A Sense of Place in Douglas Park: Exploring Relationships between Public Life, Place Relations, and the Politics of Place in an Urban Park

Asha Kutty (University of North Carolina Greensboro)

This study was part of a longitudinal study of Douglas Park, a neighborhood Park in the first ward district of Columbia, MO. The study sought to employ interdisciplinary approaches to explore and evaluate public space and public health relationships in lower income minority neighborhoods such as Columbia’s First Ward district. In addition, the study hoped to challenge and inform top down models of public space planning and design that are currently being implemented by the City of Columbia in the Douglas Park.

The part of the study to be presented, is the second phase of a longitudinal study of activities, behaviors, emotional ties and overall neighborhood health as they relate to Douglas Park and the First Ward neighborhood. For the first phase, statistical data was collected on various types and intensities of activity (sedentary, moderate, or vigorous) within the park. During this first phase, patrons expressed resistance over the City of Columbia’s proposal to re-design and re-program the park. They also expressed a history of strained relationships between the park, its patrons, the neighborhood and the City. Their concerns highlighted the need for a grounded understanding of users’ perceptions and behaviors within the park, existing park design, and the need for more collaborative engagement between neighborhood residents and community planning groups. In order to better facilitate this, a second phase of the study was implemented, where qualitative data was collected on users’ social behaviors, the emotional relationships they have with Douglas Park, and the socio-political contexts under which those relationships have been formed. The presentation will summarize key findings of the study and ongoing developments between the park, the Frist Ward residents, and city planners.