The city of Encinitas, a coastal city in northern San Diego County, Californa, has set aside $35 million to build a 44 acre sports park, which it is claimed will be the largest in the city. A final environmental impact report has been released that analyses the area known as the Hall Property Community Park. The Planning Commission plans to hold a public hearing in September. The proposed park would have five soccer fields that overlap with two baseball fields, a dog park, playgrounds and an amphitheatre. A teen centre, skate park and swim complex could be added later. Landscaped pathways and gardens would frame the park. It appears there will be some opposition to the park at the public hearing and if the plans are passed, this may go to an appeal. Concerns being expressed by neighbouring residents relate to the emphasis on sport that they fear will lead to potential traffic congestion and litter, as well as light and noise pollution from night tournaments. Some residents say that instead of soccer fields, they would like more picnic areas, walking paths and community gardens. The article published by signsonsandiego.com attracted some strong negative comment in particular from local people expressing concern that a small community facility was being turned into a trophy project aimed at meeting wider regional needs. New Zealand
www.forestandbird.org.nz
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The City of Windsor in Ontario celebrated its 13th Annual Rose City Feis on 16 August at St. Clair College. A feis (from the Gaelic word) is a traditional arts and culture festival. Shortly after the feis, an article appeared in the Windsor Star deploring what it described as vandalism in the City’s parks and questioning Windsor’s continuing status as a Rose City. According to the article, budget cuts have resulted in the removal of rose gardens that were originally a feature of Alexander Park and other locations around the City. It was claimed that those roses, which had not been removed were fighting a losing battle with weeds and litter. 
predominantly rose-filled, have been removed from around the city. Significant rose displays can still be seen in and around city hall, Jackson Park, Dieppe Park and Steamboat Wharf. However, many of the fancier varieties have been dropped in favour of those with fewer blooms but hardier stature.
U.S.A.
Australia100 point challenge to save the environment |
www.keepaustraliabeautiful.org.au www.perth.wa.gov.au
Keep Australia Beautiful Week 2008 kicked off on Monday, 25 August with all Australians being urged to score points towards a 100-point challenge for the environment to help tackle climate change and protect the country’s natural resources. The website suggests ways that people can become involved at home, work or school. Suggested activities include recycling old mobile phones, refilling printer cartridges and following waste reduction tips. In particular, Australians are urged to clean up unsightly litter that can damage the health of waterways and the environment. Participants at home who sign up to the challenge get a chance to win a solar home make-over. By entering the “Design a Sustainable Garden” competition, schools can win books, tools or plants. One City, taking this subject seriously, is Perth in Western Australia, which has launched a Coca-Cola Clean Up initiative in partnership with Coca-Cola, Keep Australia Beautiful and Lotterywest Australia Day Skyworks.
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South Africa
Street art on a grand scale |
www.stellenboschtourism.co.za
Dorp Street in Stellenbosch, the oldest town in South Africa, boasts a variety of architectural styles: Cape Dutch, Cape French, Cape Georgian, Victorian and Art Déco. The Dorp Street Development Trust aims to choose a different artist or medium to celebrate art in Dorp Street each year. This year Strijdom van der Merwe, world-renowned landscape artist, agreed to transform Dorp Street into something spectacular for the period July to August. The trunks of each of the 393 declared oak trees in the 1.3km long historical Street were adorned in red cloth. This was his largest landscape art project ever. The project was sponsored by Dercksen and Co, Stellenbosch Tourism, Absa Pivate Bank, Volkskombuis, Eendracht Boutique Hotel and Daneel Diamonds. Sponsorship for individual trees was received from Protea Hotel Dorpshuis, Alexander Forbes, Lutz Familietrust, Pier Rabe Antiques, Pam Golding, G2 Designs, ID Advertising and Smuts & de Kock Architects. Proposals for 2009 are already being considered by the Trust.
U.K.
Cabe’s challenge to local authorities for 2012 |
www.cabe.org.uk
As the Olympic Games in Beijing, reached their climax, CABE, the government’s advisor on architecture, urban design and public space, has issued a challenge to every local authority across the country to create public spaces fit for 2012. Launching its annual report for 2007/08, Richard Simmons, chief executive at CABE, said: “2012 will be a massive test of the quality of our public space. Not just in London, but right across the country when people gather in all the major civic spaces to watch and celebrate. So are we ready? Local authorities have four years to get it right.” To back this call for action, CABE is setting five gold standards for great public space, one for each of the Olympic rings, against which local authorities can judge their parks and squares:
An inclusive space: does everyone feel welcome and safe?
A distinctive space: does the space contribute to local character?
A healthy space: does the space encourage active lifestyles where even the unathletic can be inspired to try for a personal best?
A sustainable place: is there a long-term plan for effective management and maintenance?
A green place: softer, greener, natural surfaces will adapt much better to climate change.
CABE’s annual report highlights a raft of work helping local authorities to create successful, civilised spaces. Over the last year, CABE Space gave advice to 110 separate projects and led a nationwide programme, called Spaceshaper, getting young people and local community groups to play a key role in the design of parks. One hundred and eighty facilitators are now signed up to use Spaceshaper (a new practical toolkit to measure the quality of a public space) - more than three times the target. This was one of 20 targets set for CABE by the government for 2007/08. All of these were met, making this CABE’s most successful year since the organisation was created nine years ago.
