state, and if well designed could also increase exercise.

In Valhalla, NY, we have the Kensico Dam Plaza and people go there to play sports, spend time with family on the playground, and most importantly overlook the city from the top of the dam. There are many ways to get to the top of the dam: the stairs, the walkway, or you a drive around the park. Many people use the stairs and the pathway as the exercise to get the top and the view is completely worth it once you get there. Adding this to Amherst would be an extraordinary way for families to come together and exercise. Amherst is mostly flat, so the tower would give the town a special view. Not only that but since the land is flat, the tower doesn’t have to be very tall which could be inexpensive. This tower could give the town an icon, something that represents it. Most importantly, it would signify the town’s proposed activity center in the new Central Park. This would be Central Park’s central object, connected by paths to the other recreational options mentioned in our report.

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Another example, but possibly not a successful one, is the structure is located on the Buffalo waterfront. It is not a popular city icon. An internet review says “ I find the concrete unattractive and there is a dank feeling.” Others may also have similar feelings. So the point is that the success of an outlook tower depends not on its height but its design. A consideration for Amherst, which does not have many tall buildings, is that the Buffalo Tower may not be a good model of design for the town, but may have a roughly right height.

A tall structure for Amherst will definitely put it on the map and could be the main object marking the town. Another thing to consider is having a ramp, or an elevator so people with all physical condition can enjoy this experience. Now we examine actual examples that could be meaningful for Amherst’s future Outlook Tower.

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Examples to Learn From

Model 1: Denmark A valuable example that Amherst can learn from is a 148 ft tall tower called “Camp Adventure Park” near Gisselfeld, Denmark. Associated with it is an almost 2000 foot long “treetop walk” allowing pedestrians to take walk above a preserved forest.

As described on the park’s website, “The tower and treetop walk is as a seamless continuous ramp that makes the forest accessible to all regardless of their physical condition.” This is an inspiring idea we can learn from. It creates an area for families to come together, and exercise. The geometry of the tower, a helix, enhances the visitor experience, offers exercise, and is accessible.

Model 2: NYC Opened only in March 2019, in the New York City’s new Hudson Yards development, the vessel is a ​honeycomb​-like structure that is 16 stories high and consists of 154 flights of ​stairs​, which is equal to around 2,500 steps. The structure is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Just like Camp Adventure Tower anyone even people with disabilities can have this experience. Opened in 2019, it is already sold out for weeks in advance. This structure is located in Manhattan, New York City. The architect intended this: “for visitors to climb and explore the structure as if it were an actual jungle gym. At the top of the structure, visitors could have views of the ​Hudson River​ coastline.

Model 3: Phoenix This building has a “tall core of reinforced concrete with an open-air spiral sphere at its top, resembling a metaphorical pin firmly marking a

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location on a map. The spiraling sphere contains flexible exhibition, retail and recreational spaces which are accessed via three glass elevators that connect the base with the summit and offer panoramic views of the city and the tower’s programs as visitors ascend or descend.”. This is an amazing building because it has both stairs and ramps at the top, just like the others, this building could be made for many people with disabilities and it's also an inspiring design.

Put It All Together Obviously, these buildings are very big and expensive. However, these are just some examples that we could get inspired by. Creating a structure smaller but beautiful tower would be a great attraction in this town. Families and friends can come together, people can work out and it can have ramps that make this experience accessible to all, regardless of their physical condition. As mentioned before we could have connected by paths to the other recreational options mentioned in this report. We could also add one or two shops if you would like an enclosed area in this building. Not only that but this tower will be designed as to be the iconic center of Amherst and of the new activity center.

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Chapter 3: Garden Place

One of the main reasons people go to parks is to experience nature of beautiful ways of managing nature. Gardens are some of the most exciting and beautiful ways of displaying nature, but Amherst has very few public gardens. In a tour given to our class, Supervisor Brian Kulpa mentioned the idea of pollinator gardens, which we thought was an interesting idea to bring to the table and do more research on. In regards to Wander Land the gardens would be places along a trail and throughout the are so people could “wander” around the garden. This chapter explores a few garden ideas that we think would be assets for the people of Amherst.

Pollinator Gardens A pollinator gardens is defined as “a garden that is planted predominantly with flowers that provide nectar or pollen for a wide range of pollinating insects”1. We focused on pollinator gardens that would be of service to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. For Amherst this would mean planting bedded or non bedded gardens and planting specific types of plants to draw in the specific species to the flower beds. The gardens can be as 10

big or as little as you want them to be. In regards to what type of plants you should plant, there are many sources and charts online that tell you what to plant.

(Figures 3-1) shows an example of how you can plant the gardens.

Herb and Spice Gardens Herb and spice gardens are a great way to get the community involved in gardening and making their parks a more beautiful and pleasing place to be as seen in (Figure 3-2).

Herb gardens are a great way to spice up a park and be creative with the gardens you have available to the public. They are very easy to maintain and prefer to be grown in soil so they have more room to grow. As for what to plant, it is up to you we. An idea is make it a public garden or club where members of the community could plant what they wanted and an intern takes care of the garden.

