Park Design Guidelines for Delhi PDF

CITY LEVEL PROJECTS PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES Delhi  Delhi Urban Art Commission The Delhi Urban Art Commission was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1973 to “advise the Government of India in the matter of preserving, developing and maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban an...

CITY LEVEL PROJECTS PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES Delhi  Delhi Urban Art Commission The Delhi Urban Art Commission was set up by an Act of Parliament in 1973 to “advise the Government of India in the matter of preserving, developing and maintaining the aesthetic quality of urban and environmental design within Delhi and to provide advice and guidance to any local body in respect of any project of building operations or engineering operations or any development proposal which affects or is likely to affect the skyline or the aesthetic quality of the surroundings or any public amenity provided therein”. Delhi Urban Art Commission Prof. Dr. P.S.N. Rao Chairman Samir Mathur Member Abhimanyu Dalal Member Sonali Rastogi Member (till 02.07.2020) Kamran Rizvi Member & Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (w.e.f 2.01.2020) Ruby Kaushal Secretary (w.e.f 1.02.2019) Vinod Kumar Secretary (till 31.01.2019) Duac Staff Rajeev Kumar Gaur, Amit Mukherji, Manju Anjali, Siddharth Sagar, Neha Chauhan. DELHI URBAN ART COMMISSION with gratitude duly acknowledges the valuable contributions of the following in making this report: Organisations Senior Consultant S. C. Gupta Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs Delhi Development Authority Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi Consultants New Delhi Municipal Council Apoorva Jain North Delhi Municipal Corporation Joel Michael East Delhi Municipal Corporation Neha Chhabra South Delhi Municipal Corporation  Preface *DISCLAIMER* This report is for academic purposes only and has been prepared on the basis of information gathered from various sources, in cases without any independent verification. The report can be The city of Delhi, capital of this vast land of diversities, is a city laden with layers of history, adopted and utilized by any Government Authority/Local Body in the Country and is provided a place where civilizations have lived, prospered and perished over centuries. The modern free of cost. The report is not meant to derive any kind of gain, monetary or otherwise. city today, built over and around a rich tapestry of heritage, presents an opportunity at every Though all efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of the information in this report, the turn, to allow for co-existence of the past, present and the future. In order to understand this same should not be construed as a statement of law or used for any legal purposes. Delhi Urban multidimensional urban spectrum and attempt to plan the future, various city level studies have Art Commission (DUAC) accepts no responsibility in relation to the accuracy, completeness, been initiated by the DUAC. I hope that these studies will help the planners of modern day usefulness or otherwise, of the information contained in the publication. Stakeholders are advised Delhi to carefully articulate urban space, structure, form and environment and sensitively address to verify/check any information with the relevant Government Department(s) and/or other future requirements. source(s), and to obtain any appropriate advice before acting on the information provided in the report. I convey my thanks to all the Consultants and Members of the Commission who have tirelessly worked on this research project to bring out this document. I also take this opportunity to While adequate measures have been taken to acknowledge the source of the information used place on record my sincere appreciation of the efforts of Secretary and other staff of DUAC for in the report, the nature of the process and the diverse sources from which information is providing the necessary administrative support to make this happen. collected makes it difficult for the Commission to ascertain whether each piece of information/ data impinges upon any third party intellectual property rights. DUAC shall consequently not I fondly hope that the authorities of the local, state and national government take these studies be responsible for any inadvertent and / or bonafide omission of acknowledgement of source seriously and implement, in right earnest, the suggestions given herein. of information. December, 2020 In no event will the DUAC be liable for any expense, loss or damage including, without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any expense, loss or damage whatsoever arising out Sd/- of any person/ stakeholder using or implementing or relying on any information in this report. Prof.Dr.P.S.N.Rao Chairman, DUAC Foreword The role of Maidans, Ghats, Gardens and Vatika’s in traditional Indian literature and towns has been well documented. In many cases, these were restricted to certain groups. In the last century, the importance of parks as democratic and equitable open space serving the interests of ordinary citizens has been established. Parks and open spaces