Canada
Partnership with local business puts more trees into the ground |
www.treesontario.on.ca
A partnership has been announced between Trees Ontario and Wo-Built Inc. that will connect home renovations with improving air quality and natural landscapes through tree planting. Wo-Built Inc. is a female-led renovation, design and build company in the Greater Toronto Area, which has a desire to promote environmentally friendly actions. Wo-Built will make a donation to Trees Ontario to plant a minimum of one tree for each new customer the company engages. The connection with Wo-Built will assist Trees Ontario in its commitment to increase the forested landscape of Ontario’s private lands by supporting local tree planting initiatives. “We welcome Wo-Built as a Trees Ontario partner,” said Michael Scott, President and CEO of Trees Ontario. “Their commitment will help increase our tree planting capacity by putting more healthy trees into the ground, and demonstrates how local businesses can make an impact that will be felt all over southern Ontario.” This spring Trees Ontario, with its partners, planted nearly 3 million trees. Its goal is to increase tree planting to 10 million trees every year by 2015.
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Hong Kong
Collapse of 100 year old tree causes fatality |
Between 22 and 23 August the Regional Tree and Landscape Sections of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) recorded 122 requests for emergency assistance in relation to fallen trees. After the passage of Typhoon Nuri, the LCSD followed its standard procedures and inspected all registered old and valuable trees (OVTs) in its public areas. It was sad, therefore that a 100 year old coral tree (Erythrina variegata) in Stanley, having passed its inspection, unexpectedly collapsed killing a passer by. During the inspection, the tree had not been found to be inclined and its root system showed no sign of having been shifted by the strong wind. In fact, the tree appeared to pose no potential danger. A comprehensive investigation is now being carried out in an attempt to identify the cause of the partial collapse of the tree. The LCSD will remove the remaining part of the tree and has also commissioned immediate inspection of trees in the vicinity. In accordance with existing policy, the LCSD carries out a detailed inspection of the OVTs once every six months. In between the six-month period, the trees are checked every week for obvious diseases, wounds or other damage. The most recent detailed inspection of the coral tree was conducted on July 31 this year when staff carried out a sonar check on the structure of the tree trunk and looked for any pests and diseases. The examination revealed the general condition of the tree was acceptable. The LCSD will study whether the partial collapse of the tree was caused by the typhoon. The photograph shows a member of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department's Tree Team employing a tomograph to check any cavity and decay in the remaining trunk of the tree in Stanley, part of which has collapsed.
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Australia
Victoria Park set to become one of the great urban parks |
www.news.com.au/adelaidenow
Adelaide Now has published Adelaide City Council's master plan for the 72 ha parklands site. Expected to cost up to $8 million, it involves four precincts including walking and bike trails, wetlands, community recreation, 14 sports fields for football, hockey, soccer and cricket, a new plaza and refurbishing the heritage grandstand. Victoria Park will become "one of the great urban parks of the world" under a new multimillion-dollar plan to redevelop the site, Lord Mayor Michael Harbison has vowed. Mr Harbison claims that the size of Victoria Park and its situation, with panoramic vistas of the Adelaide Hills on one side and the city on the other, gives the council great scope to develop what will become a "people's park". Over the past four years, Victoria Park has been the subject of enormous community debate on whether to build a permanent grandstand there. In that time, the council has both endorsed and rejected proposals for a permanent structure before compromising on a $20 million temporary grandstand. The new parklands plan will be presented to the Adelaide Park Lands Authority and released for public consultation in September. Construction is likely to start before the end of the year, when non-heritage buildings are demolished around Victoria Park.
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Pakistan
New play park for kids of all ages |
www.dailytimes.com.pk
The Daily Times reports that adult labourers working on the site of a new play area in Fatima Jinnah Park are regularly using and damaging new and innovative children’s play equipment. This vast new play area is being developed by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) in Islamabad. Spread over 20 acres, the children’s park has been planned to cater for the needs of different age groups and is divided into three zones with more challenging equipment provided for those in the older (10-14) age bracket. It appears that adult misuse of equipment is a regular occurrence and not unique to this area. The authority now plans to use security guards to protect the equipment from unauthorised use and consequent damage.
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Norway
Access to the countryside under threat |
www.norway.org.uk
It is reported that public access to the countryside is being threatened by certain types of development and by privatisation measures. Fences and other barriers erected to prevent public access are not permitted under the Outdoor Recreation Act. Piecemeal developments along the coast, particularly by the Oslo fjord and in popular areas of Southern Norway, have gradually reduced public access to the shoreline. As a general rule, building and partitioning of property is prohibited in the 100m zone closest to the sea, but local authorities in many areas have made liberal use of their ability to grant exemptions from this rule. Everyone in Norway enjoys the right of access to and passage through uncultivated land in the countryside. This originally traditional right has been set out in legislation since 1957. It is based on respect for the countryside, and all visitors are expected to show consideration for farmers and landowners, other users and the environment. The authorities wish to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to take part in outdoor activities. One of Norway's national targets is to ensure easy accessibility to environment-friendly recreation areas in proximity to people’s homes.
