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<br /> Opponents complained that the increasingly busy urban area. participate in programs that would
<br /> land at the base of the foothills should Supporters, on the other hand, keep them off the streets.
<br /> remain an open, natural area. It was a spouted of benefits the athletic facility In the 1995 election,the bond issue
<br /> quiet place to go and view wildlife, would provide the youth of the com- was defeated—the open-space advo-
<br /> take an easy hike and escape an munity, allowing more children to sates won by a comfortable margin.
<br /> The proponents of what seemed like
<br /> PARKS L� RECREATION Y��« an "apple pie" issue were left scratch-
<br /> �L
<br /> r ing their heads.The Fort Collins story
<br /> •
<br /> _ is indicative of a new attitude growing
<br /> ® 0 aorta hg�pw00® eh in urban communities.
<br /> r ` "' . "�' s ..w � Parks are no longer homes only for
<br /> r', o �� � .St Cti e5 - :..'4' g Y
<br /> 3 R t ,x �� jocks and sports fans. Urban residents
<br /> ,I �i'; ,s 4. � ,;Y,��: , .� t>t. X -:, r I want parks to reflect community val
<br /> r oode •,, ; ant 1a groan• ,•,•in _. uik JA-2_,..tieswand�aunties ues, and these public spaces should
<br /> �- Y ' . '�`l'' �" �i
<br /> �' coun • .w3 not be merely organ ized la grounds'
<br /> . Yet' cI ► offic n s; Y P Y�
<br /> how.t•, ++ "' � $ tiuctu es lac afl cO och� Rather,the parks should represent the
<br /> $70,0 O <+ OI O COPS•,, c•- •ta oun• stS rriilie$'; ee orf soul of the city.
<br /> earl e ••e mainten rice • st ood •organ ` The Fort Collins example is an
<br /> 14'....n' 0 i• +�: t x „:• • 9...-**```+ urii�l'J.. •+o extreme case. However, in cities and•
<br /> ,77:+. `--a. " .- °Rats-4,0w, :r ` toy -, ��' •..red towns across the country, city plan-
<br /> x ; •ir°st , � ners are beginning to recognize that
<br /> ,, ,:.4.111.,=.-'� �,,,r;j ;4-y�.��,' ,, � e ;� �' . •�zn•k ��it � � arks should reflect the needs of the
<br /> .';',4 --- e a +.se• lie lg? ir�iz .' s1 �•� e{� • 5",� ? 1; community as a whole.
<br /> �-•• er '' '' t` a n . ,�s. A park has many purposes: It is a
<br /> ® d °.q 1'e •,' „; t • 1.14t�e��e place where people exercise,stroll and
<br /> -i � �, , i® a. + •t . go to watch other people.Children fly
<br /> e .' m, , "�r-,� �� , ' A:1 kites, look for rabbits and catch bugs,
<br /> -� ,1
<br /> '' _l e sv'•.,.,-1.=;�° ��q,d? !_�a,U ' �„t~ •-. ' �!9aA' ., , musicians practice and sports teams
<br /> • ;��. ,,eI�?.eft a `Ce compete. A Fark is a place close to
<br /> x 9 Ie e l a rY�. e s ``,s ,��„"4,_1",--..11;',1 �T �. . E e °c' home where people can play an d cele-
<br /> • �I K „' r; e� � e 9`� .y.? y- ,• Xi ti;� brace nature without spending a dime.
<br /> � . �of ji ; e j i� It is, in fact, the common ground of
<br /> •n �- a, „ � � -� a,� ! the community. During the past few
<br /> d
<br /> jai t,=, �1 •f;, e'�ti; 4 pir f �a^ ears, landscape architect firms and
<br /> ,-'Z.-kw.'
<br /> ; ”` + , • ---,4'•'.',";-,,.. .4-,2-': -4,;,{max ; � `,p � i Planning firms have worked with
<br /> 7 �� �11 �
<br /> �-:' �l, „ �, , e • • ... r e� l communities intent on developing
<br /> a�•• u �, '�r 9k�• d ;,�� g uer • bIn• t Parks that suit the needs of the com-
<br /> ro ' ` r ti. F 'e:'''''
<br /> c mev �� a munity and mirror critical values.
<br /> r` ri .'-`-'7'9 is i These arks are in communities
<br /> .an, •. , e. e a s •C,.-', •e a i±.„.,,," • •Me_P'. -+0�0«ne' O a. P
<br /> a `�eane �+ • ou'•...1st •• s •ul•" ease 'T that represent the full spectrum of
<br /> cone inI• e ,, • •ti-,, •i•e' • eac:I �e '_ cities and counties from major urban
<br /> fl. '" a' ;r, �;s me -r: 11'4,� ou �� ion centers to mountain resorts. While
<br /> every�sprm Cora + ; co •o .i eeti -� con the communities are quite different,
<br /> m .;, ..�; � _ i` �.� ,�4 _, _ g they all want the same thing:distinct,
<br /> ' ' �` gym° e� a sr up t +� _ attractive spaces that welcome play,
<br /> t,.� "�y,y as c "a� •`o + reflect natural and historic heritage
<br /> #Y .tea; b:ry. q Yt,,..: 'Ff{w f ''i
<br /> es,; er a: •en • •' „ •.... c.,.,,rotes e ••• ben f the t c and nurture the human spirit.
<br /> Re e '� - eIYl0 ' �i x ,-,-;-.....=
<br /> r THE NUMBERS
<br /> y -
<br /> • ': e ..: L. en a eed Its"! -,
<br /> trea eda
<br /> .� i e In 1991, Dade County, Fla., con-
<br /> Deb.+ . • e � e .g ie • • o . ., ..ma�yy__� *w
<br /> ' '^'•. C X rL d'4 .{'THi+ may 2 .�'a!I'N �.'
<br /> finis °, i-• 4 ° mi'*4 F, � °, 4. .- -,- ' ,n ;. f. ducted a survey as part of its parks
<br /> again '��+ ..• e more nee• ��-'&:nmen' ,iW mister planning process. Residents
<br /> °`fir --
<br /> "�fere i ,n,"''ev. ^ -.o �•a amount o on rain�andarang o to were asked about their park activities
<br /> 4-5- a es •. a i a e .. o e s i { 3 during the previous year.I.
<br /> •; . ..-ne . •r ygto dsie .� ven,.w usm At the top of the list, 64 percent
<br /> • e�.w••• `•w: y 'equip`nen -s: •test •> � said they go to parks to walk, jog and
<br /> 'm• • •rotes@ • •"n w waode laygro 2. •- an. minimiz use exercise paths.
<br /> ,a r mss,•
<br /> ,c Fpin l •`tixacktng„ c`! wil •rotect< e�w wh Ie allowing rn Football and soccer, on the other
<br /> '` �' k e fir' hand were much further down the list
<br /> 0,..�Ltto weath natu l iOw,yam, ... `� .-
<br /> .s�,� , t ? ¢4 ,Y �� , � "�* at only 23.9 percent. In other
<br /> words,
<br /> 30 October 1996 AMERICAN CITY &COUNTY
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