Very often it seems easier to find millions of dollars to build parks than it is to find the thousands that are needed to make them work. Many parks are suffering from deficient management. Most municipalities confuse management with maintenance when this second is just a small part of the first. Parks require maintenance, but they also require much more. Management should include elements such as frequent community engagement, diverse uses and activities suitable for all ages and levels of ability, equitable access, safety, as well as be a suitable space in the context of each community. Cities need a great park system to satisfy different needs, not just one iconic park. International examples will be shown.
Speaker, Gil Penalosa, is passionate about creating cities for all people; vibrant cities and healthy communities for everyone regardless of age and social,economic, or ethnic background. Gil is the founder and chair of the internationally recognized Canadian nonprofit organization 8-80 Cities. Before immigrating to Canada, Gil was Commissioner in Bogota. He holds an MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, where he was recently selected as one of the “100 Most Inspirational Alumni” in the school’s history. In 2015, Gil received a Doctorate Honoris Causa from the Faculty of Urban Planning at the prominent Swedish university, SLU. Last year, Gil was listed in Planetizen’s Top 100 Most Influential Urbanists
