(If you haven't yet, check out the first part of my urban parks series)

After seeing what other cities have in terms of green amenities near downtown, here is the Winnipeg version:

It's a jumbled mess, of disconnected green patches, most of which can hardly be called parks.I think I've been quite generous in the map. What we also see is that Whitier park is the largest green space nearby. This isn't, however, the type of park people flock to. It tends to be more of a forested, mountain biking, kid exploring space, with a soccer field and baseball diamond on the side. Hardly the type of place people visiting downtown would want to jaunt down too. On the other hand there's much potential for something great here. The riverbanks allow for an excellent way to connect the different green spaces and if we could liberate more waterfront properties, Winnipeg could have a few fantastic promenades. Unfortunately, a new "boutique hotel" will kill that vision at the Alexander docks north of the Forks and we can't simply expropriate owners. Minneapolis is a perfect example of a city that had the vision to connect it's several ponds, lakes and streams into a cohesive "green necklace". By taking a closer look at all the lakes, streams and even the Mississippi in Minneapolis, you'll notice the overwhelming majority is devoted to public space as opposed to private yards. 

Seeing as that isn't so much an option for Winnipeg anymore (I can always dream). I would propose something more to the tune of Millenium Park (Chicago) and Central Park (New York). But first, I'd like to take a quick gander as to why so many Winnipeggers are apprehensive to move downtown. Much of it has to do with safety (perceived or real - that's another debate) and much of it has to with amenities (grocery stores, schools, activity centers, etc.). But I'd like to add one more to this short list, a different kind of amenity, you know, the kind all the families in the suburbs seem to have in abundance: green space. 

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I'm going to write a small multi-part series on urban parks. Recently Mayor Katz has spoken out in favour of a new park for the much maligned Parcel 4 which was once the future local for a waterpark. I tend to agree with Katz that a park in this location would benefit Winnipeg. I also believe it would act as a great addition to the Forks while staying within the spirit of this symbolic land and stimulate future development in and around the Forks. I am however not impressed with two of M. Katz comments. He wants to create the park "in honour of the late Izzy Asper". I'm fairly certain the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is over and above the honour already... Secondly, his reasoning for a park on Parcel 4 is based on the idea that a design proposal made public before anything is built is too costly for any developper:

It's going to be very difficult in the future to get any type of development on that site.

Quite the double standard if you ask me. Why is a park much less important, much less worthy than a building? Why wouldn't the public be privy to design renderings before a park is built? Right... it's just green space.

On twitter, an immediate backlash from several prominent Winnipeg bloggers ensued. Many criticized, with agressive language nonetheless, those who side with Katz. That is, the people who would love to see Winnipeg's Downtown area a little greener. I'll admit that I am also confused when people decry the perpetual removal of green space at the Forks. All the buildings that exist and are under construction were essentially built on former parking lots. Green space has for the most part remained untouched. This, however, doesn't mean there couldn't be more! Yes, MORE!

The first part of my series is just a quick comparison of a few urban parks from around the world. They are all transposed at the same scale and they are all located near if not directly downtown in each respective city. I could have kept going and going and going (so many cities in the world). But I eventually decided that on this french holiday of Ascension, my time would be put to better use. I tried to get a few large metropolises, a few medium cities and some smaller ones too. 

Laterdays,

Pato

Here are three videos (all subtitled for your viewing pleasure) of urbanist, architect and landscape teams working on a future metropolitan vision for Brussels. I'm basing a lot of my research project on this new type of urban project that rejects the old delimitated site-dominant architect-rigid political brief type of project. 

The metropolis is more complex than that and requires a discourse. Something Winnipeg seems wholely unable to achieve. 

Team KCAP

 

Team 514NE

 

Team Secchi + Vigano

 

I'll have more on this subject soon. I'll certainly have to address a concerning quote about urbanists and architects not wanting to speak up in order to save face with the City of Winnipeg.

Laterdays,

Pato