Has anybody seen Food Inc? That poses many reasons why we need to try and grow our own produce or at least buy local produce and meats. I guarantee that after watching it you will not want to eat Tyson or any other Big name chicken brands. Etc.
I’ve always thought that the Public Parks Movement was such a wonderful revolution as a model to how we function within our communities. And basically The City Park Movement started with cemeteries. People began to flock to cemeteries on Sundays to enjoy a nice walk outside, etc. This was already a great example of people taking advantage of the land that was already within the city. It was a sign that maybe something like a cemetery was needed in cities for people to come and gather. There is a cemetery by my house that was and still is actually used frequently by people just to walk or bike through. Why Not? I’ve even heard of people sledding or having movie nights (with big projector screens and people sitting in lawn chairs) in Cemeteries. From the past to present, cemeteries have been a great adaptive reuse subject that we can always look to as a great, sustainable planning model.
I agree with all that Jackie had to say about town zoning and how that has affected the way our towns and cities are set up. I would LOVE to see more places like Burlington, VT where there are dense, multi-use down towns where people can live, work, and play all in one place. Wouldn’t you love to be able to walk out of your apartment, down the stairs to the first floor, and be able to buy a cup of coffee and a croissant? Then perhaps walk outside and enjoy a nice stroll down the block to the park? This is an image that we need to move towards. Away from what our zoning regulations have caused our communities for the most part to look like. where I live now, I have to get it my car and drive everywhere. There is no place for me to walk to. There’s no place for me to even ride my bike to because everything is situated so far away. How can that be sustainable? Sure, it may have made sense at one time to keep the retail with the retail and the residences with the residences but look where it got us now? This is far from sustainable.
I think that living on campus as a student is a great example of a sustainable planning model. You live in a dorm or apartment within walking distance to everything that you might need to live off of. Food, entertainment, classes, stores, medical resources, recreation… It’s fabulous! There is absolutely no need to own a car if you live on campus. I’m realizing, now that I live off campus, how valuable all of that was. Every single day I have to drive my car to get to campus. Every day. It’s more expensive, its not sustainable, and its a pain in the butt.
If only more towns were set up like college campuses.
East River State Park, Brooklyn, NY
