We have now entered phase 2 of reopening in Ontario and more businesses and public spaces are permitted to reopen. With the introduction of social bubbles of 10 people, Ontarians can now enjoy their long-awaited outdoor and recreational activities including visits to beaches, parks and campgrounds.
But how will that even look like in a post-COVID world? Just a few weeks back, all anyone could talk about was the huge crowds at Trinity Bellwoods Park and the lack of social distancing.
Trinity Bellwoods: What Pandemic?
As the summer weather came around and lockdown restrictions were being lifted, people were eager to go out and enjoy the sun in some of Toronto’s iconic parks, including Trinity Bellwoods.
Park visitors threw all caution to the wind and completely disregarded social distancing rules when thousands gathered at the park in large groups in late May.
After the outrage Trinity Bellwoods park-goers sparked, the City of Toronto followed the lead of San Francisco and Brooklyn in the U.S. and resorted to a quick solution by painting social distancing circles that would fit 2-3 people in the grass.
Social Distancing Circles: A Strategic Tactical Urbanism
Domino Park in Brooklyn, New York was the first park to use this tactic to help park visitors better follow social distancing rules. Mike Lampariello, the park’s director, came up with this quick and affordable solution to encourage people to spread out and make staying 6 feet apart easier.
With frequent use and regular grass cutting, the circles would need to be repainted often. While they were a great on-the-spot solution at the early stages of the pandemic, it’s obvious that those painted circles were only a temporary solution that will likely not be effective any more now that countries are reopening.
How Landscape Architects Shape the New Normal Parks
We need to reimagine our public spaces in a way that allows us to enjoy the summer while staying safe. So we asked one of our landscape architects, Trevvor Whitehead, how he envisions Trinity Bellwoods in the new normal.
When drawing the new normal, he highlighted how flexible landscape architecture can be in improving public spaces.
Download: Colouring Sheet – Trinity Bellwoods in the New Normal
He created a sketch of a reimagined Trinity Bellwoods. Download the sketch as a free colouring sheet below. Paint your own city and add your own twist to new park designs. How do you think Trinity Bellwoods will look like in Phase 2?
Trevvor explains that something as simple as groupings of stone outcrops placed at a safe distance apart from one another can imply the idea of ‘social distancing nooks’ where individuals or small groups can enjoy the outdoors without infringing on another park users’ space.
The use of stone would provide a natural element in an outdoor setting and could also be visible during winter months when snowfall could cover any painted elements. They could also be easily removed or replaced if they’re not needed in the future.
How do you think we need to reimagine Toronto’s urban landscapes after COVID-19? What other iconic Toronto public spaces need to change for the new normal?
We’d love to see your ideas come to life. Share your #DrawTheNewNormal sketches and drawings on social media and tag us @NAKDesign on Instagram.