Activity 2-5: Learn the Park's Human Story


Motivation
While the appeal of parks is that they are primarily populated by more-than-human beings, parks are still a human construct. Behind every park is a multitude of people who helped to inspire, design, create, and care for it. Often, these people were and are motivated by the same desire that underlies this practice, to help people connect to their ecosystems. Discovering the stories of the people that made the park can help you connect with them and see the park as a vital part of the community. Learning about those who have cared for the park in the past can inspire gratitude for their work and a drive to continue their legacy.
A plan-style map with a symbol on each tree indicating when it was planted.
Map of Horton Park showing planting dates of the trees. Map by Tracy Kugler.
Learn more about this map on the Moments in the Park Awareness page.
Things to Try
If you've always wanted to be a detective, this is your chance! The stories behind parks are often not well known, and you will need to follow a variety of leads to uncover your park's story. You should be able to find some initial clues online. After that, you may find yourself digging into old editions of local newspapers, perusing planning documents, or having conversations with landscape architects, arborists, or volunteers.
Printable Worksheet
Origins
Parks don't appear by accident. At some point, someone decided to set the land aside from development or convert it from a previous use. Typically, parks are established by city governments, but businesses or other organizations may be involved. The park may have signs that provide some clues about when and why the park was established. If not, your city's Parks and Recreation department website is a good place to start. Some questions to consider: 
  • When was the park established?
  • Who was involved?
  • Does it serve a particular purpose? 
  • Why was this site chosen?
  • How did the park get its name?
  • What other development was happening in the area at the time?
Evolution
Chances are that the park looks significantly different now than it did ten or fifteen years ago. The older the park is, the more versions of the park you are likely to find. Changes could include structures being built or removed, gardens being added or redesigned, trees being planted and replaced, or even sections of parkland being added or removed. Once again, behind each significant change lies a story about who decided to make the change and why. These stories may reflect a variety of community organizations who are interested in promoting particular uses of the park. Even in between major changes, you may find individuals and groups who have helped to maintain the park.
  • How has the park changed?
  • Have there been significant additions, modifications, or redesigns?
  • What aspects of the park have these changes highlighted?
  • How has the community cared for the park?
  • How has the area around the park changed? How have those changes influenced or been influenced by the park?
Community Interaction
Parks are dynamic, living places, and your park's story is ongoing. Even as the community shapes the park, the park affects the community by providing a place for people to connect with each other and with the more-than-human world. The park may be a place for recreation, celebration, and education. People may visit the park to walk their dogs, play with their children, or picnic with friends. For larger groups, the park may host sporting events, provide outdoor learning space for a nearby school, or come alive with music or art. In support of all these activities, people in the community continue to care for the park.
  • What activities do people enjoy in the park, either organized or on their own?
  • Does the park serve particular groups?
  • What community events are held in the park?
  • How is the community caring for the park? Are there clean up parties? A friends of the park group? Individuals weeding or picking up litter?
Resources

Horton Park is a focal point for community - After learning the stories behind my own neighborhood park, I wrote this article for the neighborhood newspaper. I got the first glimpses into the story from a plaque in the middle of the park describing a public-private partnership that established the "mini-arboretum" aspect of the park. I also happened to have a personal connection with the landscape architect who had designed the original arboretum plantings. He helped me track down planning documents and connected me to the city forester who cares for the trees today. Along the way, I also talked to volunteers who helped establish wildflower gardens (and who shared their informal archive of meeting notes) and teachers at the school across the street who guide science, art, and other activities in the park.

The sources of information that help you piece together your park's story will be as unique as the park itself. 
  • ​Your city's Parks & Recreation website - Google "parks" and the name of your city to find the department's home page. You may find a profile of your park, which could provide clues of other sources to investigate. You can also find contact information for city staff who design and care for the park.
  • Neighborhood newspapers - If your city or neighborhood newspaper has a searchable archive, search for the name of your park. You may find stories about significant changes to the park or news about community events happening there.
  • Conversations - As you find leads, reach out to people who have played roles in shaping the park. Most will be more than happy to share their part of the story, and many will have additional resources to share. You might also connect with people in nearby organizations that host events or otherwise bring people to the park. 
Suggested Reading

Braiding Sweetgrass chapter: "Burning Cascade Head" - Cascade Head, on the Oregon coast, has been shaped, in part, by ceremonies held by Indigenous peoples to welcome the salmon runs back to the river. The ceremonies are intimately tied to the place, and to the cycles of life that flow through it. In fact, the ceremonies themselves became part of those cycles, supporting the needs of the salmon even as the salmon fed the people. What ecological cycles in the land around your park might form the basis of "ceremonies of practical reverence" that enable the human community to honor and participate in the cycle?
A wind-toppled cherry has clung to life long enough to be granted a second chance, righted and tethered back to its earthy home.

July 22, 2016 ~ Horton Park