Session Title: (103) Realizing Olmstead’s Vision for Inclusive Public Space in the 21st Century

Session Type: Education Session Talk
Topic(s): Conservation, Equity and Inclusion, Planning and Design


Day/Time: Thursday - Block 9
10/12/2023 02:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada)) - 10/12/2023 03:00 PM (Central Time (US & Canada))

Room: D Ballroom Section 3

Audience Experience Level: Any level
Audience Familiarity with DEI: Any Level
CEU: 0.1

Description:
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, social unrest, public health crisis and a warming climate have left us wondering what’s next for public spaces. Having recently celebrated Frederick Law Olmstead’s 200th birthday, we are reminded that democratic access to public space must remain a priority. Uncanny parallels exist between the challenges facing Olmstead and those presenting in the 21 century. Social ills, such as racism, disease and pollution, prevailed when Olmstead called for parks for all people. Today, similar challenges are evidenced by intolerance for diverse people, chronic disease, poor mental health and a warming climate. Equitable access to green space seems unreachable to many, yet critical to building community connections, improving health outcomes and revitalizing ecological systems. This presentation presents Olmstead’s vision for universal access to nature and examples of underutilized public space re-imagined into equitable, accessible and inclusive civic spaces.

Learning Objectives:
1. Translate the importance of Olmstead’s vision for democratic open spaces into modern actions to plan, design, build and manage underutilized green space in the 21st century, in order to elevate community and environmental health.
2. Apply strategies for reimagining the public realm to address the most pressing challenges of our time.
3. Examine the history of inequities around civic green spaces and realize the healing power of parks to elevate community and environmental health.

Speaker(s):

Rachel Cotter