infuse life into the monotony of built urban form. Building a network of greens has multiple benefits and it enables urban revitalization and enhances walk-ability and helps to makes any city sustainable. Urban Parks are those living corridors, where people can socialize, interact, play and breathe. The current Master Plan for Delhi articulates this clearly. Parks in our city have not entirely fulfilled their raison d’etre due to various reasons including poor planning, design, and lack of safety, access and image ability. Most importantly, there is a lack of norms, guidelines and standards applicable to the quality of parks. Though the master Plan defines many scales of open space, it is silent on the distribution and qualitative aspects of parks. It was therefore envisioned to study the park development processes within Delhi, which would serve as a reference tool to guide planning, design, construction and maintenance professionals and field staff. The guidelines address different attributes of park design principles, to define basic attributes and their fulfillment in the layout and characteristics of Urban parks throughout the city and make them safe, inclusive for social activities and recreation. Sd/- Samir Mathur Member, DUAC December, 2020  3.12 Special Features 53 Contents 3.13 Lighting 55 3.14 Signage & Wayfinding 57 3.15 Fences/Walls/Screens/Deck& Boardwalks/Bridges/Retaining Walls 59 3.16 Public Art 60 3.17 Water Management 61 1 Introduction 13 4 1.1 Aim 14 1.2 Objective 14 Operation & Maintenance 65 1.3 Scope 14 4.1 Maintenance Funding 66 1.4 Methodology 15 4.2 Maintenance Planning 67 1.5 Structure 15 4.3 Public & Private Partnership 68 1.6 How to Adopt the Guidelines 15 4.4 Flexible Capital Expenditures for Pre-maintenance 69 1.7 Application 16 4.5 Public Awareness and Participation 70 4.6 Training Establishment 71 4.7 Public Health: Promotion & Management 72 2 Principles of Park Design 17 2.1 User Experience & Broad Appeal 18 2.2 Place-making & Design Identity 19 Annexure 2.3 Accessibility & Connectivity 19 Annexure 01: Terminologies & Definitions 74 2.4 Preservation & Aesthetics 20 Annexure 02: MPD 2021 79 2.5 Sustainability 21 Annexure 03: Regulatory Framework Bodies 88 2.6 Safety & Security 22 Annexure 04: Plant Material 90 2.7 Administration & Enforcement 22 Annexure 05: References 94 2.8 Operation & Maintenance 23 Annexure 06: Bibliography 99 2.9 Public Health 24 3 Park Attributes & Recommendations 25 3.1 Spatial Organization 26 3.2 Recreational Facilities 28 3.3 External Linkages 32 3.4 Access 34 3.5 Internal Circulation/Universal Access 35 3.6 Parking 38 3.7 Buildings/Amenities/Utility/Services/ Infrastructure 42 3.8 Shading & Shade Structures 44 3.9 Softscape - Horticulture & Planting Design 46 3.10 Hardscape 48 3.11 Furniture & Outdoor Equipments 50  1 INTRODUCTION This chapter explains the basic format of the design guidelines. It states the aim, lists down objectives and defines methodology and structure of the document. This format can be further used for planning and design a park at different stages, by respective authorities and professionals. INTRODUCTION 1.4 Methodology INTRODUCTION A park is an area of natural, semi-natural or planted space set aside for human enjoyment and recreation or for the protection of wildlife and natural habitats. It may consist of grassy areas, rocks soil and trees, and may also contain structures and other artifacts such as monuments, fountains or The process of formulating the guidelines is first established by doing case studies to understand playground structures. (Park, Wikipedia, 2019) activity pattern, user behaviour, ownership and participation, which leads to the identification of existing challenges with respect to context, spatial planning, operation & maintenance. This leads to According to the Master Plan of Delhi 2021 (MPD 2021), about 19% of Delhi Urban Area is earmarked the framing of design principles, which form the basis of attributes classification. These attributes are for parks, green belts and regional parks, collectively known as Green cover. There are more than further supported by planning norms and design standards. 18,000 parks and gardens in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD), covering about 8,000ha at various locations. This provides ample opportunity for the development of open areas. Case studies to understand activity pattern, user behaviour, CASE STUDY/ ownership and participation within parks and on its SURVEYS 1.1 Aim peripheries. This document is developed with an aim of defining, standardizing and improving the park development EXISTING Identification of areas of concern with respect to park process, and serve as a reference tool to guide professionals engaged in planning & designing of CHALLENGES planning, zoning of activities, individual elements, operation public parks within Delhi city. and maintenance in various parks of Delhi. 