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Innovation gives open space a unique identity

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Planning expert says creating urban parks is challenging but a good design can bring many benefits to a city and its residents

DESIGNING A PUBLIC park may not necessarily sound like it requires cutting-edge thinking, but when space is short and budgets are tight a creative and innovative approach becomes essential.

'Innovation can make a park interesting and may convince a donor to underwrite something that is unique,' said American design authority Edward Uhlir, one of the speakers at the Business of Design Week conference.

Chicago-based Mr Uhlir is a well-known design, architecture and planning expert and consultant. His name is closely associated with the award-winning Millennium Park in Chicago, Illinois. When conceptualising a park, Mr Uhlir said, one must consider the needs and expectations of the users, the history of the site, and the physical, social and economic challenges involved in making the park a reality.

'Involving the public from the beginning is very important because they are going to be using the park,' Mr Uhlir said.

'Parks can provide a Wi-fi [hot spot] for visitors who bring their computers, but a park doesn't have to be hi-tech.

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