Physical Planning Standards

for Open Spaces

Submitted by:
Capadiso, Ralfonzel
Chico, Carmina
Pastrana, Pilipina
Real, Rachelle G.

B.S. ARCH V-3D

Submitted to:
Archt. Rey S. Gabitan
Classification
 The following classification is recommended in planning
open spaces:
• SEPARATORS AND BUFFERS
 Those are linear open spaces which are used for movement to
separate incompatible elements or uses to control pollution or
nuisance and for reasons of identifying and defining development
areas.
1. Corridor separators- green strips on right of way of highways.


•



PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS
 These may range from neighborhood to municipal or city
park which cater to the recreational needs of the residents of the
community.
 The types are:
 a.) Playlot - The playlot serves pre-school children from 5 years old and
under. It is usually developed as part of a playground in one corner or
adjacent to residential blocks (250 meters. away) for management
and supervision for backyard playgrounds in high- density areas. Its
size depends upon the available open space and the number of
prospective users. Facilities for playlots include slides, seesaws,
swings and climbing apparatuses. Other important features are grass
plots, land squares, paved walks and benches.

 b.) Playground - This serves all ages and family groups but primarily
centering around children from 5-15 years old. It usually contains a
neighborhood park for passive recreation for all ages, a play lot and a
center for special events like festivals, holidays, celebrations and
community affairs. Preferred locations are at the center of the
neighborhood or adjacent to the elementary school. Children must
not across major streets nor be exposed to hazards in their
movements from home to playground or from school to playground.
Playground facilities include a park area for sitting, play courts, open
spaces for informal play, recreational hall, a landscapes buffer to
protect the neighborhood from playground noise and sufficient
lighting for evening use.


 c.) Neighborhood Park - This provides a passive recreation area within

walking distance from homes. Its area requirement could be based
from the NHA’s prescription for open spaces in residential
subdivision. Its target population covers all ages particularly parents
and children and as such, must have facilities both for passive and
active recreation (thus, its proximity to playground is preferred).
 d.) Community Park - As with neighborhood park, community park
serves the recreational needs of either the city or municipality and
may consist of squares, play courts, gardens, lagoons, and
recreational hall. Its location must be central to the community and
preferably complementing the town’s civic and commercial center.


 e.) Playfield/ Athletic Field - This provides for active organized sports
for youth and adults from 15 years old and above including family
groups. Ideal location is an area adjacent to high schools, convenient
to public transportation and at least 0.50 to 1 kilometer away from
residential areas. Serving a population of 15,000, its facilities and
equipment include a children’s playground, play courts, tract and
field for men’s or women’s sports, swimming pool and area for lawn
games. Special features are landscaped areas, parking lots, night
lighting, toilet and bath.

Preservation/ Restoration Areas
These areas are categorized into:
1. Natural Environment Areas – natural, undisturbed, and scenic
areas suitable for recreation, scientific and ecological
significance consisting of forest, water resources and other land
forms. Development emphasizes preservation of natural features
in their natural state.
2. Historical and Cultural Sites – Although these artefacts do not
provide recreational opportunities in the sense, they are closely
associated with education and travel. Conservation/restoration
works are the primary objectives, aside from protection of sites
from deterioration, overuse and neglect. These artefacts may
consist of religious and governmental buildings, palaces and
fortresses and other landmarks such as towers and monuments
and statues.





FUNCTION OF PARK AND OPEN SPACE



SYSTEM


 Park and open space lands contribute to the health and safety of
a community in many ways. A generous provision of open spaces in urban
area contributes to a psycho-socio “balance” of the urban population.
 Properly located, they can control flood damage, help preserve
surface water quality, replenish ground water supply, reduce air pollution,
and preserve high value crop lands, maintain a buffer between conflicting
land uses and beautify the community.
 Park and open space lands are also an economic asset to a
community. They are important factors in attracting new industry and
commerce to a community, or in encouraging its expansion. Studies tend
to show that recreation and leisure facilities of a community are
important considerations in business location decisions.
 Finally, a park and open system affects the growth and form of
the city, and does much towards determining whether the city is an
attractive or unattractive place to live in.



