Bell Park
Observations + Analysis:
Climate and Context:
Bell Park is a public city park located in the city of Sudbury and is bordered by neighbourhoods and highways on one end and an open lake on the other. The park stretches along the northwest shore of Lake Ramsey and is roughly 140,000m2 in total. In many scenarios the park overlaps with its adjacent built contexts, creating easy access from the surrounding neighbourhoods. (Map.16: Bell Park Context).
Within the selected zone of observation, the site incorporates several physical features including a play structure, two separate swings, a variety of seating options, and open spaces at different elevations creating inviting edges and surfaces for several activities (Map.17 Site Features).
.png)
Map.16: Bell Park Context
.png)
Map.17: Site Features
Fig. 11: Temperature and Climate
In the morning the park sits in a mix of sun and shade due to its southeast orientation and a large amount of vegetation. It is relatively cold and humid with a temperature of 12 degrees and the grass-covered in a blanket of morning dew (Fig. 11: Temperature and Climate). In the morning, the majority of human movement is restricted to the hardscaped paths while the squirrels, geese and other wildlife inhabit the wet grass.
The portion of the park in observation is delineated by three main paths running parallel to the waters edge with two sub-paths perpendicular to these. The zone encapsulates the variety of spaces and surfaces offered throughout Bell Park, including forested moments, protected playgrounds, open grass, pedestrian arteries, and a large beach and water connection.
.png)
Map.18: Site Textures
Within the zone of study, the park's surfaces are roughly 1/3 hardscapes (cobblestone, gravel, and asphalt pathways, metal bridges, and a gravel playground surface) and 2/3 softscape (including the grass and beach)(Map.18: Site Textures). The uses of the space with regards to textural zones differ during the time of day, with constant use of the hardscape pathways, and an increase in exploration of the grass and beach areas as the day goes on (and once the dew is no longer on the grass).
14 Public Space, Project for. “The Power of 10+.” RSS, 2018. https://www.pps.org/article/the-power-of-10.
​
15 Public Space, Project for. “The Power of 10+.” RSS, 2018. https://www.pps.org/article/the-power-of-10.
​
16 Christopher Reeves, “Twelve Quality Criteria,” Gehl, accessed November 5, 2020, https://gehlpeople.com/tools/twelve-quality-criteria/.
Circulation:
In Whyte's Film: the Social Life of Urban Spaces, one of the main factors of success in public space remains its relationship to the street. The street contributes to the space in several ways including the safety of the space attributed through the “eyes on the street” as outlined by Jacobs. While the size of the park disconnects it from the urban street, the pathways that run through it are filled with movement and take on the form of the street at the human scale. There is clear favouritism for the lower boardwalk path and it is heavily used by friends walking and chatting, those in search of photo opportunities, and taking pets out for a walk. While the other pathways offer more protection from undesirable sensory experiences such as winds and noise, the lower boardwalk trail supplies users with a clear view of the lake, varying heights between the beach and the grass, and playful lighting filtered by a more sporadic treeline (Fig. 12: Dynamic morning light), combining both invitation and delight in a sensory-filled experience.
Fig. 13: Morning Necessary Activities vs. Evening Optional
.png)
Map.19: Morning Circulation
.png)
Fig. 12: Dynamic morning light
The majority of morning activities include walking, jogging, running, and biking and occurred at a fast to moderate pace demonstrating a higher amount of necessary activities (Map.19: Morning Circulation). In comparison, as the day warmed up, the movement of the site changed to a greater amount of optional activities with more people on their phones, out with their pets, in larger groups, and enjoying more recreational activities such as swimming, football, frisbee, and tag (Fig. 13: Morning Activities vs. Evening Activities). These activities engaged a wider use of the site (Map. 20: Evening Circulation) with the majority of activities occurring for a longer period of time and at a slower pace.
Map. 20: Evening Circulation
17 The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, directed by William H. Whyte (1980; New York: William H. Whyte Video, 1980), Online streaming.