1.2 Objectives Identification of existing challenges forms the basis of DESIGN PRINCIPLES framing of Design Principles. i. To ensure that the layout and characteristics of parks, adequately support the active and passive needs of the city inhabitants. CLASSIFICATION OF Classification of Park elements or attributes on the basis of ii. To establish drawing standards and requirements to streamline the park design process and to ATTRIBUTES framed park design principles. facilitate communication. iii. To support the development of facilities and systems that are family-oriented, environmentally safe and secure and promote healthy growth.These facilities/systems shall be aesthetically pleasing, PLANNING & DESIGN Planning Norms and Design Standards listed down under functional in design and cost effective to operate. STANDARDS the different attributes of parks. iv. To improve the quality of parks by incorporating sustainable landscape strategies and urban design methodologies, thereby strengthening community cohesion. 1.5 Structure 1.3 Scope This document has been structured in the following chapters: Chapter 2.0: Defines nine number of principles which forms the basis of park design. i. The planning and design standards of Parks shall be formulated for the following levels (MPD): Neighbourhood Level: Chapter 3.0: Classifies the common elements of park elements as attributes on the basis of defined Neighbourhood Park design principles. Each attribute is further elaborated with the planning norms and standards. Housing area Park Tot Lot at Housing Cluster level Chapter 4.0: Categorizes operation and maintenance measures to ensure efficient operation, Sub-City Level: utilization and upkeep of parks. City Park District Park 1.6 How to Adopt the Guidelines Community Park ii. The guidelines primarily comprise of planning and design standards of different attributes for Stage 01 (Annexure 02) open spaces of different sizes as per MPD 2021 hierarchy levels. The site surroundings (context), area and its hierarchy level shall define the characteristics of the iii. The guidelines shall not cover standards for open areas under Green belt & Regional Park. park. The context (Residential, Commercial, Industrial or Recreational) and its hierarchy shall be iv. Permissible activities at various levels of open spaces shall be the same as provided in MPD 2021. identified by the location of the site and the landuse it falls under as per MPD 2021. 14 CITY LEVEL Project PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES 15 INTRODUCTION Stage 02 (Chapter 02) Principles of Park Design shall be referred to form the base of park design process. For new sites, all principles shall apply. For existing parks, issues shall be identified within the domain of the said principles. Stage 03 (Chapter 03) Depending on the location, size and hierarchy level of the park, attributes with recommended planning norms and design standards shall be considered. For existing parks, attributes shall be added or modified according to the identified issues. Stage 04 (Chapter 04) The Operation & Maintenance strategies defined in this document, shall be considered as per the requirements. 2 1.7 Application The guidelines intend to serve as a guide for the minimum quality standards for the redevelopment PRINCIPLES OF PARK DESIGN of existing parks and for future park developments. i. These guidelines (planning norms and design standards) shall be primarily applicable to parks The surveys and case studies of some of the developed parks within Delhi, brought light and gardens in the public domain. This includes new development and redevelopment projects on the existing challenges and issues. These challenges & issues were further studied to of Delhi. form the principles of park design, which have been detailed out in this chapter. These ii. As far as open spaces of a particular property in private domain are concerned, it shall be dealt principles shall be applied for different park attributes and their operation & maintenance in accordance with the Development Code of MPD 2021 (Chapter 17) and the Unified Building strategies. The applicability of these principles shall be further discussed in the following Bye-Laws (UBBL 2016) chapter. iii. The design standards shall be met in order to gain approval during the design review process. However, the guidelines allow enough flexibility for innovation. The request for a deviation from these standards must show that it will improve the park and meet the overall intent of the design guidelines. iv. These guidelines shall be reviewed every 2 years. 16 CITY LEVEL Project PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN 2.2 Placemaking and Design Identity PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN Unlike public and private built structures, parks of Delhi are unorganized. Besides, parks have not been maintained well enough and most lack basic requirements. Following are the basic principles of park design which, at present, also pose as the challenges for parks in Delhi. Park are planned to accommodate visually interesting zones that are multi- functional yet flexible enough. A unique identity of parks can 1. User Experience & Broad Appeal be achieved by following this uniform strategy along with the design 2. Placemaking & Design Identity standards. 3. Accessibility & Connectivity 4. Preservation & Aesthetics 2.2.1 Objectives 5. Ecological Issues i. Preservation of existing vistas, heritage and natural features. 