RE-IMAGING JAYCEE PARK

Exercise 1:
Artifact / Context / Benefit Statement

Veronika Volkova

Master of Architecture

DCS 598 Design Research

Prof. Kenneth R. Brooks

September 1, 2016
 Re-imaging Jaycee park

Tempe is claimed to be one of the most livable North American college towns1 with a rapidly growing
student population. Arizona State University hosts more than 50 thousand students only at Tempe
campus and increases this number every decade2. The University contributes to the social, ethnic, and
cultural diversity of the town and invests money into developing its territory3. Despite this effort, the
urbanization of the town itself does not quite respond to those social changes yet. The Phoenix
metropolitan area, including Tempe, is often criticized for the homogenous urban environment and lack
of identity4. The most part of the town is built-up with alike residential blocks and can offer few
attractions that are unique for the place. Whenever you go in Tempe, except for a small number of unique
environments like the campus area, the space looks and feels very much the same.

The town authorities have recognized the situation and in 2013 they presented the City of Tempe
General Plan 2040 which was ratified by voters a year after5. The document promotes, among all, the
creation of urban activity centers in Tempe that would attract visitors with creative, energetic vibe6 and
contribute to the diversity of town neighborhoods. The plan specifically empathizes the importance of
park areas within the city that are viewed as both activity hubs and a part of Tempes pedestrian and
cycling infrastructures.

I propose a town park re-development project as an opportunity for research that would scrutinize the
principles advocated by the aforementioned document. Although there are some well-programmed green
zones in Tempe like the Beach Park, the potential of many others is unclaimed. In walking proximity to
the ASU campus there are several neighborhood parks of 5-13 ac: Clark, Mitchel and Jaycee parks just to

1
Kaila White, "No. 1 college town in U.S.? You don't have to drive far," August 5, 2016,
http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/tempe/2016/08/05/tempe-best-college-town-usa-livability/88302836/
2
The College Board, accessed September 1st, https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-university-search/arizona-
state-university
3
ASU Business & Finance, accessed September 1, 2016, https://cfo.asu.edu/campus-planning
4
National Research Council (US) Panel on New Research on Population and the Environment, "Population, Land
Use, and Environment: Research Directions," Barbara Entwisle and Paul C Stern, eds., Washington (DC):
National Academies Press (US), 2005, 7, "The Urban Ecology of Metropolitan Phoenix: A Laboratory for
Interdisciplinary Study," http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22960/
5
"City of Tempe General Plan 2040," Community Development Department, December 12, 2013,
http://www.tempe.gov/city-hall/community-development/general-plan-2040
6
Id. at 5, page i

1
name a few. All of them share similar planning traits and facilities and may become the key elements in
re-imaging the town of Tempe. I believe that redevelopment of any part of the city should be included in
a complex development strategy. However, because this strategy was already formulated in the General
Plan document, it is possible to focus on a specified object. I choose Jaycee park because it is the closest
one to my home and I know it better than the others.

The artifact of design is the territory of Jaycee park. It should be turned into a place that has a high level
of significance for the citizens and visitors of Tempe. The design or rather place-making - proposal
should take into account the general planning strategy for the neighborhood and its green zones, but treat
the chosen area in detail. It should synthesize different areas of knowledge including urban planning,
architecture and landscape architecture, ecology and social programming. However, the main focus
should be on the relationships between a person and a place.

The context of the project is social because it aims to create an engaging spatial experience for people. I
want to concentrate on three main aspects of this context: incentives that bring people to the park;
peoples connection to the place; and the diversity of a space and activities within it.

The success of the urban development project depends on how attractive it is to citizens. The research
should determine what encourages people to visit the park, spend time there and come back. What do
people seek there? How can a designer make the place equally attractive in different weather, different
seasons for various user groups? How can he or she make the engagement lasting when the novelty
vanishes? How can he or she turn the park into a meeting place for communities? How will those
incentives change in the future? If these questions are answered and the findings are implemented into
the design, then the development would be able to influence people as well as the urban fabric of Tempe,
hopefully in a positive and sustainable way.

Another aspect is the connection to the place that visitors may develop. If a person relates to his or her
environment, he or she values it more, takes care of it and promotes it to friends and family. The task
then is to forge this kind of relationship and to make a person identify themself with a place. That first
step towards this goal would be constructing a personality of a space that distinguishes it amongst
others. A park could be seen as a garden or a desert oasis. It also may appear a safe and quiet haven that
protects people from turmoil of their everyday lives. Conversely, it may have an image of a dynamic space
for self-expression and sharing of ideas. What would be the best choice for this specific place? What could
be its best offer for the residents of a relatively young urban environment many of whom come there from
all over the US or even the globe?

2
Diversity of and within the space is specifically important for Tempe, a city that seems to be built of
repeating patterns. It should answer the social diversity of the town with a spatial heterogeneity.
Currently the park territory is divided into several zones: the dog play area, the water splash pad, the
children playground, the grill area, the sports ground, the parking lot and the lawn with benches. The
zoning may seem relatively versatile, but in reality it does not contribute well to the diversification of user
experience. First, several parks in the area are zoned almost identically. Second, all parts of Jaycee park are
designed uniformly, regardless of their specific functions. Third, as I observed on daily basis, the three
main user groups in the park are dog owners, parents with kids and sports players. It should be mentioned
that I do not aim to create an all-inclusive place. Rather, I want Jaycee park to offer unique experience to
the already versatile population of the city.

The project will improve the quality of life of Tempe citizens. Local residents will receive a recreational
place where they can get engaged into different activities year-round. This would make them develop
good neighborly relationships, thus improving safety of the area7. The unique ambiance of the park would
attract visitors from the campus and other places. Consequentially the value of the land would increase
and bring along real estate and commercial development around the Jaycee park. I can envision this area
as a lively yet homely place where people would spend time happily and make bright memories of it.

7
It is important to address safety issues during the design process. Attracting many visitors from outside of the
surrounding residential area may increase crime rates. All design decisions should be evaluated in order to prevent
negative influence of the new development on the neighborhood.