Fruit Garden Fruit gardens have a very similar concept to herb and spice gardens. With both of these gardens they could be based off of a community-run organization. The crops that are grown in the gardens could then be sold at the local farmers market to raise money for an organization or give to the town to have more money for events and such. For example you can grow strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and any kind of fruit that 11

grows in a bush like manner. For planting such a garden there are many options such as a traditional in ground garden or raised bed garden. Fruit gardens take as much maintenance as any other garden and are as expensive or as cheap as you want them to be. Examples are shown in figures 3-3.

Sensory Garden Sensory gardens can be defined as “intimate spaces where young children can be immersed in the scents, textures and colors of plants and related elements. Along with specially selected plants, sensory gardens may also include elements such as wind chimes, wind socks, flags, and children’s art” (Figure 3-4). You can see how you can use your different senses in sensory gardens in (Figure 3-4). There are two main forms of sensory gardens which include sensory pathways and keyhole gardens. Sensory pathways are constructed with flat stepping stones and which include enough space in-between them for plants to be grown. A keyhole garden is a space to rest while you can be immersed in the nature of plants as seen in (Figure 3-4). They are called keyhole gardens because of the shape they have, they are shaped like a skeleton keyhole. They are relatively small and can be a subset off of a sensory pathway.

So what types of plants do you need in sensory gardens? The plants should be different shapes, sizes, and textures to create a diverse field of experiences.10 As for the cost of a 12

sensory garden you would have to take into consideration of the path being built, what plants to buy, and how to maintain it. So in regards to the cost of the other gardens, a sensory garden would just cost about the same about but would be more to maintain in the long run.

Gardens make a parks feel more welcoming and much more aesthetically pleasing, so the more the better. Many towns have taken advantages of this and added gardens to please the community members. On the tour that we took with supervisor Kulpa we saw that the town did have nice landscaping in parks but not a lot of specialized gardens.

Gardens in Central Park’s Activity Center The new gardens will really bring the WanderLand together to make it seem whole. You can have decorative gardens placed around the activity center to make it look nice and then in the back of the activity center you can have a path leading you to all the different kinds of gardens. We imagine having pathways that lead you to the different kinds of gardens, each letting you have a different experience.

It would be a great way to enhance the beauty and landscape of Amherst’s parks. You could even have a yearly contest in which plots are given out and judged on different categories, such as most special, most unusual, or most beautiful. Compared to many other changes Amherst can make, gardens are one of the most simple and least expensive things you can do.

So where do you start in the process of creating gardens for the Town of Amherst? First we would start by seeing if there is any interest in the community for volunteers or a club to work on the gardens. Then we would contact a landscape company or specialty gardener to see if they could give an estimate on price. Those prices should be compared to the cost of hiring a professional gardener/arborist.

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Chapter 4: Outdoor Sculptures and Art

Outdoor Sculpture in North Carolina Museum of Art https://www.google.com/search?safe=strict&biw=1920&bih=990&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=hljGXK3EL6KV_QbLpoXIBQ &q=outdoor+art+and+sculpute&oq=outdoor+art+and+sculpute&gs_l=img.3...65925.83590..83894...7.0..3.191.2634 .36j3......2....1..gws-wiz-img.....0..0j35i39j0i67j0i8i30j0i24.KwpYxDsroJ4#imgrc=DPUFK5f2Jey6xM:

Art is the expression of human creativity and imagination in the form of visuals, like sculptures and painting. Public art allows artists to express their feelings and concerning issues to the eyes of other people and sometimes allows people who do not necessarily have a voice be heard. It also allows peoples’ outdoor experience to be more inspiring.

In the town of Amherst, there are few pieces of public art and sculpture. Among the few in Amherst is “Tanglewood” by Shayne Dark, originally installed by the Albright–Knox Art Gallery, and now found in Bassett Park.​ ​ The Tanglewood is a bright blue and, because of the vibrant color, can catch attention from afar. Other art pieces seen around Amherst and Buffalo are statues of buffalos that have splashes of different colored paint.

Those pop-ups of color liven up the location at which the statues are placed. Both are shown in Figures 4-1 and 4-2.

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Most of the sculptures and art pieces that would be beneficial to Amherst should be built or made by the community’s artists. Getting the community involved could increase visitation to the parks and other sites the different artworks would be seen. It is also possible to purchase art, but that does not involve the community as much. Still, buying art from a renowned artist can also get many people’s attention. If the artist has many fans and followers that type of recognition can benefit Amherst.

For public art, you need a space or area where people or the community visitor tend to socialize. Placement for sculptures is more difficult to find than for painted art. If a piece is painted it could be sized to fit the given canvas, whereas a sculpture, especially if it is purchased, needs an amount of consideration of the space. If the piece is made or built purposefully for our area, it could be created to fit the area.

The price of art varies depending on the artists themselves. The estimated range of buying originally commissioned art is from $2,000 to $20,000. Another way the price can change on an art piece is if there are other buyers for the same piece. That's where bidding comes into play and the piece ends up going to the highest bidder. The art piece “LOVE” by Robert Indiana, in 2011, the highest price ever achieved for the artist at auction, was $4,114,500. The famous art piece is shown below in Figure 3.

