I don't happen to care for the all (or mostly) lawn aesthetic. Though I must admit the idea of linking such a landscape concept w/ethnicity disturbs me.
Not least, because in my experience, most similar areas are booked by non-anglo-saxon groups disproportionately (which is fine) but which makes the statement above factually dubious.
I assume no ill-will . I just find it unjustified.
The argument that it would prove hostile in winter is much more compelling.
It is not disturbing in the least. The history of parks in North America is derived from the conservationist movement, of which there is absolutely nothing wrong with, other than that it is largely a movement that came from Britain and the United States and is not the image of a park shared by the rest of the world.
Unsurprisingly, parks are used and perceived differently by people of different origin. Our pastoral conservationist lawn-park (such as Trinity-Bellwoods) caters quite well to Anglo-Saxon Canadians, but not so well with other populations.
Here is a good source for what I am talking about, with first hand accounts of different perspectives on Waterloo Park (a lawn-park in Waterloo). I know people don't like reading, so I pulled some quotes from Chinese-Canadians, South and South-West Asian Canadians, and Caribbean-Canadians:
- “I’m all about quality spaces not quantity spaces, so Waterloo Park is just a big open lawn to me. I mean that in a negative way because it doesn’t introduce anything. It doesn’t matter if the park is big if you don’t create a space that people want to go to.”
- “The problem with Waterloo Park is that it’s too plain, too bland, there is too much grass. There should be gardens with flowers or some sort of theme gardens. Right now, I don’t know, it just looks too dull and too boring. It’s just grass.”
- "A lot of people like it because they can play sports like soccer or ultimate frisbee, but to me it’s a lot of green space that is just grass. It doesn’t do anything and doesn’t even look nice.”
- "Parks in China (...) are artificially made but look natural. They have a lake, rocks and theme parks with a lot of flowers… they are very beautiful and relaxing… You can rent a boat, and they have opened areas for Ti-Chi, or picture studios for wedding photo sessions. They are quality spaces, really nicely designed.”
- "In Waterloo Park there are so many dead, bushy trees that don’t look like they are being maintained. When I was there I just felt that I didn't belong there.”
- “[I do not] like Waterloo Park very much. In Saudi Arabia, parks are social places with nice landscaping, and with more entertainment, like restaurants, café’s, sports clubs and boat rentals.”
- “In Egypt there are fewer parks but they are bigger. The main focus of the park is to have variety of theme gardens, flowers, fountains, cafes and restaurants, gyms, tennis courts, outdoor swimming pool, and at night they have movies. It’s a bit more artificial scenery than what’s in Waterloo Park, but I really like it. I used to go there all the time!”
- “Jamaican parks look much different than in Canada. There are more like gardens; they are well maintained with lots of flowers, fish, nice gazebos, fruit trees that you can pick a fruit by yourself and other attractions. I don’t go to Waterloo Park because there is nothing there. I mean, it’s just [an] open field of grass with a few trees.”
- “ I like when the park is divided into sections, like when you can have a flower garden with a nice gazebo and it’s more of a calm space for contemplation and then you have a more open area for people to picnic and socialize, [with] other areas to walk around. I like if there is a variety, something for everyone.”
- "Another female participant of African-Caribbean origins made similar comments. She also said she finds Waterloo Park “dull” and would like to see “more flowers and theme gardens,” like the gardens she visited in Trinidad.."
Caucasian Canadians however, in sharp contrast to non-Caucasian Canadians, liked Waterloo Park. Here is what they liked about it:
- “I like to have a lot of greenery that is well kept, but not so much that it doesn’t look natural.”
- “I like trees and grass better because flowers are so artificial.”
- “I like that in Waterloo Park there is a lot of mature trees, as well as that they have a woodlot natural area that is more wild."
So yah, there is a difference in what people look for in parks. It is not an ethnicity/race thing, but a cultural one.
Believe me, I am definitely not the type to be pushing diversity for the sake of diversity (as seems to be commonplace nowadays) but when it comes to park design there is a point to be made. Our perception of what a good park is, is incredibly anglo-canadian centric, and dreadfully boring in my opinion.
