Design Your Own Park Competition A Way to Empower Neighborhoods to Manage Their Own Affairs INTRODUCTION Humans evolved in small groups of known individuals with important shared objectives. Child development took place in mixed age groups with ample opportunity for unstructured play. Pleasant natural surroundings are important physical, mental, and social wellbeing. How can the ancestral social environment be recreated in a modern urban setting? INTRODUCTION Humans evolved in small groups of known individuals with important shared objectives. Child development took place in mixed age groups with ample opportunity for unstructured play. Pleasant natural surroundings are important physical, mental, and social wellbeing. How can the ancestral social environment be recreated in a modern urban setting? A 3-WAY PARTNERSHIP City of Binghamton makes vacant lots and other neglected spaces available for neighborhoods to turn into parks of their own design. Binghamton Neighborhood Project manages the competition, which is designed to provide the design features that enable groups to function as adaptive units. United Way of Broome County assists in fundraising. A 3-WAY PARTNERSHIP City of Binghamton makes vacant lots and other neglected spaces available for neighborhoods to turn into parks of their own design. Binghamton Neighborhood Project manages the competition, which is designed to provide the design features that enable groups to function as adaptive units. United Way of Broome County assists in fundraising. WIN-WIN SITUATION Building and maintaining park provides important shared objective among known individuals. Maintenance by neighborhood saves city money. Children have greater opportunities for play. Adults get to relax in pleasant natural surroundings. Neighbors who become organize to build their own part can start to manage their own affairs in other respects. WIN-WIN SITUATION Building and maintaining park provides important shared objective among known individuals. Maintenance by neighborhood saves city money. Children have greater opportunities for play. Adults get to relax in pleasant natural surroundings. Neighbors who become organize to build their own part can start to manage their own affairs in other respects. Current DYOP projects Sunflower park on upper Murray Street. Intersection project on Edwards Street. Old Tichener parking lot on Walnut Street. Bark Park at Cheri Lindsey park. Current DYOP projects Sunflower park on upper Murray Street. Intersection project on Edwards Street. Old Tichener parking lot on Walnut Street. Bark Park at Cheri Lindsey park. THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DYOP COMPETITION 1)The importance of allowing groups to manage their own affairs. 2)Harnessing the motivating power of between-group competition while avoiding its destructive potential. 3)Using variation and selection to discover best practices. 4)The importance of beautiful natural surroundings 5)The importance of unstructured play in mixed age groups for children. 6)The importance of safety, relaxation, and playfulness in adults. 7)The importance of social control and how it can emerge spontaneously. 8)The importance of scientific assessment. Wilson, D.S The Design Your Own Park Competition: Empowering neighborhoods and restoring outdoor play on a citywide scale. American Journal of Play 3: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE SCENES OF THE DYOP COMPETITION 1)The importance of allowing groups to manage their own affairs. 2)Harnessing the motivating power of between-group competition while avoiding its destructive potential. 3)Using variation and selection to discover best practices. 4)The importance of beautiful natural surroundings 5)The importance of unstructured play in mixed age groups for children. 6)The importance of safety, relaxation, and playfulness in adults. 7)The importance of social control and how it can emerge spontaneously. 8)The importance of scientific assessment. Wilson, D.S The Design Your Own Park Competition: Empowering neighborhoods and restoring outdoor play on a citywide scale. American Journal of Play 3: Neighborhood planning meeting for Edwards St. Project Design for a painting that will turn the Edwards & North St. intersection into a community space Master plan for Sunflower Park on upper Murray Street