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Environmental Art is very cost effective and can fit into many different places, depending on the material it is made out of. For example, if an art piece is made out of wood it can be placed in parks, fields, gardens, etc. Even adding color to the piece can allow it to be put into other areas such as cities, outside buildings, or even in a building.

It may seem that there is no place for murals in Amherst Parks, since there are no appropriate walls. However, if the community wants murals, it will be possible to install rows of flat vertical surfaces, which could be made out of concrete to create a canvas for the artist. There could be events held for artists in the community to come to paint on these walls, and winning pieces could be added to the park. Competitions could also be held for pieces to be placed in the sculpture garden.

We suggest that a sculpture and art garden be made part of Amherst Central Park’s activity center. In the sculpture garden, there should be a wide variety of art pieces, some by community members and maybe others by renowned artists.

It all starts with space. Finding the place where the art should be placed is important. We believe paths should wind among sculptures. The path will allow people a closer look at the pieces and also lead them on walking tours around the park shown in Figure 4-4.

Sculptures and paintings have many meanings behind them not only created by the artist but also created by the imagination of the people seeing it. There are so many kinds of art that that the categorization of art can be very confusing. Different types of art that tend to overlap are: ● public sculptures ● public installation art ● land art ● nature art ● tree art ● rock art, etc.

The differences between these styles of art are subtle. For example, land art uses the elements found in nature to create art whereas nature art is celebrating the artist's connection with nature using natural material. Example of art using materials from nature are shown below in Figures 4-5 and 4-6.

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Figure 4-5

Figure 4-6

A sculpture and art park would make a great additional active space in Amherst’s new Central Park. We hope that paths to it will originate at the Outlook Tower and wind their way through other activity areas described in the rest of this report.

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Chapter 5: Outdoor gyms

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:SZ_%E6%B7%B1%E5%9C%B3_Shenzhen_%E5%8D%97%E5%B1%B1%E5%8D%80_Na nshan_%E8%9B%87%E5%8F%A3%E9%AB%94%E8%82%B2%E4%B8%AD%E5%BF%83_Shekou_Sports_Center_Sept_2017_IX1_o utdoor_gym_playground_n_visitors_(4).jpg

Have you ever wanted to workout so bad but it was such a beautiful day out and you didn’t want to spend it indoors at the gym? Well, now you don’t have to! An outdoor gym is workout area built in a public place that is designed for outdoor weather and in some ways resembles playground equipment. Putting an outdoor gym in the town of Amherst’s new Central Park, in our proposed Activity Area would allow residents to take part in a kind of activity now trending all over the world.

There are some examples of outdoor gyms in Western New York but they are pretty far from Amherst, far enough for people to not want to drive out there. An outdoor gym is located in Lockport.

(Figure 5-1). At this park, there are 12 stations along a 1.2 mile walking trail for people to stop for a quick workout. These 18

stations will allow people to do pull-ups, leg lifts, balance steps, and much more. This is only one station. Imagine what a whole outdoor gym would do to the community. It would be a great addition to the trail and stream and potential activity center in Amherst now.

The benefits of having an outdoor gym or adult playground are ● More exercise ● Increased levels of vitamin D ● Relief of stress and anxiety ● Relatively low cost ● Openness to the community (rather than being in a private gym) ● Being an activity generator It is very more demanding to exercise outdoors because of wind, hills, and other weather issues which means you’ll get a high intensity workout. This would be open to the community so that the people who cannot afford a gym membership can experience what it’s like and have fun while doing it. Creating an outdoor gym isn’t all fun and games though.

There are some difficulties to having and producing an adult playground. Also, when the equipment rusts over time, it will need to be replaced which will also cost money.

The last con to this outdoor gym is not having any bathrooms and showers close by.

Those amenities are crucial to this gym because many people like to change and shower after their workouts.

For an outdoor gym to be the best it can be, it would be useful to have an open area next to a walkway, sidewalk, or parking lot so it would be accessible to anyone. See Figure 5-2. The only thing missing in this picture is a way to get from the sidewalk to the gym without having to go through the grass.

Occasionally, the gym will need to be touched up and cleaned by a town employee. Also, it would be

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helpful to have signs on where to find the gym and how you use the equipment. One more thing that would help the success of this playground is a roof or shelter. If there were cover over the people who are using this, it would be safer and would continue to let people do something they love. A roof would also extend the life of the equipment.

There are two types of outdoor gym equipment, regular outdoor fitness equipment and professional outdoor fitness equipment. Regular outdoor fitness equipment is the kind that we would put in Amherst. Please see Figure 5-3. This equipment is what’s usually found in most places like parks and beaches. This is mostly used by all of the public, including children and the elderly. It is meant for light workouts and offers the basic exercises. On the other hand, professional outdoor fitness equipment is for the people who go to the gym regularly and for the people who want to work on their body physique.

Also, a lot of athletes, body builders, trainers, and more use this type of equipment.

Regular equipment is more of a simple design and would be beneficial to the town of Amherst.

Outdoor gyms are on the rise all over the world, mainly because of how accessible they are and that there is no cost. An outdoor gym should 20

be placed in an area with people going in and out, for example, a park. Putting an outdoor gym next to other things, like an Outlook Tower or garden, will attract people to the gym.