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Iceland
Europe’s largest national park opens |
www.icenews.is
Europe’s largest national park was opened at the beginning of June and is located in south Iceland. Over half the size of Macedonia, Vatnajokull National Park is made up of the old Jokulsargljufur and Skaftafell national parks, as well as the entire Vatnajokull glacier. Icelandic travel website www.South.is describes Vatnajokull National Park as the ‘meeting point of extremes’ – a sentiment instantly confirmed by the statistics. Vatnajokull is the biggest glacier in Europe by volume and blankets six active volcanoes under its 8,000 square
kilometres of ice. Fire and ice are extreme contrasts; but the National Park’s sheer size is extreme too: 13,000 square kilometres, or 13 percent of the entire country. Creating a national park over the whole glacier was partly a political move intended to draw attention to the rapid melting of Iceland’s glaciers and to aid researchers in highlighting the reasons. Although partly created for scientists, the second big winners will be the tourists coming to the south of Iceland. The park aims to have completed construction of its second visitors’ centre shortly, and an additional four visitors’ centres will be completed by 2012. As well as this, rangers’ stations will increase from four to 11 under the 10 million euro investment plan currently underway. Iceland hopes to see a total increase of five to seven percent in visitor numbers to the country over the next few years in return for the investment.
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U.K.
Proposed sponsorship of public spaces sparks row |
www.thecnj.co.uk
The new Camden Journal reports on “dismay and outrage” as the London Borough considers a plan to allow sponsorship of public spaces. It has been proposed to seek sponsorship deals that would allow company logos to be added to signs and welcome boards. Other plans under consideration propose more freedom for public parks to be hired out for private functions. Friends societies and local residents have expressed great concern about the over-commercialisation of public spaces and claim that such sponsorship would be contrary to the spirit in which theses parks, gardens and squares were created. There is fear that this would open the door to the encroachment of huge signs and bill-boards in areas that are intended to be places of tranquillity. In defence of the policy, the Council is trying to reassure people that this would be sensitively managed and only involve the addition of a discreet logo to existing signage.
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EVENTS DIARY |
2008 Sept. 15-18
Ifpra Asia Pacific Congress Christchurch, New Zealand www.ifpra2008.com/
Contact: Paul Wilson on paulw@qldc.govt.nz or telephone 0064 3 441 0467
2008 Sept. 13-Oct. 12
Floriade: Australia’s Celebration of Spring
Commonwealth Park, Canberra
www.floriadeaustralia.com
2008 Oct 6-10
10th World Leisure Congress
Quebec City, Canada
www.worldleisure.org/events/congresses/10thCongress_2008/congress2008.html
2008 Oct 14-18
NRPA Congress and Exposition
Baltimore
www.nrpacongress.org
2008 Oct 14-16
IERM Annual Convention: Making Connections –
Good Hope Centre Cape Town
www.ierm.org.za
2008 Oct 15-17
EMSU 2008 International Conference: A New Knowledge Culture – Universities facing global changes for sustainability
Technical University of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain.
www.emsu.org
2008 Oct 20-30
The Big Squeeze – the pressure on our countryside and open space
Countryside Management Association Conference and AGM
Venue: Lackham Countryside Centre, Lacock, Wiltshire, U.K.
www.countrysidemanagement.org.uk
2008 Nov 6-11
International Awards for Liveable Communities Finals
Dongguan, China. Observers welcome. Contact info@livcomawards.com
2008 Nov 9-12
Parks and Leisure Australia National Conference
Melbourne, Australia.
www.parks-leisure.com.au
2008 Dec 7-11
Vth International Symposium on Horticultural Research Training and Extension
Pang Suan Kaew Hotel, Chiang Mai, Thailand
www.ishs.org/wri/pap1.htm
2009 May 31
International Awards for Liveable Communities
Closing date for Registrations.
www.livcomawards.com: info@livcomawards.com
2009, June 15-17
2009 Ifpra European Congress – Modern Society: Balance with Nature – NOW CALLING FOR PAPERS
Mikkeli, Finland
Contact: Viljo Muuronen on viljo.muuronen@mikkeli.fi
www.ifpraeuropemikkeli.com/fi/sisalto/
2009, Sept 19 – Nov 23
Hamamatsu International Mosaiculture: An Exposition of Horticultural Art
Hamamatsu, Japan
mih2009.com/english/index.html
2009, October
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2010
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Suxiu, China
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2010, November
Ifpra World Congress: Quality Services – ‘Parks, Recreation and Tourism'
Hong Kong
2011
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Switzerland
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2011 July 24-30
XVIII International Botanical Congress
Melbourne Australia
www.anbg.gov.au/cpbr/ibc-2011/
2012
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
South Africa
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
2012, Apr-Oct
Floriade: Be part of the theatre in nature – get closer to the quality of life
GreenPark Venlo, Netherlands
www.floriade.com/
2013
International Federation of Landscape Architects World Congress
Auckland, New Zealand.
Contact Chistine Bavassa on efla.exsec@gmail.com
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