2015年12月号

Looking back so we can look ahead

Gil Penalosa, Canada, Chair of the Board of Directors
It is hard to believe that it has already been eight months since the launch of World Urban Parks.

As Chair I would like to extend a big thank you to all of our members for your high level of engagement during this exciting building phase of World Urban Parks. It has been a pleasure to be part of such an enthusiastic and knowledgeable team of city park leaders and professionals.

In only a short amount of time we have been able to accomplish a lot. Here is a re-cap of some of our accomplishments in 2015:

• World Urban Parks “goes live” in April 2015 transferring members from IFPRA, and International Urban Park and Green Space Alliance.
•First World Urban Parks Congress held in Ponte de Lima Portugal in May 2015 with approximately 200 attendees.
• World Urban Parks governance structure approved and international Board appointed
• Key communication and branding complete with logo, website, monthly news and social media presence.

• World Urban Parks was represented at several international forums : City Parks Alliance Greater and Greener, San Francisco, USA; The Future of Park Management Symposium, Awaji, Japan;World Urban Parks Congress with 9th Iberoamerican Congress, Ponte de Lima, Portugal; the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management national convention, Johannesburg South Africa; Hortis Congress, Marseille, France; Parks and Leisure Australia National Conference, Sydney, Australia; International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Parks Congress, Sydney, Australia; Salzburg Global Seminar: Nature, Health and a New Urban Generation - Invitation to Leaders Meeting, Salzburg, Austria, and the New Zealand Recreation Association National Conference, Wellington, New Zealand.
• Several World Urban Parks programs launched and active including Regional and Standing Committees with Chairs and enthusiastic member participation, the Annual Indicators Benchmarking Project, and the World Urban Parks Distinguished Individual Award.
•World Parks Academy launches a new website - the first international competency-based certification programs for the parks and recreation industry.
•World Parks Day held on 19 September 2015 with global participants.

I reiterate what I said in myfirst message as Chair - we have a lot of work to do! This is a great time to recognize some good progress but to also “re-charge our batteries” for 2016 as we embark on a new year with new exciting possibilities for expanding our influence to improve urban parks and open space development in our cities.

World Urban Parks Congress 2016 announced

The second World Urban Parks Congress will be held from 26-28 September 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa in partnership with the Institute for Environment and Recreation Management (IERM). The Institute represents about 60 of the largest parks departments in South Africa.

The three-day congress will include technical tours, presentations and workshops, a trade show and time for World Urban Parks Board and committee meetings.

The international Congress combined with IERM's national conference and with planned University of South Africa support is expected to attract about 250 participants. The Congress theme will be relevant to the broad sector.

National conference sub-themes include parks and green spaces, recreation, biodiversity and urban nature conservation; planning, development and management; and education. International issues relating to climate change, health, population and economic impacts, as well as World Urban Parks working party outcomes will also be considered.

All parties who may be interested in presenting papers or case studies at the convention are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 200 words to Charlene Wightman of the IERM Secretariat by Friday, 29 April 2016. Pleasecontact Charlenefor a submission form.

The multicultural Cape Town metropolitan population is 3.8 million people and includes the iconic Table Mountain and Cape Point. From 2012-2014 it was rated three years in a row as the best place to visit in the world by The Telegraph Travel Awards.

World Urban Parks members will be spoiled for choice with the World Urban Parks Europe Region Congress being held in Albi, France in partnership with Hortis from 5-8 October 2016.

This aligns with a new approach to the World Urban Parks conference strategy, which adds an international dimension to national conferences of members through provision of international presenters and collaboration with World Urban Parks regions and committees.

World Urban Parks Board and committee update

Dr Digby Whyte, World Urban Parks CEO, Australia
The full World Urban Parks Board met on 3 December and welcomed new Board Director Martha Fajardo of Colombia, a former President of the International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA), bringing a formal connection between IFLA and World Urban Parks. Martha was appointed a Co-Chair of the World Urban Parks Americas Region with an extra focus on engaging South America.

Gil Penalosa (Chair of World Urban Parks) and Richard Murray (President of Ekoparken) were appointed Co-Chairs of the Large Urban Parks Executive Committee. The Board reviewed the business plan and noted the 2015/16 priority was building World Urban Parks membership, particularly via Region and Committee activity and via the website

The step up in committee activity was commended, as well as continuing conference approval with the 2016 World Congress with the Institute of Environment and Recreation Management in Cape Town, South Africa from 26-28 September and the Europe Region Congress with Hortis in Albi, France from 6-8 October 2016.

Seventeen agency and large urban park leaders from around the world met by web conference on 12 November 2016 to approve a terms of reference and discuss activity for the new Large Urban Parks Executive Committee and group. Those represented ranged from Central Park, New York and Rivierenhof, Antwerp to Albert Park, Melbourne.

