Photo Credit: MKSK
To create a park that is embraced by residents and becomes a beloved part of a community, the plan and design must be a process of building relationships. Public parks are often planned for a lifespan of decades—if not centuries—and the creation of these civic spaces represents a milestone in the life of a community. Those who create a park must move beyond thinking of public engagement as just a step in the planning process and begin to think of creating a new chapter in the narrative of a community.
In the city of Greenville, S.C., MKSK is working closely with the community in planning and designing Unity Park—a public space with tremendous social and cultural significance. The approach to partnering with the community in this effort is guided by the core social commitment that MKSK makes in each of its projects with the goal of knitting the park experience into neighborhood life.
1. Engagement starts before the project is even conceived. One of the values at MKSK is to be intimately involved in local communities. Besides the intrinsic value of giving back, this allows the firm an opportunity to build deep, authentic relationships with the people in the communities it serves.