Logan, Utah, March 5th, 2021
Dr. Keunhyun Park presented a talk at the TEDxUSU event on March 5th, 2021. He challenged the conventional paradigms of park development and urban planning, advocating for a reimagining of public spaces.
Critiquing the pervasive influence of 18th-century English landscape painting on contemporary park aesthetics, Dr. Park underscored the issues of high cost, unsustainable water usage, limited activities, and underutilization in conventional parks. Drawing on his research, he proposed that urban parks should aim for salience, intricacy, and accessibility, emphasizing the importance of distinctive features, rich user experiences, and easy accessibility in successful park designs.
As the COVID-19 pandemic renews interest in outdoor spaces, Dr. Park’s TED talk calls for public engagement and community participation to embrace innovative, sustainable, and inclusive park designs, challenging the prevailing norms and envisioning a future where parks truly enhance urban life.
The script of the TED talk can be accessed here.