LDA 181L/Winter 2008

UCD/Mark Francis
A Typology of Urban Open Spaces
(Adapted from Carr , Francis, Ri!in and Carr, 1""2#
Type/Subtype of Open Space Characteristics
Public Parks

$%&!ic/Centra! $ark $%&!ic!' dee!oped and mana(ed open space as part of )oned open
space s'stem of cit'* open space of cit'+,ide importance* often
!ocated near center of cit'* often !ar(er t-an nei(-&or-ood park.
Do,nto,n $arks /reen parks ,it- (rass and trees !ocated in do,nto,n areas* can &e
traditiona!, -istoric parks or ne,!' dee!oped open spaces.
Commons A !ar(e (reen area dee!oped in o!der 0e, 1n(!and cities and to,ns*
once past%re area for common %se* no, %sed for for !eis%re
actiities.
0ei(-&or-ood $ark
2pen space dee!oped in residentia! enironments* p%&!ic!'
dee!oped and mana(ed as part of t-e )oned open space of cities, or
as part of ne, priate residentia! dee!opment* ma' inc!%de
p!a'(ro%nds, sport faci!ities, etc.
Mini/3estpocket $ark 4ma!! %r&an park &o%nded &' &%i!din(s* ma' inc!%de fo%ntain or
,ater feat%re
Squares and Plazas
Centra! 45%are 45%are or p!a)a* often part of -istoric dee!opment of cit' center*
ma' &e forma!!' p!anned or e6ist as a meetin( p!aces of streets*
fre5%ent!' p%&!ic!' dee!oped and mana(ed.
Meorials $%&!ic p!ace t-at memoria!i)es peop!e or eents of !oca! and nationa!
importance.
Markets
Farmers Markets 2pen space or streets %sed for Farmer7s Markets or F!ea Markets*
often temporar' or occ%r on!' d%rin( certain times in e6istin( space
s%c- as parks, do,nto,n streets or parkin( !ots.
1
Streets
$edestrian 4ide,a!ks $art of cities ,-ere peop!e moe on foot* most common!' a!on(
side,a!ks and pat-s, p!anned or fo%nd ,-ic- connect one destination
,it- anot-er.

$edestrian Ma!! 4treet c!osed to a%to traffic* pedestrian amenities proided s%c- as
&enc-es, p!antin(* often !ocated a!on( main street in do,nto,n area.
8ransit Ma!! Dee!opment of improed transit access to do,nto,n areas* re+
p!acement of traditiona! pedestrian ma!!s ,it- &%s and 9!i(-t rai!9
ma!!s.
8raffic Restricted
4treets
4treets %sed as p%&!ic open space* traffic and e-ic!e restriction can
inc!%de pedestrian improements and side,a!k ,idenin(, street tree
p!antin(.
8o,n 8rai!s Connect parts of cities t-ro%(- inte(rated %r&an trai!s* %se of streets
and open spaces p!anned as settin( for enironmenta! !earnin(* some
are desi(ned and marked trai!s.
Playgrounds
$!a'(ro%nd $!a' area !ocated in nei(-&or-ood* fre5%ent!' inc!%des traditiona!
p!a' e5%ipment s%c- as s!ides and s,in(s* sometimes inc!%de
amenities for ad%!ts s%c- as &enc-es* can a!so inc!%de innoatie
desi(ns s%c- as Adent%re $!a'(ro%nds
4c-oo!'ard 4c-oo!'ard as p!a' area* some dee!oped as p!ace for enironmenta!
!earnin( or as comm%nit' %se spaces.
Counity Open Spaces
Comm%nit' /arden/$ark 0ei(-&or-ood spaces desi(ned, dee!oped or mana(ed &' !oca!
residents on acant !and* ma' inc!%de ie,in( (ardens, p!a' areas,
and comm%nit' (ardens* often dee!oped on priate !and* not
officia!!' ie,ed as part of open space s'stem of cities* often
%!nera&!e to disp!acement &' ot-er %ses s%c- as -o%sin( and
commercia! dee!opment.
!reen"ays and #inear Park"ays :nterconnected recreationa! and nat%ra! areas connected &'
pedestrian and &ic'c!e pat-s.
Urban $ilderness Undee!oped or ,i!d nat%ra! areas in or near cities. 2ften pop%!ar
for -ikin(, do( ,a!kin( and recreation. Fre5%ent!' ino!es conf!icts
&et,een %sers and eco!o(ica! preseration/restoration.
2
Atriu/%ndoor/Marketplaces
Atri%m
:nterior priate space dee!oped as indoor atri%m space* an indoor,
!ocka&!e p!a)a or pedestrian street* co%nted &' man' cities as part of
open space s'stem* priate!' dee!oped and mana(ed as part of ne,
office or commercia! dee!opment.
Marketp!ace/
Do,nto,n 4-oppin( Center
:nterior, priate s-oppin( areas, %s%a!!' freestandin( or re-a&i!itation
of o!der &%i!din((s#* Ma' inc!%de &ot- interior and o%tdoor spaces*
sometimes ca!!ed ;Festia! marketp!aces<* priate!' dee!oped and
mana(ed as part of ne, office or commercia! dee!opment.
&ound/'eighborhood Spaces
1er'da' 4paces $%&!ic!' accessi&!e open p!aces s%c- as street corners, steps to
&%i!din(s, etc., ,-ic- peop!e c!aim and %se.
0ei(-&or-ood 4paces $%&!ic!' accessi&!e open space s%c- as street corners, !ots, etc. near
,-ere peop!e !ie* can a!so &e acant or %ndee!oped space !ocated
in nei(-&or-ood inc!%din( acant !ots and f%t%re &%i!din( sites* often
%sed &' c-i!dren and teena(ers, and !oca! residents.
$aterfronts
Waterfronts, =ar&ors,
>eac-es, Rierfronts, $iers,
Lakefronts
2pen space a!on( ,ater,a's in cities* increased p%&!ic access to
,aterfront areas* dee!opment of ,aterfront parks.
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