We recommend that Amherst should consider building an outdoor gym in the new Activity Center in Central Park. It would be an asset for public health, and would also be an attractor and activity generator. Along with the Outlook Tower, pollinator and other gardens, and sculpture/art gardens, it will create an exciting town center.

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Chapter 6: Water Recreation

A Waterworks fountain at the Seattle Science Center. https://www.parentmap.com/article/seattle-with-kids-family-adventures

Water attracts people to locations, but Amherst lacks the water bodies large enough for recreation, with the possible exception of Ellicott Creek. The proposed "Central Park" area near UB North Campus might, after careful study, offer such a possibility. Ellicott Creek which runs along and through most of the park attracts many people who already walk and bike on trails alongside the creek. By installing canoe and kayak launches at certain points along the creek, and possibly creating a manmade pond by diverting water from the creek, could add major attractions for the park. Ellicott Creek could have much to contribute to Central Park.

Ellicott Creek There are many ways in which water can contribute to the new consolidated park, including pools, pond, fountains or place-making around water. We focus on working with Ellicott Creek to develop recreational activities not currently available in the town.

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By using the creek to the park’s advantage we would attract more people specifically in but not limited to the spring and summer summer time.

Ellicott Creek originates in Genesee county, flows primarily west through the town of Amherst and hits the northern edge of the University At Buffalo. The creek then goes under Lockport Expressway and finally empties into Tonawanda Creek which is part of the Erie canal. The total length of Ellicott creek is 45 miles.

Near North Campus at the University at Buffalo there is space set aside in the event that the stream overflows.

This diversion channel remains dry land until the overflow, in this case the extra water flows to these flood channels to store the water until the creek subsides. In the summer of 1965, the construction of a diversion channel was completed, alleviating floods ever since (See Figure 6-1).

Kayaking/Canoeing A good minimum mark to set for water depth to be able to canoe or kayak along the creek is 4 inches along the whole length. One of the beauties of kayaking and canoeing is that not much water depth is necessary to operate these small watercraft. Suggested launch areas for the canoes could be near Glen Falls in the Village of Williamsville, and near the tennis facilities at the corner of North Forest and Maple Roads. Road and parking access would facilitate the transportation of the watercraft into the stream. The North Forest site might be close to the eventual Central Park Activity Center.

The cost of a kayak and canoe boat launch start at $1,000. A dock around the boat launch to seat people would aid in creating a space in which people can go to relax (see Figure 6-2). The key to finding the best area for kayaking and canoeing along the creek is to identify an area that has sufficient depth and not too much current.

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Recreational Pond Changing the flow of any natural body of water can impose risks to the natural habitat.

The key to making sure this diversion from Ellicott Creek has minimal if any impact to the wildlife is to regulate the water height and ensure it is at an optimal height and make sure the stream is constantly flowing. Silt and debris may have to be periodically cleaned to avoid any blockage into the recreational pond. Measures can be taken in order to prevent any damage to the creek or wildlife.

A more ambitious and controversial proposal would be to diverting water from Ellicott Creek to create a recreational pond and then channel water back into the creek. A good location for this recreational pond would be by the existing tennis courts off of N Forest Road or Sheridan Drive near the existing country club house. The pond could be a spot where people can rent paddle boats or paddle boards when the weather permits. Over the winter when the pond freezes over it can be used for ice skating and hockey. The ideal place to divert water for a pond is on an outside curve of the creek with low silt build up and good water flow (Figure 6-3). Diverting the water from an inside curve of the creek is not undesirable because silt and gravel tend to build up in these areas. A water inlet and intake should be placed where the water is going to be diverted, to make sure that the pond doesn’t flood or get too dry.

WaterWorks Adding a fountain or some sort of water works in the park would add a more appealing aspect to the park and give it a unique look. (See image at the start of chapter.) Incorporating a fountain or a landmark based around water in the proposed central park would increase the popularity of the park. Ideally designing and bringing in a unique piece of work would set the park apart from the rest, bringing in people to go to the fountain and take pictures.

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Overall, Ellicott Creek increases the desirability of WandeLand , so the Town should seek ways to give pleasant access to it. Water recreation connected to the creek will be one more source of visits making an exciting town activity center.

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Chapter 7: Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) as defined by the Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce is an electronic image that appears as an overlay over another image that a consumer is viewing. Mostly what the consumer is already viewing is the real world. In other words, AR is the application of real graphic images into the existing physical world. Instead of the usual graphics we are used to seeing on screens, augmented reality makes it possible for those graphic images to exist within the physical world in three dimensions.

We cannot mention augmented reality without mentioning virtual Reality (VR) as they are closely related and often confused. Virtual Reality allows a person to see computer-generated images and immerses an individual into a completely fake world.

By contrast, in AR, the graphic data and images are overlaid over a live view of the physical world. AR is considered a medium such as reading a book, listening to music, or watching a movie. It however, wouldn’t make much sense to listen or watch it as it is an interactive kind of medium. To experience AR, one must engage with it.

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The Importance of Augmented Reality for Recreation According to the Amherst Recreation and Parks Master Plan, Generation Z is known for its pervasive use of technology, online activity and independence. By “independence” what is meant is that they don’t rely on anyone to teach them what they don’t know.

