Park Infrastructure
Sometimes you can choose the perfect park or public space to suit a project’s needs. Alternatively, you may be designing your project for a specific park. No matter what, working outside has its challenges. Here are some important things to think about when planning a community-engaged project in a park or public space.
1. Permits
Rules and regulations related to park use are governed at the local level. Each city, town and/or Band office will have their own procedures, including issuing permits to individuals or groups. Connect with your local governing body, city councillor or town hall to find out more about how parks can be accessed in your area.
2. Bathrooms
Bathrooms are a necessity. But that’s not the end of the story. Further questions to think about include: Are the park bathrooms open during your project times? Are they wheelchair accessible? Are they near your activity zone in the park? Will participants feel safe using them? Renting portable toilets may be necessary in some cases.
3. Weather
When you are planning to work outdoors, it is crucial to think about the range of potential weather conditions and how you’ll respond. How will you protect participants from the hot sun? From rain? If it begins to rain in the midst of a workshop or event, what will you do? Wind is also important to think about and often neglected as a consideration. When assessing your site, consider natural and built windguards or how you might make some. Think of ways you could prevent materials from blowing away. MABELLEarts has used tarps, a trailer, tents and more to provide shelter for participants in their park-based projects. We develop weather strategies that outline what we’ll do if there is a change in the weather
4. Food
Preparing food outdoors is its own logistical challenge. If the park you are working in has an outdoor fire pit or bake oven, this can become an essential part of your project. If not, you may consider bringing pre-made food to the park. Either way, food is absolutely necessary to community events. It will draw participants and allow them to participate for longer and socialize. MABELLEarts has incorporated food preparation and meals into its community activities, to the extent that they’ve become central to our art practice.
It’s important to consider safety when offering food. Some park systems have detailed rules and regulations regarding serving food that are important to follow. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by food service but in the end, most regulations come down to common sense and can be met through forethought and planning. If you’re concerned consider connecting with a Municipal Food Safety Inspector (if you can access one) who can show you how to meet each regulation. In Toronto, a Food Handlers Certificate is granted to cooks who have successfully completed the food handlers course. It’s worth checking to see if similar programs are available in your area. When serving food, it’s also important to consider the cultural and/or religious protocols of participants. It’s fun to think through how community members might get involved in food preparation and how different cultural backgrounds can be reflected in food service.
5. Water and electricity
Does your park have them? If not, how will you address it? MABELLEarts worked in the Mabelle Park for many years without electricity by consciously designing projects that didn’t require it. This way of working suited our aesthetic and aim to have many hands involved in building and making. Lack of water can be a bigger hurdle - in Broadacres Park we used large water cooler jugs and a camping water pump - which meant a lot of heavy lifting!