The Executive Committee will meet early in 2017 to facilitate development of the group. Activity centered on inviting large urban parks organisations and leaders to join the group, sharing best practice, advocacy, applied research and profiling large urban parks of the world. These will be developed on the website and two large urban parks are featured in this issue of World Parks News.

The World Parks Academy Board of Regents met on 8 December to approve Certified Park Professional (CPP) and Certified International Park Professional (CIPP applications. The Board also decided to keep fees at $275 USD for CPP and CIPP. The CIPP Senior Professional Clause will continue in the short term while the Board looks at integrating those with a high amount of senior experience into the standard CIPP eligibility criteria.

All committees, including the Knowledge and Standards, Members and Partnerships, Large Urban Parks, Finance and Audit, and the Europe, Asia-Pacific and Americas Region Committees welcome new members who would like to become engaged in global activity. Interaction is frequently by web conferencing and in association with congresses. Enquiries are welcome to .

Parks of the World: Millennium Park, Chicago, USA

This and the next two articles profile three large urban parks from the USA, Sweden and Australia to highlight the creation of the Large Urban Parks network and committee in World Urban Parks. Organisations and individuals interested in becoming part of this new initiative are welcome to contact World Urban Parks CEO Dr Digby Whyte at .

Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois, is introduced below from the perspective of the Millennium Park Quadruple Net Value Report (2011), produced by Texas A&M University and DePaul University. The report assessed the significant social/cultural, economic, environmental, and sensory return on investment of the park to the City of Chicago.

The park, which is a former rail yard, parking lot and strip of green space, was conceptualised by former Mayor Richard M. Daley as an asset that would transform Chicago; one that would encompass art, music, and public space, becoming the world’s largest green roof (over a parking garage). The $USD 490 million park of 24.5 acres was designed by Frank Gehry, funded half by the city and half by private donors, and opened in 2004.

The park now comprises a series of pavilions, one fronting a great lawn; promenades, outdoor galleries, and distinctive gardens, fountain, monument, cloud gate and serpentine bridge connecting 319 acre Grant Park. It is located beside the Art Institute of Chicago and Tourism, Visitor Information and Cultural Centres and contains a theatre for music and dance, restaurant and a Cycle Centre.

The report describes Millennium Park as an example of real estate value creation through proper conceptualization, design, delivery and management in creating a cultural centre of Chicago, with 5 million visits per year, and an internationally recognized symbol of the city.

The report’s conclusions of the return on investment and return on perception are quoted here:

Social/Cultural Return
Real estate value is created in part by people visiting a site again and again. The programming at Millennium Park has been integral in successfully drawing visitors for their first or return visits. The park generates the following social/cultural returns: 610 annual free concerts, tours, workouts, theatrical performances, exhibitions and family events per year; 5 million annual visitors; a 10% increase in public transit ridership; 300 bicycle parking spaces, 250 rental bikes, 200 Segways; daily yoga, Pilates and Zumba classes in the summer (10,080 annual participants); ice skating in the winter months (70,000 +annual participants); 24.5 acres of parkland; a 71% increase in population (5,877 residents) near the park; 15,225 linear feet of walkways; world class architecture and art at nine primary venues; 9 revolving art exhibitions; 50-100 annual art tours in five languages (depending on weather conditions); 14 registered organizations committed to programming annual events; over 19 private development projects or facilities that claim the Millennium Park brand; 12.14 acres of green space; and 287 events and programs at the Family Fun tent that generates 229,693 participants.
Economic Return
The economic downturn in 2008, along with the historic landmark designation of Michigan Avenue buildings adjacent to the park, has created recent property tax assessment challenges for the park and its nearby properties. Despite these circumstances, it is clear that Millennium Park has generated the following economic impact on the City of Chicago: $490M in total park construction; $ 2.45 Billion in new construction near the park; 70,070 direct, indirect and induced jobs created by new construction in the area; a 57% increase in new residential units near the park (3,587 units since 2005); 29% premium on park units sold with views of the park; five million annual visitors which generate $1.29B in tourism dollars; $5.9M in annual operations costs that feed the local economy; 2,126 new underground parking spaces at Millennium Park; an 11% increase in hotel rooms (751 rooms) near the park; $173.5M donated by 115 founders to specific projects within the park; and 11 fortune 500 companies that donated to the park.
Environmental Return
The transformation of a small green space, parking lot, and rail yard into Millennium Park, with its many acres of natural landscaping, has had many positive affects on the environment. The environmental return on investment is evident in the following ways: 2.5 acres at the Lurie Garden; 2.2 acres of lawn at the Pritzker Pavilion; 7.6 acres of additional gardens in the park; a total of 12.14 acres of green space; a 61.5% increase in green space from the previous park on Michigan Avenue; the addition of 550 trees, 90,454 plants (39 varieties) outside of the Lurie Garden; the Lurie Garden has 35,000 perennial plants (240 varieties), 120,000 bulbs, 5,200 woody plants (14 varieties); the Exelon Pavilions are four of the five buildings with solar generated electricity (19,840 annual Kilowatt Hours); 70% retention of annual rainfall at the park; 50% drought tolerant plants in the park; 426.9 pounds of air pollutants removed annually; 4,300 square feet of walkway comprised of recycled granite counter tops; two I-GO cars at Millennium Park (car sharing program); 64.2% increase in permeable surfaces; Big Belly solar trash compactors adjacent to the park which minimize trash collection pollution; 15 annual environmental education programs; and 250 rental bicycles and 200 Segways that provide alternative modes of transportation for the region.
Sensory Return
A variety of carefully planned sights, sounds, textures, smells and tastes have been implemented in the Millennium Park. Other sensory elements occur naturally through day-to-day activities, further enhancing the sensory value of the park. While each person will react differently to the sensory aspects of the space, the five senses are impacted by Millennium Park in the following positive ways: four iconic architectural/artistic elements in the park designed by world class designers that impact the image and visual value of the park; three major water features that cover 2% of the park area for visual, sound and touch value; $2.5 M in annual maintenance to the park to ensure its continued sensory value to the community; Columbus Avenue depressed roadway and the BP Bridge sound barriers; $3M world class sound system for the Pritzker Pavilion performance area; 18 adjacent restaurants and thousands of flowering plants that positively impact visitors olfactory nerves; 5 million annual visitors that generate visual and sound value from social activity; underground trash collection which positively impacts the visual, sound and smell value of the park.

