Leave the palm trees alone!

Palm trees get a bum wrap these days. People say they don't provide shade, they aren't native to Los Angeles, they use too much water etc. But I think palm trees can sometimes play a role in defining public space and the "outdoor room" on the street and they make good accent trees. And certain types of palms, when clustered together can provide a decent amount of shade. In the example below the enclosed mall does not front on (or interact with) the sidewalk. The palm trees on this block help to make up for that lack of building frontage and provide a comforting sense of enclosure for pedestrians. They also add height and visual interest. It would of course be better if the building opened to the the sidewalk rather than relying on a landscaping band-aid. (Side note: That bus stop blocks the entire sidewalk and should be moved a few feet into the landscaped area.)

Pop Up Parks

Or is it pocket park? Pop up pocket park? Tactical urbanism? Whatever you call it, installations like this one in downtown Los Angeles are intended to reclaim the street for public space with little financial investment. Some complain that the temporary nature of these interventions and do not create any lasting impact, but their benefit is that they encourage people to imagine the ways in which their neighborhoods could be different and how they can make better use of public space. That is a good thing. This installation temporarily removes some on street parking. It doesn't have to eliminate parking on the entire block and it doesn't eliminate cars entirely. It just puts cars in their place and reduces their dominance. Not sure how I feel about the stationary bikes though. Maybe a little too cute.

Persian Square Possibilities

There is an intersection in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles that was designated "Persian Square" a few years ago. Immediately across the street is a 7-Eleven with a surface parking lot.  Wouldn't it be incredible if the very large Persian community got together to purchase that parcel and build a small park on it? A place for a statue, trees, and a water feature and some benches.  It could be a community asset rather than an eye sore. 

Urban Open Space

This is picture of "Lake Elizabeth" in Allegheny Commons Park on Pittsburgh's North side. The downtown Pittsburgh skyline is in the background. This is a beautiful bit of open space in an area of the city that has seen a good deal of improvement in the past decade or so. This space is an urban respite, but the view connects you to the city. This is an incredible community asset. It it vitally important that cities preserve places like this and create them in existing neighborhoods where it is possible.

Beverly Hills

"Beverly Canon Gardens." Part of the Montage Hotel development in Beverly Hills. A public park (built over a public parking garage) that is sometimes closed for private events. A lovely spot. A public amenity the was built as part of a private development. (But it doesn't make up for the fact that BH is fighting the subway extension as well ad bike lanes on Santa Monica, and dedicated bus lanes on Wilshire.)

Regional Gathering Places

Planners often talk about designing places in cities where people can see and be seen. Places for chance encounters with strangers where conversations. Sidewalks, small pocket parks, outdoor cafés, public plazas and squares. A place like the Hollywood Bowl is a gathering space on a large scale. In the case of the Bowl, it takes advantage of pleasant climate, music, food, and wine. Folks picnic all over the grounds before concerts and carry the fun into the Bowl. Planners often talk about the small scale pedestrian stuff as a place for chance encounters and opportunities to people watch. These are what might be known as "unprogrammed," but a programmed space like this offers just as many opportunities for interaction and chance encounters with strangers and because you attending a live musical performance you are likely to meet someone who shares similar tastes and interest. Someone from West LA makes a friend from Arcadia, etc. 

No Trespassing in the Public Right of Way

Welcome to downtown.