6. Safety & Security ii. Lighting Design 7. Administration & Enforcement iii. Product/Furniture Design 8. Operation & Maintenance iv. Signage and Wayfinding Identity 9. Public Health v. Use of non-invasive species. vi. Planting to support regional identity. 2.1 User Experience and Broad Appeal vii. Careful selection of trees, plants, shrubs as per its adjacencies (path, buildings, wall etc) Parks are designed to provide a public space that is safe, comfortable, 2.2.2 Existing Condition and healthy. A place where diverse activities can be experienced by all, i. Little or no public participation.. contributing to people’s physical and mental wellness, and providing ii. Ignorance of sustainable design considerations. a high quality of life. iii. Lack of community support for changes and approvals. 2.1.1 Objectives i. Differently-abled friendly design. ii. Encourage Social Interaction iii. Ease of movement – shading, material selection, etc. iv. Amenities & Equipments- Seating, shaded structures, restroom, etc. v. Wayfinding & Signage. Fig 2.3: Random positioning and arrangement of park furniture. Fig 2.4: Kids play area placed behind seating area and closer to the (DUAC) park boundary, away from parents’ zone of vision. (DUAC) 2.3 Accessibility and Connectivity Interconnectivity of the zones within a park as well as access to external areas enhances the mobility of people by providing continuous and free movement of pedestrians, cyclists and other modes of transport. Fig 2.1: Park entry obstructed by various other activities. Fig 2.2: Lack of defined spaces and well designed spaces for varied (DUAC) groups of people to interact and socialize. (DUAC) 2.3.1 Objectives i. Connection between structures and zones. 2.1.2 Existing Condition ii. Pathway hierarchy for pedestrians and bicycles. i. Usage for multiple activities in an unorganized manner. iii. Planning for continuous green belts. ii. Lack of recreational activities for diverse groups of people. iv. Universal Access design. iii. Social Interaction within similar communities or groups without integration of all users. v. Operation and administration. iv. Lack of planning and design interventions for the differently-abled. 18 CITY LEVEL Project PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES 19 PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN Fig 2.7: Garbage disposal adjacent to parks without screening. Fig 2.8: Lack of preservation of structures of historic importance. (DUAC) (DUAC) Fig 2.5: Access to external areas obstructed by such activities. Fig 2.6: Seating areas secluded from other zones, within the park. (DUAC) (DUAC) 2.5 Sustainability 2.3.2 Existing Condition i. Obstructions while accessing public recreational facilities Anticipate changes at park sites and surrounding areas that may ii. Inaccessible or inconvenient ingress/egress points of parks. result from both natural and artificial cause. Determine strategies to iii. Step barriers in portions of site, indicating improper grading of site. mitigate and adapt to the affects of these changes while promoting iv. Discontinuous bicycle networks. and ensuring the long term resilience of parks and landscapes. v. Isolated greens providing no connection between green belts or blue belts. leading to decreased park vitality and eventually decreased usage of park. 2.5.1 Objectives vi. Bicycle and pedestrian conflict. i. Heat island mitigation and Microclimate enhancement. vii. Concept of pathway hierarchy not prevalent. ii. Water table restoration and Air quality improvement. viii. Disconnect of open spaces from bikeways and pedestrian networks. iii. Noise pollution and buffering. iv. Habitat preservation and Protection – hydrology, topographical features. 2.4 Preservation & Aesthetics v. Efficient utilization of materials. vi. Use of recycled materials. Community aesthetics take on an economic meaning, encouraging vii. Use of green certified items- furniture, plays equipment etc. local tourism and business recruitment. Efforts taken to enhance the viii. Provision of Composting pits. appearance of the community greens often yield additional benefits. 2.5.2 Existing Condition Restoring historic structures improves the appearance of the built i. Use of inappropriate plant material with respect to the climate. environment, adds to property values, is environmentally positive and ii. Insufficient ways of preserving habitat and archeological sites. iii. Park designs not integrated with utilities systems for efficient treatment and reuse. increases public awareness and appreciation of local history. iv. Insufficient water table restoration. (Board of County Commissioners,Missoula City, June 1998, p.83) v. Use of non-recyclable materials, most of which are harmful to nature. 2.4.1 Objectives i. Screening from undesired surroundings and utility areas (Energy Storage Systems, Sewage Treatment Plant, Trash yard, etc.). ii. Planting as per seasonal variations. iii. Building aesthetics and design considerations. iv. Preserving historic and natural elements to create identity and appeal. 