The subjective value of the park can’t be calculated, but the added value from the following items illustrate a greater return on perception: world class design has added value to the brand and image of Chicago; international visitation is an indicator of the park’s international reputation; building frontage on the park is more valuable but not calculated because typical office space covers the entire floor plate of the buildings; there is generally over $100 per square foot increase in value for residential units that have views of the park; the Millennium Park brand provides additional value to over 19 businesses; the park view from Michigan Avenue restaurants has stimulated the development of outdoor patios; generally, rental rates for retail space near the park has gone up; the brand value of Millennium Park has strengthened Chicago’s reputation as a tourist destination; an increasing number of suburban residents visit downtown Chicago to enjoy Millennium Park activities; and Chicago’s reputation as a world-class art destination has been enhanced by the permanent and rotating art and architecture at the park.

- Jerke D, Mikulenka R, Conti S, Nabavi N, and Budz C (2011) Millennium Park Quadruple Net Value Report. Texas A&M University and De Paul University, pp77.

Cover photo:View of Millennium Park from The Legacy at Millennium Park, Ryan Mikulenka

Parks of the World: The Royal National City Park, Stockholm, Sweden

Dr Richard Murray, Sweden, Large Urban Parks Executive Committee Co-Chair
The Royal National City Park is situated partly in the communities of Stockholm, Solna and Lidingö. The park was founded in 1995, and offers a unique mixture of nature and culture.
Because it is located right in the middle of the metropolitan area of Stockholm it is extremely valuable for the recreation opportunities it offers to thousands of city residents. This item offers some facts about this fascinating park, as well as a brief history.

Some facts about the Royal National City Park:
* 27 square kilometres in total - 19 square kilometres of land and eight square kilometres of water.
* Rich in biodiversity, this park houses 75 per cent of the species found in middle Sweden.
* Many rare species - this is the only place in Sweden that some plants and insects on the “red list” (on the verge of extinction) are found.
* Probably the largest population of giant oak trees in northern Europe – a remnant from the bronze age.
* Hundreds of protected and architecturally unique buildings.
* The most frequented urban park area in Sweden, with 15 million visits per year.
* The most frequented tourist destination in Sweden.
* Four Royal Palaces (in Sweden there is a total of 11).
* A series of gardens dating from different periods, a baroque garden, an English landscape garden, sports arenas, museums, amusement park and an open air museum (the first in the world, named Skansen).

History of the park
Middle Ages
During the early Middle Ages, Stockholm and its environs was an agricultural area with a royal palace at its centre, surrounded by fields and meadows which supplied its needs. The countryside around the palace therefore consisted of open pasture and fields. Livestock grazed the pasture, hay was harvested for the winters and fresh produce was transported into the palace every day.
Eventually the palace needed more land to supply its wants and by the end of the 13th century King Magnus Ladulås had acquired the major part of Djurgården, which in those days was known as Valdemar Island and belonged to the Catholic Church.
Nobody knows how old this name is. Iron Age burial sites have been found on the island and they may have been close to a village of the same name. King Valdemar may have given his name to the island.

The Reformation
The Church had admittedly been able to retain some of its rights on Valdemar Island, but the seizure of Church property at the beginning of the 16th century enabled Gustav Vasa to assume administration of the entire island. He also acquired parts of what is now Northern Djurgården, previously the property of the Klara Abbey and the Friary on Helgeandsholmen.
Gustav Vasa had three royal barns on Djurgården, North and South, and he managed his considerable holdings with an iron hand to secure that they were fully supplied to provide for his own needs, for his kinfolk and for his dependents.