Great Design is a Walk in the Park

Great Design is a Walk in the Park

Next time you take a walk in the park, take a look around. Chances are you’ll notice some nicely designed signage offering directions or historical perspective. What you may not recognize is that in many cases, the entire park and the systems that make it function and keep it people friendly are also the work of talented, visionary designers.

When it comes to public spaces, designers have moved to the forefront, contributing not only the look and feel of the space but the very concept of the park itself. Manhattan’s High Line, the city’s popular green space built on repurposed elevated train tracks, was designed with the help of Paula Scher and the talented team at Pentagram. It has inspired similar projects in places like Miami, Austin, and Jackson, Mississippi. The latter city’s “Museum Trail” is among a number of projects currently finding support from Pete Buttiegieg’s Department of Transportation.

This marriage of designers and public spaces isn’t confined to the US. In fact, a new urban park project recently announced for London is being touted as “the UK’s own Highline.” It’s a trend that elevates the importance of design and designers and benefits people from all walks of life. You can read all about it here.