Bell Park is one of the few parks located in Sudbury that provides a suitable environment for people to practice different outdoor activities. Bell Park successfully provides a variety of unique experiences in a residential area that by attracting a gradient of people in different age groups is one of the major reasons behind its success[1]. The different activities such as walking, running, cycling, and other similar activities simultaneously take place without any disruption throughout the different paths and routes. When considering the personal space understanding, most people tend to use the slightly narrower pathway to walk or jog closer to the shoreline providing a strong visual connection and interaction with Ramsey Lake itself as well as the surrounding nature[2]. The use of orientation successfully emphasizes the visual connection towards the beautiful view of Ramsey lake making it a source of attraction[3]. The different seating areas are located along the park’s different pathways and are directly oriented towards Ramsey Lake. They are surrounded vegetation provides both prospect and refuge from the different weather conditions and creates a sense of privacy for its users. Based on the observations during different times of the day, people using the path would have nice and relaxing walks were seen mostly during the evenings[4]. The path from the mornings through afternoon would be used by our elders to jog and exercise[5]. During the afternoon, people were observed sitting on the grass for lunch or and using the path for a quick walk before getting back to work.

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  The seating arrangement plays an important role in the overall characteristics of the park and one important aspect of those arrangements is the seating orientation that showcases the beauty of Ramsey Lake. It provides refuge by allowing our elders to rest during their morning walks while retaining the view and interaction with the natural environment found bountiful in the park[6]. The seating arrangements that are mostly used are those which are covered and visually open to the surrounding environment, nurturing a connection with the local environment, and giving visitors a low risk opportunity to interact with strangers.

People were seen sitting and relaxing alone and in pairs. Seating arrangements that are too exposed were barely being used and people would often choose instead to sit on the grass beside or in front of them.  Figure 1.1 and figure 1.2[7] shows that people prefer to be more inclusive while sitting down in general because it brings comfort by having a semi-private space where they can have different personal conversation. These seats often choose durability over comfort and are all fixed offering little opportunity for control over their environment. They are for these reasons rather uncomfortable and at times neglectful of adjacency and adaptability[8].

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  The observation deck in the middle of the park, shown in figure 2.1, provides a platform displaying amazing views of Ramsey Lake. People would walk up to the deck and take pictures, adjacent to meditation, yoga practice, and some connecting with nature. One interaction I witnessed watching two girls come to take some pictures on. One of them climbed onto the railing to used it as a platform for the photo. This indicates the space being nurturing to opportunities for play. While unsafe, the act allowed them to frame nature behind the wooden railings to create what was likely an enticing image, used to represent the characters deep connection to nature and place.

While that was happening, an older gentleman came and rested his elbows onto the railing and just quietly watched the sunset while the two girls were being loud and playful indicating the social space does well to nurture public space.  A couple of minutes later a lady joined at the railing, laid out a yoga mat, lit her candle, and began to meditate entirely altering the atmosphere as shown in figure 2.2. This obviously affected two previously rambunctious young women who promptly left to return with yoga mats and joined in meditation promoting a behavior that enhances health and well-being which implements the social design principals[9].

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  Those series of occupations of space occurring during my short observation each had a different use for the exact space, revealing how nurturing the space is to a connection with nature, people, connectedness, mindfulness, specialness, and even homeliness as discussed by Jenny Donovon[10]. Another important aspect of the site is the exposed Cambrian Shield and the different ways people used, inhabit, and interact through these liminal spaces in Bell Park as shown in figure 3.0[11]. This kind of playful and engaging outdoor space provides high quality environment for younger children on which to play, run, or even eat on. A funny and wholesome moment occurred where a 12-year-old girl climbed onto one of the rocks, called her parents attention, and proclaimed ‘I’m an ASTRONAUT!’ and was acknowledged by the parents who were sitting on the rock with the mother’s head on the father’s shoulder, sitting by the water spending some quality time together.

 

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  In conclusion, Bell Park acts as a nurturing environment to many of the characteristics of a place to foster a thriving community, which can also be experienced in an infinite number of ways, adapted by those visiting this public space. From the early mornings, when the park serves as a quiet route for the elderly to exercise as shown in figure 4.1 to the afternoons, when it becomes a place for people to get together during lunch breaks to refresh and energize before returning to work. Into the evenings, when the park becomes a place where families and friends can connect and spend quality time together, sitting and playing on the rocks, watching the sun set, meditating, or strolling along the waterfront and clearing their mind as shown in figure 4.2. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Jan Gehl, “Life Between Buildings ,” in Public Spaces & Public Life Study: City of Adelaide 2011 (Copenhagen, Denmark: Ghel Architects ApS, 2011), pp. 19-21.

[2] Jenny Donovan, “Nurturing or Neglectful ,” in Designing the Compassionate City: Creating Places Where People Thrive (New York, NY: Routledge, 2018), p. 27.

 

[3] PROSPECT-REGUGE THEORY

http://people.sunyit.edu/~lepres/thesis/principles/193_pdfsam_POD.pdf

 

[4] Jan Gehl, “Life Between Buildings ,” in Public Spaces & Public Life Study: City of Adelaide 2011 (Copenhagen, Denmark: Ghel Architects ApS, 2011), pp. 19-21.

 

[5] Jan Gehl and Birgitte Svarre, “COUNTING, MAPPING, TRACKING AND OTHER TOOLS,” in How to Study Public Life (Washington: Island Press, 2013), pp. 22-23.

[6] Jan Gehl, “Life Between Buildings ,” in Public Spaces & Public Life Study: City of Adelaide 2011 (Copenhagen, Denmark: Ghel Architects ApS, 2011), pp. 19-21.

 

[7] PROSPECT-REGUGE THEORY

http://people.sunyit.edu/~lepres/thesis/principles/193_pdfsam_POD.pdf

 

[8] Jenny Donovan, “What Makes a Place Nurturing or Neglectful?,” in Designing the Compassionate City: Creating Places Where People Thrive (New York, NY: Routledge, 2018), p. 76.

[9] Paul Memmott and Cathy Keys, “Redefining Architecture to Accommodate Cultural Difference: Designing for Cultural Sustainability,” Architectural Science Review 58, no. 4 (2015): pp. 285-287, https://doi.org/10.1080/00038628.2015.1032210.

[10] Jenny Donovan, Designing the Compassionate City: Creating Places Where People Thrive (New York, NY, NY: Routledge, 2018).

[11] Jan Gehl, “Three Types of Outdoor Activities ,” in Public Spaces & Public Life Study: City of Adelaide 2011 (Copenhagen, Denmark: Ghel Architects ApS, 2011), pp. 9-11.