SITE SELECTION
 The site selection of sites for preservation as open space or
development as recreation has to consider these factors:


• Topography
 The land topography has to be in accord with the facilities
proposed. There should be no special drainage problem nor should it
require extensive levelling. Sites should take advantage of any natural
features which can act as buffer between active recreation areas and
surrounding development. Parks should utilize unusual features such
as waterfalls, cliffs, streams, valleys and other irregularities of
topography.
• Size and Shape
 The proposed site should be adequate in size and suitable in
shape to house all facilities and equipment needed to carry out the
propose program and to provide a separation between areas for
different age groups. Ample space in active recreation areas also
provides a buffer between the areas and the surrounding residential
sections.

 • Acquisition Costs and Extent of Demolition
 Land with the lowest possible land costs should be chosen.
Sites to be acquired should entail the least possible demolition of
buildings and dislocation of families.


 Once an area is designated an open space for development or

preservation, the type of development (play lot, park, playground or
reservation) will depend on the following factors:
 a.) Land valuation
 b.) Accessibility to target population
 c.) Socio-economic characteristics
 d.) Taste and preferences of residents
 e.) Design, safety and aesthetic standards



Planning Principles
 The principles applicable to parks and open space planning
for a community are:
1. The type of park and open space facilities must be scaled to the needs
of the area and population served both present and future.
2. In planning for parks and open space particular attention must be
given to linking the community’s high and low areas so as to
preserve and enhance the community’s water resources to
prevent flooding and avoid drainage problems.
3. The various types of park facilities must be available and reasonably
accessible to all social and economic groups and geographic
areas of the community.
4. Acquisition of parks and open space land must occur in advance of
development to provide for reasonable acquisition cost and
facilities site planning for development. Means of reserving
lands for future open space requirements for controlling and
enhancing urban development must be explore to ensure least
cost to the public.
5.
6.

5. Particular attention must be accorded to coordinating the land
acquisition, land use control and planning programs of all
national, regional and local agencies concerned parks and
conservation.
6. Parks and recreational areas must be integrated with the town center
and the school playground for optimum use.
7. Preservation of natural waterways, watershed areas and natural
features for the maintenance of wildlife and marine habitats; its
protection from pollution and; provision of access for the public
must be given special attention.
8. Park and open space plans must reflect the community’s financial
program, but flexible enough to take advantage of any financial
opportunities that may occur.

Accessibility
 Consideration must be given to population density and the
availability of public transportation in the location of new facilities. The
acquisition of large tracks in far flung areas will not meet the recreation
needs of the great majority of cities. One half hour driving time to reach a
major recreation or open space area is good accessibility standard. This
should be closer for neighborhood and community parks/playgrounds.


Parking
It is open desirable in large recreation centers and parks to
construct parking areas in general location near the facilities which have
the highest concentration of users. This will also make it easier to blend
the parking areas into the landscape. Where possible, parking areas
should be designed so as not to interface with normal pedestrian use of
the area. In the case of large parking areas, it is necessary to make a
study of the traffic pattern in the vicinity in order to facilitate the
movement of the traffic to and from the parking area.
 Table I
ACTIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION
Type Ages Desired Optimum Population Maximum Ideal Location Facilities Other Features
Served Usable Size Size Ratio Walking
Distance

Neighborhood 3 years 232-464 sq. None 60-80 m. Within the same Slides, swings, Grass plots for
Playlot old below m. block, central to seesaws, climbing games, paved
the residential apparatus, tunnels. walks for
area wheeled toys,
benches for
guardians
keeping watch.