​
18 Tyranuer, Matt, Robert Hammond, Corey Reeser, Jessica Van Garsse, Jenny Carchman, Marisa Tomei, Vincent D'Onofrio, et al. 2017. Citizen Jane: battle for the city.
​
19 Christopher Reeves, “Twelve Quality Criteria,” Gehl, accessed November 5, 2020, https://gehlpeople.com/tools/twelve-quality-criteria/.
​
20 Ibid.
​
21 Jan Gehl, Life between Buildings: Using Public Space (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2011).
​
22 Ibid.
​
Seating:
A unique feature of the site was a long ledge following the boardwalk path (Map.21: Boardwalk ledge/seating). It is approximately 40 cm high and is deep, matching the grade of the grass. The ledge received multiple uses from people sitting, climbing, balancing, and jumping on and off with ease of use, however, sometimes proving problematic to the more elderly users. While the ledge proved a successful seating element other seating options in the park were less effective.
Although still used by occupants, the metal park benches and picnic tables were observed to be awkward or uncomfortable. The park benches are short in length, have arms at the ends, and are covered with holes, keeping the metal surface cold (Fig. 14: Metal Park Benches) In response, people would bring blankets to cushion the bench or sit on them in different unique ways (Fig. 15: Re-inventing Sitting)(Tab. 3: User E is observed using blanket padding for park bench).
.png)
Map.21: Boardwalk ledge/seating
These benches do not comply with Whyte’s description of good seating and significantly limit their use to no more than one person per bench (Fig. 16: One-per-bench). While several of the park benches and seating infrastructure were used intermittently the seating choice of those in the space for longer periods of time was either the sloped grass or seating elements that incorporated an outward view paired with the protection of vegetation. In particular, spots with a clear view of the beach action and busy boardwalk proved to be the most favourable spots (Map. 22: Prospect + Refuge).
Fig. 14: Metal Park Benches
.png)
Fig. 15: Re-inventing Sitting
Tab. 3: User E is observed using blanket padding for park bench
.png)
Fig. 16: One-per-bench
Map. 22: Prospect + Refuge
23 Jonathan Maier et al. “An affordance-based approach to architectural theory, design, and practice,” Design Studies. 30. (2009) 393-414. doi: 10.1016/j.destud.2009.01.002.
​
24 William Hollingsworth. Whyte, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (New York: Project for Public Spaces, 2018).
​
25 Émilie Pinard, “Social Public-space and Placemaking” (Online presentation, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, October 05, 2020).
​
The park also facilitates multiple activities of play and recreation. Project For Public Spaces describes the “uses + activities” of space as a basic block, “They are the reasons why people visit in the first place, and why they continue to return”. The design of the play structure and adjoining swing sets are integrated within the topography creating a protected environment for the kids and ease of view for the parents (Map. 23: Play Structure).
The use of the play structure draws the attention of those walking by as well as attracts other children to the park, demonstrating the principle of “attraction of activity” as described by Jahn Gehl. This attraction fosters interaction between the children which reciprocates to the parents (Tab. 4: K (2) and L (2) interact at the play structure). In addition to the play structure, open site surfaces also generate activities.
.png)
Map. 23: Play Structure
As the day progresses, the optimal weather activates a heavy use of the beach area where people swim and build sand structures. On the grass, people partake in other recreational activities including football, frisbee, tag, and even musical instruments. The use of the central swings by a mother and her baby generates smiles and looks from those walking by. Other moments of triangulation include the play generated at the beach as well as the water activities of kayaks, boats, and seadoos.
Tab. 4: K (2) and L (2) interact at the play structure
27 Jan Gehl, Life between Buildings: Using Public Space (Washington, DC: Island Press, 2011).
​
28 William Hollingsworth. Whyte, The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces (New York: Project for Public Spaces, 2018).
Public space is successful when there is a representation of the larger community in the space (sociability criteria). The variation of age and ethnicity within the park demonstrates its success as a public space. Used by many for photos and as a place for groups and friends to walk and enjoy the park’s natural environment the success of the space can be seen through observing its use.