2.4.2 Existing Conditions i. Absence of a Preservation & Protection Plan. 57,000 gal. 470 lbs. 80 hrs. 6,000 gal. 250 lbs. 15 hrs. WATER YARD WASTE MAINTENANCE WATER WASTE MAINTENANCE ii. Less awareness of natural, cultural, historical and environmental aspects of parks. Fig 2.9: Traditional Planting scheme. Fig 2.10: Sustainable planting scheme. iii. Exploitation of natural resources. (Garden/Garden: a comparison of native and traditional gardens in Santa Monica, 2013) (Garden/Garden: a comparison of native and traditional gardens in Santa Monica, 2013) 20 CITY LEVEL Project PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES 21 PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN 2.6 Safety and Security PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN 2.7.1 Objectives i. Action against vehicular encroachment. ‘Provide consideration to safety and security during the site planning ii. Provision of designated space for hawkers & vendors to avoid sale at improper and and design phase itself, by understanding and utilizing the appropriate unorganized spaces. and specific strategies’. (County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and iii. Restriction of construction of religious structures within park premises. Recreation Planning & Development Agency, June 2014, p.4) iv. Restriction of construction/installation of items by other authorities of the city. v. Execution of a proper administrative control and supervision plan. 2.6.1 Objectives i. Spatial organization 2.7.2 Existing Conditions ii. Planting strategy i. Vehicles parked on footpaths and approach access. iii. Lighting ii. Illegal Hawkers and vendors near periphery of parks iv. Fencing/ barriers iii. Construction of religious structures, utility structures, and other structures by various city v. Administrative control and maintenance authorities posing the issue. of lack of vacant land. vi. Safety standards – furniture, play equipment etc. iv. Poor supervision of parks. v. Lack of transparency and accountability in park ownership and maintenance. 2.6.2 Existing Conditions i. Remote Parks or remote areas inside parks. ii. Poorly lit stretches within parks and at park periphery. iii. Improper intersections of pedestrians and bicyclists. iv. Non-flexibility of spaces accommodating lesser variety of users. v. Insufficient supervision of Parks and activities.. Fig 2.13: Existence of religious structures. Fig 2.14: Encroachment by hawkers and vehicles along park (DUAC) periphery. (DUAC) 2.8 Operation and Maintenance Parks are to be developed through a cooperative effort of government and/or private stakeholders to ensure a high quality public space that all stakeholders will contribute to and enjoy. A definitive operations Fig 2.11: Dilapidated boundary walls and fencing without gates and Fig 2.12: No safety standards being followed for play equipments. defined approach. (DUAC) (DUAC) and maintenance programme is to be formulated and executed to ensure continued contribution to the identity and usability of the 2.7 Administration and Enforcement park. (Abu dhabi Urban Planning Council,2007, p.12) Administration, an important part of park management should 2.8.1 Objectives ensure the efficient use of park resources, and the enforcement of i. Secure, durable and sturdy installations and fixtures. the legal mandates must empower the functioning of the park by ii. Low-maintenance (drought-tolerant, long-life, etc.) planting scheme. defining the limits under which they must operate. iii. Material Selection to reduce repair and replacement costs. iv. Shielding of fixtures and equipment. v. Strategic positioning of elements (dustbins, signages, etc.). vi. Provision for Storage of maintenance equipment. 22 CITY LEVEL Project PARK DESIGN GUIDELINES 23 PRINCIPLEs OF PARK DESIGN vii. Cleanliness and hygiene. viii. Restriction of disturbing external factors. 2.8.2 Existing Conditions i. Lack of maintenance plan database for each park. ii. Lack of maintenance funds and financial planning or given least priority. iii. No collaboration between maintenance and design personnels. iv. Lack of specialized skilled personnels for maintenance procedures. 3 PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS Fig 2.15: Broken fences and dried up plants. Fig 2.16: Water features are non-functional as there is no water, (DUAC) which in turn affects the microclimate and increasing urban heat island effect. This chapter classifies the common elements of a park as attributes. Each attribute has (DUAC) been defined and assigned with respective planning norms & design standards. All 17 number of attributes with their norms and standards should be considered for the 2.9 Public Health designing of parks in synchronization with the other attributes. However, the amount of applicability will depend on the hierarchy level and the landuse the park falls under. Plan and design parks and landscapes to promote active fitness, improve air quality and microclimate, and enhance the health and wellbeing of park users. 