A Landscape of Call and Response: How New York Parks React to Climate Change
Andrew Reilly, Student
University of Massachusetts
Abstract
New York City Parks have been transformed over the past century, as needs for recreation, access, security and land management have shifted and evolved. In many respects, the changing landscapes of parks and recreation act as a visual indicator of the city's interests, needs, and challenges, and might reflect social, cultural, political, and economic frameworks. Today environmental concerns take the stage, as both current and projected climate change pressures inspire new landscapes in New York City parks.
This poster identifies six major themes for the climate change adaptive landscape design in the New York City park system. Using a case study approach, and fieldwork to photograph and diagram climate-adaptive design interventions, the poster showcases current environmental control and mitigation systems at work. Themes include materials, water management systems, energy production, resilience to major weather events, animal habitat and pollination, and equity/access. By comparing parks within the New York City system, and then finding common threads for climate change adaptive design, a series of suggestions for best practices is offered for review.