They simply google it. Millennials and baby boomers have the same top three activity preferences: fitness sports, outdoor sports, and individual sports. It can be concluded that the odd generation out of the three is generation Z. The difference is generation Z’s constant use of technology. According to 2013 article published by academics at Georgia Southern University, the rate of obesity in Generation Z has multiplied three times that of generation X. Gen Z members spend most of their time using technology and online.

This doesn’t give them a chance to be active enough to live healthy lifestyles. In order to make physical activity more appealing to members of gen Z, why not implement Augmented reality into physical activity?

Because AR is still very new, it hasn’t been developed enough for it to be a common form of recreation. A few private companies around the world have started taking on Augmented Reality recreation projects but as far as we could find so far, no local government has. Because of its newness and shortage, recreational AR is very rare and is so far unavailable in Amherst or Western New York.

Examples of companies and places There are a few companies that have tried to develop Augmented Reality in the fields of entertainment, broadcasting and recreation. Some of these companies include: 1. Gravity Jack, a ten-year-old company that specializes in augmented reality in the areas of marketing and real-world applications.

2. Industry focuses on how augmented reality can be applied to entertainment, broadcasting, and advertisement. They have various products such as Broadcast AR, Bar interactive, Hero mirror, Mobile AR etc. which are all Augmented reality-based.

3. SAGA is a Canadian technology company that specializes in creating smart spaces i.e. spaces where people can interact with their environment while the environment itself is able to understand user context and behavior. SAGA has many projects. Among their projects is “Lü-an interactive gym.” According to the company, Lü is a gym with immersive lighting, massive projections, powerful sound and engaging activities and creates a fun and engaging learning experience for children within the age group of 5-16 years. It requires children to combine intellect and movement. Figure 7-1 shows a prototype that was introduced to elementary school children in Quebec City, Canada. The children can be seen throwing balls at a wall with projected images which change in response to the balls being thrown. It basically looks like a giant video game: only, more interactive, educative and most importantly in this case, involving physical activity.

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As covered by NBC news, Bucks Co. in Morrisville is the first school in the United States to install this interactive gym as an experiment. It was an experiment on which an education director in Morrisville, Pennsylvania had spent about $28,000 in hope that it would help his special needs students. The students were said to have had emotional or behavioral disabilities which meant traditional physical education and sports could be daunting. The experiment also appealed to tech-savvy kids who grew up playing video games.

The interactive gym has three different configurations. In one configuration which they call “üno”, only one wall is required. This configuration is ideal for smaller spaces. The düo configuration requires two walls instead of one and, is ideal for bigger groups. The last configuration is the mobile configuration which can be moved around and used in different places. Each of these configurations has its own equipment specifications. In general, regardless of which configuration, the requirements for Lü include a gym (or a suitable space), computer, video projector, video camera, static lights, computerized lights, speakers, remote control, USB keyboard, factory installation kit, teaching tools, and access to applications provided by Lü. The quantity of these equipment depend on which configuration is being installed. The estimated cost for the system range from $20,000 to $35,000

What Should Amherst Do? Since most children spend more time with technology and less time being physically active, the Lü interactive gym seems to be, from the advertising, a great way to entertain children with physical activity. Not only is it fun, and physically tasking, but it may also be educational in some applications. Therefore, the town of Amherst should consider 28

installing a Lü system in the gym. According to the company, any client willing to experiment with Lü should request a proposal via their website at ​www.play-lu.com/​.

Once the client has accepted the proposal, a formal purchase contract will also be sent to initiate the order process along with an executing the purchase contract and, an installation survey to be completed to plan and estimate the installation. However, Amherst should first request a demonstration here if possible. If it is actually installed, Amherst will be one of the country’s first communities to be embarking on this new kind of recreation. It will be an exciting additional draw to the proposed WanderLand.

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Chapter 8: Public Video Gaming

In our time video games have introduced a multitude of activities and even brand-new fields of study. Video games have already begun to make a huge impact in industry, making over $137 billion in revenue (Figure 8-1). With the introduction of a whole new level of entertainment, a new competitive platform rises along with it: E-Sports. Just like its physical counterpart, e-sports focuses on competition between people, but in the new, increasingly virtual world.

Video games come in many different shapes and sizes but are usually split among two different types of playstyle: single-player and multiplayer. Single-player are games that are played by one person, and so the game itself usually offers no way for players to interact with one another. However, for public recreation, the real jewel is multiplayer, which offers play between several players, usually in a cooperative and/or competitive manner. The biggest video game titles in E-sports are generally focused on the competitive side of multiplayer games, allowing average gamers to compete in a whole new field where physical attributes usually don’t matter. It offers a level playing field that requires skill and dedication.

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Due to the success of the professional side of E-sports, some of the general public attempt to imitate it by setting up amateur tournaments. These attempts include school clubs, small get-togethers between friends and sometimes small gaming tournaments in public spaces as shown in Figure 8-2. Although these events feature the same games and platforms, they lack the funding and backing from huge corporations.