2.9.1 Objectives i. Supplement activity with needed facilities for their effective utilization. ii. Encourage active recreation for a diversity of user groups. iii. Play opportunities for children that build coordination, flexibility, and strength. iv. Exercise opportunities for parents adjacent to or within playgrounds and sports fields. v. Incidental areas for stretching and strength building for adults, especially senior citizens. vi. Attractive areas for exercising, and group exercise classes. vii. Encourage passive recreation, include Walking trails & Nature trails. viii. Use materials that add value to the activity such as soft surfaces for running and exercising. Fig 2.17: Gym equipments installed in some parks of Delhi, but they Fig 2.18: Jogging tracks area available in most parks in Delhi, but are either not fully equipped or left unattended. they are uncomfortable to use and incomplete in most cases. (DUAC) (DUAC) 24 CITY LEVEL Project PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 Spatial Organization PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS hindering the view for potential observers. (County of Los Angeles : Department of Parks and Recreation Planning & Development Agency, June 2014, p.3-5) Lighting shall be designed to ensure all usable areas of the landscape are well lit and there are no dark spots in the landscape. 3.1.1 Definition Maintain clear sightlines to toilets, concession facilities and playgrounds. Spatial Organization refers to the relationship between activities and future expansion of opportunities ii. Natural Access Control: Design shall clearly differentiate between public space and private in both indoor and outdoor spaces of a park that encourages social interaction and user participation space by selectively placing entrances and exits, fencing, lighting and other elements to limit to form a cohesive site design. access or control the flow, for example, using a single, clearly identifiable point of entry. iii. Natural Territorial Reinforcement: Clearly delineate space to create a sense of ownership 3.1.2 Objective in that particular space which will make the potential offenders aware of a substantial risk To facilitate for flexibility of use, administrative visibility and control of the site while keeping the of scrutiny, hence make park users feel safe. following guidelines in mind. iv. Maintenance: Shall be treated as an expression of ownership of property. Deterioration indicates less control by intended users of a site and a greater tolerance for disorder. 3.1.3 Planning Norms Physical Access & Adjacency 3.1.4 Design Standards Physical Access gives consideration to safety, compatibility, privacy, concentration of activities, Physical Access & Adjacency ease of operations and administration. Locate restroom buildings within a 45 M radius of recreation fields and a 30 M radius of Activities shall be grouped to maximize children’s play areas. desirable effects (accessibility, control of Trash enclosures shall be placed at least 15 M away from all buildings. participants, multi-uses). Locate maintenance yards away from children’s play areas. RESIDENTIAL Activities shall be separated to minimize Screen maintenance yards from adjacent activities. STREET conflicts including noise and degree of RESIDENTIAL QUIET ZONE Locate parking facilities near major park site features to facilitate the park user. physical activity. Locate facilities that draw the largest number of users such as gymnasiums, recreational The placement of active and passive NOISE centres, and pool facilities near or within view of established public transit routes. spaces shall allow for simultaneous Locate services like storm water management, rain-water harvesting, etc. in no pedestrian/ COMMERCIAL occurrence of diverse activities. non-recreational areas. Consider all adjacencies when placing park Security and Safety features such as large group gatherings, Fig. 3.1: Acoustical consideration diagram (County of Los Angeles : Department of Parks and Recreation Planning & Development Agency, i. Natural Surveillance: pools, open gymnasiums, kid’s play area, June 2014) Place building windows overlooking sidewalks and parking lots. recreational activity zone, etc which are potential sources of disturbance to the surrounding Use shielded or cut-off luminaries to control glare. community, and measures to be taken for minimizing their impact on adjacent land uses. ii. Natural Access Control: Arrange activity areas to encourage casual interaction among users by introducing Use clearly identifiable points of entry. transitional areas for lounging and providing visual access. Use low, thorny bushes beneath ground level windows. Use visual access as a significant tool for administrative control. Eliminate design features that provide access to roofs or upper levels. iii. Natural Territorial Reinforcement: Security and Safety Display notice/signage of security system at park access points. i. Natural Surveillance: Placement of physical features and activities in such a way as to Place amenities such as seating elements/vending machines/food kiosks in common maximize visibility and foster positive social interaction among legitimate users of public areas to attract larger numbers of desired users. spaces. iv. Additional Security Features: Use passing vehicular traffic as a surveillance asset. All visual overlooks must have an open unobstructed view of the park. Provide surveillance through landscape design, especially in proximity to designated and Decorative window guards, such as ornamental bars, screening or panels are opportunistic points of entry. recommended for enhanced security that do not impede on