Beyond Recreation
This paper explores design and programming strategies for the National Park Services that replaces “recreation” with a model of greater public participation and accountability in the environment.
Beyond Recreation was presented at the “Designing the Parks” Conference in 2008 and “Parks without Borders: A Roundtable Discussion,” at the AIA/LA Urban Design Committee in 2009. The paper presents several contemporary projects, mostly from the visual arts, that offer models of public engagement in the environment beyond recreation. These projects replace the term recreation with engagement; and visitor with scientist, animal, farmer, geographer, guide, and activist.
above, from left to right:
Bear Grylls in the Discovery Channel’s Man v. Wild
Lunchbox Lab, 2008. Amy Franceschini and Michael Swaine of Future Farmers, Jonathan Meuser of National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Stijn Schiffeleers of Boutique Vizique
Ooz, 2003- current. Natalie Jeremijenko
Science Barge, 2007 – current. creator: New York Sun Works Center for Sustainable Engineering, current operator: Groundwork Hudson Valley, designer: Ted Caplow, environmental engineer
Center for Land Use Interpretation. director: Matthew Coolidge
Migration Mileposts. Lynne Hull
Earth Sandwich, 2006. Ze Frank
Landmark (footprints), 2001. Jennifer Allora and Guillermo Calzadilla