Video games come in many shapes and sizes but only a select few make it big in the competitive scene. The most popular type of competitive games incorporates a lot of strategy, teamwork and coordination. The problem with these games is that many of the game’s elements are displayed through flashy and loud indicators, and there’s nothing more interesting to the audience than violence. Almost all of the competitive games incorporate a (necessary) amount of violence in order to capture the audience’s attention, and so the purely non-violent and educational games take the backseat in the competitive scene. That is not to say that none of them exist. What about the others?

The most common type of non-violent games incorporates a different element instead, whether it be sports, puzzles, or strategy. Certain video game companies such as Nintendo design games that are home-oriented and are made for small localized play.

However, we believe that some of these games could be adapted for a more competitive style. Party games such as Super Mario Party are entertaining and incorporates a point system that allows competitive play but in a more relaxed and laid-back fashion. The game system Nintendo Switch offers many competitive games that incorporate the same laid-back fashion, such as Mario Kart, Arms, and more. As mentioned earlier, these types of games don’t usually gain traction on the competitive scene, but if the event wants to scale back on the competitive aspect of public gaming and instead focus more on an open laid-back style of gaming event. The added benefit to having party-style games is that most of them are played on one console, compared to regular multiplayer games which are played by different players on different consoles.

The next thing to focus on are the different consoles and platforms offered currently in the market. The most popular consoles used in tournaments are the PlayStation 4, Xbox one, the Nintendo Switch, and the computer. These consoles are developed and distributed by Sony, Microsoft, Nintendo, and various companies, respectively.

Although the consoles are developed by different companies, it is common for games featured on them to be cross-platform. Cross-platform is a feature that allows the players on one console to play a game with players from another console. This feature can be utilized to expand the amount of options for different tournaments and offers people with different consoles to participate in the same tournament. Most platforms only require the console itself and a controller, with the exception of computers (Figure 8-3). If Amherst asks the participants to bring their own equipment, then not a lot is needed to set up a tournament.

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E-sports are usually held in grand arenas, as shown on Figure 8-4, and are typically attended by a huge audience. The game is displayed on a huge monitor, and the two opposing teams are seated directly across from each other so that neither team can see the monitors of their opponents. On each side each player has their own gaming console and separate monitor, so that each individual only needs to focus on their own monitor.

This setup is most popular for team-based competitions, due to its ability to allow players to coordinate with their teammates, but there are multiple setups.

Another setup would be to set up a huge monitor and just have two chairs facing the screen, this is best utilized for split-screen games, which are games that are played on one screen but is split in multiple sections for different players. The huge monitor will be displaying the game utilizing an in-game feature that is common in competitive games: Spectator mode. Spectator mode allows the audience to view what is happening in the game as a whole as well as offering the audience the opportunity to see the game from a competitor’s perspective. The giant monitor in the arena will be either displayed via a projector onto a blank surface or an actual giant monitor and will be controlled by either the host or a trained individual.

After figuring out the type of event and what consoles and games are involved, the next step is to designate an area. The most common setting for tournaments is large indoor stadium or arena. Although Amherst does not have any large-scale stadiums that can be used for recreational use, there are many other locations that offer the same services.

Some options that can be considered are performance art theatres and outdoor amphitheaters. Although setting up consoles and monitors outdoors can be a challenge, if done correctly it will be a rewarding and refreshing experience for both the audience and the participants. Another option that Amherst should look into is the development of an amphitheater for gaming competitions. Gaming competitions are usually held indoors in a darkened arena type building; however, this setup could easily be adapted for an outdoor amphitheater setting. The amphitheater allows the participants to get fresh air and sunlight, which is scientifically proven to improve mood and disposition.

Most E-sport competitions are being hosted by bigger corporations in large cities. We do not know of any being offered by a municipality for amateur competition. We believe that Amherst could be one of the first municipal areas to take a step into involving public gaming into their recreation systems.

The first step is to figure out how much of the Amherst community is interested. If established, very likely it should be in a technology recreation facility, which has a room (and external amphitheater) devoted to amateur E-sports. Personnel may be required to maintain the facility, but actual games may be run by volunteers who have demonstrated capacity to run the equipment.

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The next and biggest focus should be on figuring out the setup. As stated earlier, the most common setup is a large monitor or display from a projector and an assortment of smaller screens and consoles around it. We believe that a large LED monitor used in gaming competitions can cost upwards of $20,000, so using a small wall-mounted or standalone projector would be the best case, as those (depending on the make) cost around $500. If following my recommendation of having participants providing their own consoles and equipment, Amherst’s only concern would be providing monitors and furniture, which shouldn’t cost too much, once again depending on the brand.

Gaming is and will become a huge part of people’s lives. With the introduction of public gaming events, Amherst has the opportunity to be one of the first municipalities to take this step into the future.

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Figure 4: A DOTA2 tournament held by game developer Valve. Taken from: McKane, J. (2016, July 27). Retrieved from https://mygaming.co.za/news/pc/99912-the-biggest-gaming-tournament-of-all-time-kicks-of f-next-week.html on March 18​, 2019. Copyright 2016 by MyGaming.

