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Park planning handbook
Landscape Planning, 4 (1977) 375-379 o Elsevier Scientific Publishing Company, Amsterdam - Printed in The Netherlands
375
Book Reviews PARK PLANNING
Monty L. Christiansen. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1977, 413 pp (including 155 pp. appendices of sample documents, forms, and resource lists), US $23.00, ISBN O-471-156191.
Park Planning Handbook.
The author enjoys a unique joint appointment as Associate Professor in the parks and recreation, and landscape architecture programs at Pennsylvania State University. This has obviously contributed to his recognition of the need for a balanced textbook that presents the broad scope of the park planning process and necessary supportive elements. Although intended primarily for students in recreation and park administration, the book will prove invaluable to students of related disciplines, as well as practitioners - especially those in small- to medium-sized agencies that do not have large technical staffs. The book should not be mistaken for a “cookbook” of detailed park and recreation site or facility planning. Such material abounds elsewhere and the author has concerned himself with basically two concerns; the Park Planning process, and Support Provisions. To this end he has, in the reviewers opinion, presented the most complete and current analysis and information to be found under one cover. His discussion of the Park Planning Process (Part I) includes its relationship and role in Park administration, the pre-design phase, the design phase, the development phase, and what he calls the common thread of each element, “actualization”. This section is supported in the appendix by facility-oriented and resource-oriented analysis examples, and numerous sampIe specification and bidding forms. The author opens by building a solid case for total involvement in the planning process through task groups that represent all key interests. He lays out a process for the inclusion of user/participants, national or local organizations, specialized disciplines, and support personnel, such as maintenance and security staff, at the appropriate time in the planning process. A unique aspect of the Pre-design Phase chapter is the use of the “recreationexperience components concept” pioneered by the author in the past four years. This is a departure from the traditional application of park and recreation standards and represents a more in-depth analysis of user needs and in turn facility and program requirements. The remainder of Part I is devoted to steps in the design and development phase that will guide the reader in preparing an orderly and complete plan for executing the final design and construction process. It is also coupled with excellent appendix references of sample criteria, forms and documents. To reiterate, this section is not intended to provide comprehensive, detailed site or facility planning information. It is intended to assure a sound process is followed.
376
Part II is devoted to the principal support provisions and is intended to give all members of a planning team a better understanding of the importance of such facilities and systems in the planning process. Subjects covered include circulation, lighting and water systems, wastewater and solid waste systems, and health, safety and emergency provisions. These subjects tend to be less familiar to park and recreation students and practitioners, and the author has gone into more detail than found in Part I. Very specific ratios, dimensions, and standards are provided - which makes the book an especially good reference for practitioners and consultants. It is an outstanding current guide to these critical and so often overlooked support facilities and systems, and can help the administrator avoid mistakes in the early planning stages. However, it does not, and I’m sure was not intended to replace the appropriate engineering or planning disciplines necessary to complete final plans and specifications for such systems. Three subject areas that logically could have been covered in greater detail in the book come to mind. There is little mention of Park patron safety relating to criminal activity and deviant behavior. Such activity can be reduced or minimized by following certain design guidelines. Secondly, the principal of accessibility by the handicapped does not come across firmly as a major design consideration. And finally, the section on water supply covers only domestic use and omits discussion of irrigation systems that are essential for parks in many climates - and for golf courses everywhere. The reviewer has not had the recent experience of pricing textbooks in today’s market, but the quoted price of $23.00 seems high - at least for student purchase. To conclude on a positive note, I believe the author has presented a unique combination of park planning principles and supportive elements that is a major contribution to the park and recreation literature. The book is well organized with a summary, glossary, and bibliography at the end of each chapter, and is a must for park and recreation educators, students, practitioners, and consultants alike. ROBERT D. BUECHNER (Bowie, Md., U.S.A.)
ALLOCATION
OF LAND
AND WATER
USE
The Coastal Zone of Delaware -A Method for the Allocation of Land and Water Uses.. J. Tourbier, R.W. Pierson Jr., S. McKenzie, R. Westmacott, R. Wilson, M. Gross and E.W. Furia. Centre for Ecological Research in Planning and Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa, 1976, 24 pp., 23 figures, 3 plates, bibliography, $4.00. The precise
origin of this report is not stated,
but it appears that, either
375
Book Reviews PARK PLANNING
Monty L. Christiansen. John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, 1977, 413 pp (including 155 pp. appendices of sample documents, forms, and resource lists), US $23.00, ISBN O-471-156191.