passive surveillance. Ensure that potential problem areas are well-lit: pathways, steps, entrances/ exits, parking Security cameras must be installed at strategic locations for all parks. areas, kiosks, children’s play areas, recreation areas, pools, storage areas, etc. Use only openwork/transparent fencing and gates along corridors and trails to allow Avoid too-bright security lighting that creates blinding glare and/ or deep shadows, passive surveillance. Height of the fencing shall be minimum 1.2 M. 26 CITY LEVEL Project paRK DESIGN GUIDELINES 27 PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS Create an easy circuit through the playground and its main features for ease of mobility PASSIVE and manoeuvrability. PLAY & PICNIC Position seats to be accessible and close together for rest and social engagement. PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION In areas for smaller children, the number and location of exit points shall be limited so that ACTIVE they are easily monitored by parents and guardians. RECREATION FIELDS i. Spatial Considerations: CHILDREN’S Develop playgrounds that provide enhancement of children’s total developmental PLAY AREA GYM/ needs, including physical, social, creative, reflective and tactile experiences. RESTROOM/ OFFICE BUFFER Play areas shall be linked to open spaces and segregated by natural barriers or features from conflicting or incompatible uses like parking, waterbody, etc. SPORTS COURT Provide unobstructed lines of sight between separate play areas for ease of supervision.. Play areas shall include shaded seating (tree canopy/pavillion) for parental supervision.. Restrooms and drinking fountains must be in a clear line of sight from play areas. Design facilities must permit use by the physically differently-abled by providing ground play opportunities, transfer points to elevated play, and either ramp. PARKING LOT ii. Layout & Equipment: MAINTENANCE YARD Playground equipment and design shall meet respective safety standards. BUFFER As a rule, play equipment shall be from the standard manufacturers and play structure TRASH footings as per manufacturer’s details. ENCLOSURE STREET Play equipment design shall consider durability and the long-term maintenance Figure 3.2: Park Adjacency Compatibility Diagram requirements, as well as the potential for vandalism and graffiti. (County of Los Angeles : Department of Parks and Recreation Planning & Development Agency, June 2014, p.4) Alternative play equipment such as climbing boulders or concrete animal sculptures may be used. 3.2 Recreation Areas & Facilities (County of Los Angeles : Department of Parks and Recreation Planning & Development Agency, June 2014, p.19-36) Passive Recreational Areas Natural and naturalized areas may accommodate passive recreation activities such as 3.2.1 Definition picnic,biking, nature trails with interpretive signage and rest areas, or similar activities. Any activity area in the park, both active and passive, that are occupied and used by park visitors. i. Open Play Areas Active Recreational Area: To have an active and healthy lifestyle , sports activities and creative Where possible, passive open play areas shall remain unobstructed by trees, to support recreational amenities within a park are provided, such as playgrounds for all age groups with and activities such as throwing a ball, a frisbee, and/or flying kites. without equipments, as per the requirement.. ii. Picnic Areas Passive Recreational Area: An open, unobstructed area used for non-programmed recreation Provide a shade shelter for all group picnic areas. activities. Provide lighting within shade shelters. Provide security fencing around group picnic areas for rental purposes. 3.2.2 Objective Provide signs with picnic area name or number for identification and rental purposes. To recognize and be sensitive to the established surrounding conditions and to address potential conflicts with adjacent active/passive use areas. 3.2.4 Design Standards Active Recreational Areas 3.2.3 Planning Norms i. Spatial Considerations Active Recreational Areas Play areas should be sited considering safety in mind, for which a distance of 45m. Children’s play areas fall into two age group classifications: Pre-school age children of two should be maintained between play area and vehicular access areas or a 1.2m. high to five (2-5) years and school age children ages five to twelve (5-12) years. Each age group fence should be provided to prohibit children from running into vehicular traffic. category must have a distinctly different space with required separations. Maintain a distance of 30m. as a safety buffer from play fields/ courts or provide adequate Position imaginative and/or social play features to be properly accessible. fencing. 