Neighborhood 5-15 1-2 has. 1-2 has. 0.5 has./ 1000 0.8 km. Separate block Park for benches, Multi-purpose
Playlot population must not require tables for snacks, hall.
children to cross and games. Open Landscaped
major streets or spaces for informal buffer strip.
meet hazardous games: tennis courts, Drinking
conditions. softball fields, fountains.
basketball/ volleyball Sufficient
courts, quiet game lighting for night
area. time use.
Playfield 16-24 4-8 has. 6-10 has. Minimum of 0.5 1-15 km. Adjoining Children’s Landscaped
years and has. Per 1000 residential area, playground, games, areas, parking
above population may serve as courts, ball fields, lots, night
(includes buffer between swimming pools. lighting, comfort
family residences and Area for lawn games. rooms, shower/
groups) industry, Track. locker/ dressing
convenient to rooms.
public
transportation;
more effective if
combined with
high school.
 Table II
PASSIVE/ ACTIVE OUTDOOR RECREATION
Type Groups Ages Desired Optimum Population Service Radius/ Ideal Location Facilities Other Features
Served Usable Size Size Served Travel Distance

Neighborhood All ages 3-5 has. 4-6 has. Serves a 0.4 km. Separate open Outdoor pool Off-street Parking.
Park population of space or athletic field game Buffer strip.
2,000-5,000 incorporated as areas Landscaping.
part of Lawns

playground, Trees and

part of shrubbery
elementary Benches

school. walks

Neighborhood Youth & Adult 0.4 has. 1-2 has. 20,000 0.25-0.50 has. Within Game room for
Recreation population Elementary active games
Center School grounds Pingipong
Billiards

Bowling

Reading room for

meetings and
workshop
Social room for

neighborhood get-
togethers
 Table II (Con’t)
Type Groups Ages Desired Usable Optimum Size Population Service Ideal Location Facilities Other Features
Served Size Served Radius/ Travel
Distance

Community All ages 6 has. 16 has. Between 15,000 0.8-16 km. 2.4 Centrally Athletic field, Recreation
Park neighborhood & 35,000 75,000 km. in cities located in or Children’s Building at least
groups in large cities part of school playground, 2,322 sq. m. if
large cities tennis court, not part of
open game school building.
areas, indoor or Parking area,
outdoor pool landscaping,
buffer stris.

Community Year round 0.5 has. 1.5 has. 4-5 0.5 km. travel Near high Gymnasium Active game
Recreation diversified neighborhood of distance or 20- school or within with bleachers, rooms for
Center activities for all 20,000 30 min. by playfield area showers, billiards,
ages and population private or public lockers and bowling, ping
interest groups transportation dressing rooms, pong. Reading,
of the auditorium with music room,
community stage, social snack counter,
room for others.
meetings,
gatherings and
parties
 Table III

STANDARDS FOR RECREATION ACTIVITIES

Types of Activity Space Requirements for Activity Ideal Size of Space Required for Recreational Area Within Activity
per Population Activity may be Located
Active Recreation

Children’s Play Area

 0.2 has. /1000 population 0.4 has. Playground-Neighborhood Parks,
(within equipment) community parks, school
playgrounds
2) Field Play Areas for Young 0.6 has. /1000 population 1.2 has. - do -
Children
3) Older Children-Adult Field 0.6 has. /1000 population 6.1 has. Playfield-Community Park District
Sports Activities Park
4) Tennis-Outdoor Basketball 0.4 has. /5000 population 0.8 has. Playfield-Community Park
and other Court Sports
5) Swimming 1 outdoor pool /2,500 Competition size and wading pool - do -

6) Major Boating Activities 40.5 has. /50,000 40.5 has. and over District Park-Regional Park and
Reservation
7) Hiking-Camping-Horseback 4.0 has. /1000 population 202-404 hectares Community Park-District Park
Riding-Nature Study
8) Golfing 1-18 hole course per 50,000 48.0 has. Large District Park-Regional Park
population

Passive Recreation
 Picnicking 1.6 has. /1000 population varies All Parks
 Table III (Con’t)
Types of Activity Space Requirements for Activity Ideal Size of Space Required for Recreational Area Within Activity
per Population Activity may be Located

 Passive Water Sports 1 lake or lagoon per 25,000 Community Park Special Regional
population Reservation

Zoos, Arboretums
 0.4 has. /1000 population 40.50 hectares Large District Park of Special
Botanical Gardens Facility

Other

 Parking at Recreational areas 0.4 has. /1000 population varies Playfields, Community District and
Regional Park

 Indoor Recreation Center 0.4 has. /1000 population 4-8 hectares Community Park

 Outdoor, Theaters, Band Shells 0.4 has. /25000 population 2 hectares District Park