Park Planning Handbook.
The author enjoys a unique joint appointment as Associate Professor in the parks and recreation, and landscape architecture programs at Pennsylvania State University. This has obviously contributed to his recognition of the need for a balanced textbook that presents the broad scope of the park planning process and necessary supportive elements. Although intended primarily for students in recreation and park administration, the book will prove invaluable to students of related disciplines, as well as practitioners - especially those in small- to medium-sized agencies that do not have large technical staffs. The book should not be mistaken for a “cookbook” of detailed park and recreation site or facility planning. Such material abounds elsewhere and the author has concerned himself with basically two concerns; the Park Planning process, and Support Provisions. To this end he has, in the reviewers opinion, presented the most complete and current analysis and information to be found under one cover. His discussion of the Park Planning Process (Part I) includes its relationship and role in Park administration, the pre-design phase, the design phase, the development phase, and what he calls the common thread of each element, “actualization”. This section is supported in the appendix by facility-oriented and resource-oriented analysis examples, and numerous sampIe specification and bidding forms. The author opens by building a solid case for total involvement in the planning process through task groups that represent all key interests. He lays out a process for the inclusion of user/participants, national or local organizations, specialized disciplines, and support personnel, such as maintenance and security staff, at the appropriate time in the planning process. A unique aspect of the Pre-design Phase chapter is the use of the “recreationexperience components concept” pioneered by the author in the past four years. This is a departure from the traditional application of park and recreation standards and represents a more in-depth analysis of user needs and in turn facility and program requirements. The remainder of Part I is devoted to steps in the design and development phase that will guide the reader in preparing an orderly and complete plan for executing the final design and construction process. It is also coupled with excellent appendix references of sample criteria, forms and documents. To reiterate, this section is not intended to provide comprehensive, detailed site or facility planning information. It is intended to assure a sound process is followed.
376
Part II is devoted to the principal support provisions and is intended to give all members of a planning team a better understanding of the importance of such facilities and systems in the planning process. Subjects covered include circulation, lighting and water systems, wastewater and solid waste systems, and health, safety and emergency provisions. These subjects tend to be less familiar to park and recreation students and practitioners, and the author has gone into more detail than found in Part I. Very specific ratios, dimensions, and standards are provided - which makes the book an especially good reference for practitioners and consultants. It is an outstanding current guide to these critical and so often overlooked support facilities and systems, and can help the administrator avoid mistakes in the early planning stages. However, it does not, and I’m sure was not intended to replace the appropriate engineering or planning disciplines necessary to complete final plans and specifications for such systems. Three subject areas that logically could have been covered in greater detail in the book come to mind. There is little mention of Park patron safety relating to criminal activity and deviant behavior. Such activity can be reduced or minimized by following certain design guidelines. Secondly, the principal of accessibility by the handicapped does not come across firmly as a major design consideration. And finally, the section on water supply covers only domestic use and omits discussion of irrigation systems that are essential for parks in many climates - and for golf courses everywhere. The reviewer has not had the recent experience of pricing textbooks in today’s market, but the quoted price of $23.00 seems high - at least for student purchase. To conclude on a positive note, I believe the author has presented a unique combination of park planning principles and supportive elements that is a major contribution to the park and recreation literature. The book is well organized with a summary, glossary, and bibliography at the end of each chapter, and is a must for park and recreation educators, students, practitioners, and consultants alike. ROBERT D. BUECHNER (Bowie, Md., U.S.A.)
ALLOCATION
OF LAND
AND WATER
USE
The Coastal Zone of Delaware -A Method for the Allocation of Land and Water Uses.. J. Tourbier, R.W. Pierson Jr., S. McKenzie, R. Westmacott, R. Wilson, M. Gross and E.W. Furia. Centre for Ecological Research in Planning and Design, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa, 1976, 24 pp., 23 figures, 3 plates, bibliography, $4.00. The precise
origin of this report is not stated,
but it appears that, either