28 CITY LEVEL Project paRK DESIGN GUIDELINES 29 PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS Provide shade structures that are free-standing or attached to the play structures. Natural loose-fill surfaces such as play wood chips can seem messy to parents. Provide restrooms, within a distance of 30m. of play area. Bound rubber surfaces such as wet-pour can help introduce colour to a play space, and Drinking fountains shall be located at a minimum distance of 7.5m. from all play areas. perhaps markings for games. Wet pour can also be used to form mounds. ii. Layout & Equipment Grass shall be considered for surfacing in some situations, though high levels of usage Provide age designation signage at the entrance of each play area that states the age mean that it will be worn away, leaving bare soil, which may not be practical in all appropriateness of the play equipment and recommendations for adult supervision. situations. In very busy play areas, where space is tight, use sand or grit rather than trying Orient the swing area away from the active play area to avoid conflicts in play circulation. to maintain a grass surface. All proposed play equipment shall be installed for a minimum of 20 years. The design and equipment shall include a variety of play elements that encourage: Passive Recreational Areas Swinging, Spinning, Hand-over-hand and side-to-side climbing, Balance challenges, i. Open Play Areas Overhead activities, Sliding, Sensory development, Crawling, Imagination, Adventure. Locate passive open play areas adjacent to picnic and children’s play areas. iii. Surfacing Provide shade trees at the perimeter of open play areas. Selection of surfaces is an important issue and can, without careful consideration, use Provide regulatory signs that describe the permitted uses within open play areas. a significant proportion of the play space budget. The dominant factor in choosing Passive open play areas shall not slope greater than 5%. surfaces, at least around equipment, has been safety in the event of falls from a height. ii. Picnic Areas Impact absorbent surfacing is also often used as a general surface treatment around Small group picnic areas shall accommodate twenty-five to fifty (25-50) people. equipment to avoid the erosion and muddy patches. It also helps to maintain play Large group picnic areas shall accommodate fifty to one hundred (50-100) people. spaces in a usable condition all year round. Provide restrooms within 45M of group picnic areas. Choose the best surface for the activities planned – not always the cheapest or easiest Provide a minimum of 2 picnic tables per acre for each of the first 3 acres, then 1 picnic surface to maintain. A good choice of surfacing will add play value to a scheme. table per acre thereafter. Loose-fill surfaces such as sand and grit are high in play value but not for wheeled play. ACTIVITY AREA 3 3 2 2 ACTIVITY AREA ACTIVE RECREATIONAL AREA 1 ACTIVITY AREA 2 2 ACTIVITY AREA 2 ADMIN & MAINTENANCE/ PARKING RESTROOMS 3 TRASH YARD 3 3 Figure 3.4: Surfacing in Active Recreational Areas, Bauman’s Garden: playground. (The playground in Bauman’s Garden, Moscow, Russia, 2012) STREET 1. ACTIVE RECREATION / SPORTS AREA (Lawn Required) 2. PASSIVE RECREATION AREAS (Lawn typically required) Figure 3.3: Parkland Activities Use analysis example. 3. POTENTIAL PLANTED AREAS (Remaining non-pedestrian areas (County of Los Angeles : Department of Parks and Recreation Planning & Development Agency, June 2014, p.38) suitable for plantation) 30 CITY LEVEL Project paRK DESIGN GUIDELINES 31 PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS 3.3 External Linkages PARK ATTRIBUTES & RECOMMENDATIONS (Design Trust for Public Space, New York City Department of Parks & Recreation, 2010, pp.57-58) 3.3.1 Definition Connect to nearby green spaces such as green belts, waterways, and wildlife sanctuaries, to provide greater habitat connectivity, and watershed functionality. Connect to social networks as well, such as adjacent streetscapes, land uses, and character creating opportunities for synergy with existing activities, commercial areas and special needs populations. NARELA 3.3.2 Objective Connect parks to other circulation routes, ecological areas and social systems to increase the vitality RIVE and functionality of all. Connected areas of natural vegetation will improve habitat quality and transfer R YA of native vegetation. Connected parks provide more opportunity for neighborhoods to share CENTRAL MUN RIDGE complementary resources. A 3.3.3 Planning Norms ROHINI i. Create opportunities for cross-programming, collaboration, and engagement with nearby organizations and resources such as greenways, blue belts, wildlife sanctuaries, Bicycle PASCHIM VIHAR routes, museums, performance halls, Schools, etc. OLD CENTRAL DELHI ii. Enhance ecological connectivity for native plant species, birds, insects and other fauna RIDGE LUTYEN’S Create habitat connectivity to waterfronts, wetlands, bird migration corridors DELHI Increase tree canopy cover in the neighbourhood surrounding the park DWARKA Preserve and protect existing vegetation and site features during construction and L NOIDA other activities. ZONE AIRPORT iii. Design park circulation for accessibility Provide unobstructed accessibility to park entrances along major access corridors. Install signage indicating the nearest accessible entrance. iv. Expand visual and character connectivity GURUGRAM Connect to visually appealing corridors that contain landscape and streetscape features in order to extend park qualities into the surrounding urban fabric. Use greenways and bikeways to link parks to areas of population to increase use and FARIDABAD access. SOUTHERN