LACK OF PROGRAMMING

While poor maintenance and design can serve to deter people
from visiting a park, a lack of programming fails to actively encourage
people to come and use a park. Organized events and activities can bring
in people that might otherwise stay away, and should thus be considered
an important aspect of park management. As the Urban Parks Institute
states, programmingis the "key to safer, more popular, and better funded
parks". In many case studies detailing instances of once unpopular
and/or dangerous parks being 'turned around', recreational programs and
social events are included as a noteworthy component of the recovery strategy. The rationale is that an abundance of positive energy and activity will keep out nuisance and criminal activities, as well as foster a new enthusiastic attitude towards the park. Once people associate a space with good experiences, they can begin to consider it a part of their community and be more apt to care for it and promote its benefits and uses. Jane Jacobs (who devoted a chapter of her renowned work, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, to urban parks) also notes the importance of programming. She conceptualizes it as creating 'demand goods' for parks that would otherwise be unremarkable - those that are not necessarily 'problem' parks, but are under-used due to a location that is out-of-the-way or unpopular.

Resources/Links:

Jane Jacobs. The Death and Life of Great American Cities. New York, 1961.

The role of programming in creating safer park -
http://pps.org/topics/parkuse/toronto_safety_5.adp
http://www.partnershipsforparks.org/resources/workshops/drive_out_negative_activity.html

Ideas for activities and events:
http://pps.org/topics/programs/