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Chapter 9: Drones and Robots

https://innovativecompany.co/business-leaders-weigh-drones-robots-business/

Technology has created new opportunities for recreation via remote controlled (RC) vehicles. The most popular type of RC vehicles are drones, which are unmanned aerial vehicles. With the introduction of drones in the recreational scene, many competitions have popped up to show off this new innovation of technology. Although there are many types of competitions involving drones, the most popular is racing. Drone Racing has gotten so popular recently that professional drone racers compete in nationally televised events such as the Drone Racing League on ESPN. Another form of technological recreation involving remote control are robots. Robots are machines designed to complete a certain task and execute it with precision and efficiency. Another field that robots are renowned for are their competitive scene, in which competitors design robots for different challenges such as shooting basketballs, carrying and stacking boxes or even fighting each other. Robot competitions have gained a lot of traction over the past few years, with some notable events such as the VEX Robotics competition and the Battlebots competition presented on the Discovery Channel.

For remote controlled vehicles, there are two sources of entertainment: building them or racing them. Racing consists of multiple vehicles of the same type competing on a set course, either indoor or outdoor, in an effort to be the first to cross the finish line. For robots, there are more competitive options, such as making them fight each other or do special tricks or difficult maneuvers for different types of events.

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There are several examples of facilities for both drones and cars. There are several drone racing facilities across the world, all of which are privately owned. The most notable facilities are located in central Florida, San Francisco , and Yongin, South Korea (see Figure 9-1). These are great because not only do they offer a place to fly the drones but they also to build and repair them.

These are indoor facilities are larger than 2,000 square feet, complete with viewing areas, protective netting and a center for renting drones. There are currently no drone racing facilities in the State of New York or the surrounding states, which is why Amherst would be leading if it were to help build one this area. To have it be led by town government would provide public access to this type of technological recreation.

The town of Amherst should incorporate drone recreational activities in Central Park, possibly in a new Technology Recreation Building located in WanderLand. An outdoor drone racing facility could be located nearby. At the indoor Technology Rec Facility, Augmented Reality recreation should also be available.

Figure 9-1: DRL Drones racing through gates in the 2018 DRL Allianz World Championship.

Taken from: Drone Racing League Wikipedia page (2019, April 17). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_Racing_League​ on May 10, 2019.

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Figure 9-2: The ​Robot Wars​ arena.

Taken from: Robot Combat Wikipedia page (2019, February 19). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_combat​ ​on May 10, 2019.

Figure 9-3: DRL Engineers repairing drones after a race. Taken from: Drone Racing League Wikipedia Page (2019, April 17). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drone_Racing_League​ ​on May 10, 2019.

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Figure 9-4: “Barrage” 2014 World Champion FRC robot. Taken from: FIRST robotics competition. (2019, April 25). Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_Inspiration_and_Recognition_of_Science_and_Technolog y​ ​on May 10, 2019.

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Chapter 10: Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsuRrZTDfvE

The idea of having a toddler playground, is to create a safe play area that amazes children ages 1-3 and keeps their parents and caregivers satisfied. The layout and presentation of these playgrounds is what matters.

Safety is the main concern: the playground has to have play equipment that isn’t too high or too cluttered so toddlers are able to move freely. The playground should also be accessible and interesting enough for parents to get involved with their kids. The play area also has to be a large and spacious family destination.

Amherst already has nice outdoor playgrounds that are already beautifully built and are largely open to the public. The problem is that there aren’t enough indoor playgrounds for winter playing.

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Playgrounds in Buffalo The playground shown in Figure 1 shows a colorful and clever playground already available in Amherst. There are several similarly special and innovative playgrounds already in the town. Outside Buffalo, in Amherst, a new playground (Figure 10-2) shows the use of a soft platform providing safety and comfort. An attractive park such as this will grab the attention of adults so they feel the need to interact with their children as well.

Planning Among the features in Figure 10-3, are the ship with sand dunes, and other activities suggesting lakes or ponds. The challenge for Amherst is to create similarly fun places indoors. Perhaps the new playground can be located in an indoor facility with a retractable wall, which can be opened in good weather. It would be fairly useful to borrow these features which are large interactive attractions for children to implement into an indoor playground in Amherst.

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Figure 10-4 displays large interactive exhibits in a museum which can also be implemented into an Indoor playground. A colorful, themed place like this can make people engaged with their environment, this a crucial element that should be put in the creation of an indoor playground.

Indoor Toddler Play Area Figures 10-4 and 10-5 display ideas from the Please Touch Museum located in Philadelphia. However, these are for infrequent visits. The challenge in Amherst’s indoor playground will be to provide a place to which young children will want to go repeatedly.

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If an indoor playground became part of the new activity center in Central Park, parents would have an exciting destination to which to bring young children regularly. A designated area only for toddlers to play in will add much more happiness throughout the town. A good place to start with parents of young children, who can be shown various designs of indoor playgrounds, to see which kinds they would enjoy. It would be a way of designing the playground by involving the parents, and maybe the children as well.

Elements of an Indoor Playground An Indoor playground should consist of plenty of color, large interactive play attractions, a theme, a nice platform, and well organization. There should be a multitude of colors, ranging from colorful equipment to a colorful ground for children to walk on.

Children could also draw and color themselves so they can be engaged with the environment. The large interactive play attractions is the main component of a playground, it will draw the attention of a child, whether it be a battleship, a car or a plane, it should be themed towards children. The theme can range from a racetrack, an ocean or even a fairytale environment, this will draw the attention of a child and make them feel like they are not somewhere mundane. The platform of an indoor playground could be a soft plush ground to jump on and rest on for kids, or it could be themed like grass or water to give children a shift in their interest and comfort. The organization of an indoor playground could be thematic; it could go from one attraction to another based on a learning experience and succession in order, allowing kids to go from one place to another similar to a pathway or maze. Putting together all these elements will allow children to feel as if they are truly someplace special.

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Chapter 11: What to Do to Create WanderLand

What to do to Create Wanderland? ​

In this report we have recommended the creation of a town center called Wanderland.

We believe it should be spaced in an area of 50 to 100 acres in the Amherst park system.

WanderLand can be placed in locations A, B, C, D, as shown in the Figure 11-1. In the center of Wanderland, the outlook tower will be placed to serve as the main attraction for people as they walk inside the park. It will also serve as an Amherst icon, seen throughout the town.

A design competition should be held for the best outlook tower, but assuring that it is accessible and is a place for exercise as shown in our Denmark example is chapter 2. Figures 11-2, 11-3, 11-4, and 11-5 show possible arrangements for the park’s attractions. They show different patterns such as the grid, maze, radial and concentric pattern. Of course further work would be needed to design the park alongside one of these patterns.

We would like to remind the people of Amherst the other possible elements in WanderLand (besides the outlook tower) include: ● Garden Display ● Sculpture Garden ● Concrete Canvases ● Outdoor Gym ● Water Recreation including: Canoeing/Kayaking Stations and Waterworks ● Augmented Reality Gym 45

● Public Video Gaming Amphitheater ● Drone and Robot Arena ● Indoor/Outdoor Playground Of the students who participated in this project, none are actually from the Town of Amherst. We look forward to coming back in future years to see how Amherst has adapted and led away to the future of recreation and we hope that WanderLand will be a part of it (See Figures 11-2 through 11-5 on the next page).

Figure 11-2: A Grid arrangement of WanderLand.

Figure 11-3: A Maze arrangement of WanderLand

Figure 11-4: A Concentric arrangement of WanderLand.

Figure 11-5: A Radial arrangement of WanderLand

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2. "Need Help?" Herb Gardening for Beginners. Accessed March 24, 2019. https:// www.tastefulgarden.com/Herb-Gardening-for-Beginners-d19.htm​.

3. Jenny, Sigler. "A Beginner's Guide to Fruit and Vegetable Gardening." SparkPeople. March 24, 2009.

Accessed March 24, 2019. ​https://www.sparkpeople.com/resource/nutrition_articles.asp?id=1292​.

4. Architect, Landscape. "Lerner Gardens Embraces the Senses." Landscape Architect and Specifier News Magazine. Accessed April 03, 2019. http://www.landscapeonline.com/research/article-a.php? number=15158.

5. "Pollinator Gardens." Spriggly's Beescaping. Accessed March 24, 2019. https://sprigglys.com/ pollinator-gardens/.

6. "Average Gardener Hourly Pay." PayScale. Accessed March 24, 2019. https://www.payscale.com/ research/US/Job=Gardener/Hourly_Rate.

CHAPTER 4 1. ​Buffalo News​, “Albright-Knox's expanding public art campaign brings 'Tanglewood' to Amherst,” September 15, 2018, https://buffalonews.com/2018/09/15/albright-knoxs-expanding-public-art-campaign-brings-tanglewood-toamherst/ 2. ArtBusiness.com,”How Any Artist Can Price Their Art for Sale,” Accessed on April 30,2019 3. Debra Ripley,”What’s the Price of Love? Ask the Auctioneers of Robert Indiana Love Sculptures,” Last Modified(February 19,2014), Accessed on April 30,2019,​https://news.artnet.com/market/what-price-love-ask-the-auctioneers-who-put-robert-indiana-on-the -block-1594

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CHAPTER 5 1. “Fitness Gym Equipment Springs Up at Reservoir,” Niagara Gazette, 2017, https://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/fitness-gym-equipment-springs-up-at-reservoir /article_9d3ec3ae-b67e-51b0-b5cf-26e6d2332174.html 2. “What are the types of outdoor fitness equipment available in the market,” Kensabo, July 17, 2017, ​https://kensabo.com/types-of-outdoor-fitness-equipment/ 3. Station at a Lockport park. Taken from Niagara Gazette, “Fitness Gym Equipment Springs Up at Reservoir” (August 17, 2017) Retrieved on March 20, 2019. ​CHAPTER 6 ​1.​ ​https://1220hsltotoka.wordpress.com/activities/water-sports/ 2. Aerial view of Ellicott creek showing potential locations for water diversion from Ellicot Creek.

Taken from Google Maps.

CHAPTER 7 1. Laurie J. Fundukian, “Augmented Reality,” in Gale Encyclopedia of E-Commerce, Vol. 1. 2nd ed (Detroit, MI), pp. 40-41.

2. “Demographic trends in recreation” In Recreation and Parks Master Plan, February 2018, (Amherst: NY, 2018) pp. 16-17. ​CHAPTER 8 1. Mike Epstein. ​https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/best-gaming-consoles/ ​CHAPTER 10 ​1. ​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsuRrZTDfvE

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