Are the parks living up to the 4 tenets of just sustainability, or are they all for show?
Keney Park: Keney park Sustainability is well on it’s way to meeting the 4 tenets of just sustainabilities. Having and taking part of a local community garden, that is truly maintained for and by the community members, is essential to improving the life and wellbeing of local residents. Not only does it provide health emotional outlet and stir a sense of community pride, the fresh food and sustenance that results from the garden is given directly to the community. This hands on approach is also conducive to justice in recognition, procedure, process, and outcome. The need for fresh food in Hartford is being recognized, as many cities, especially inner cities, become food deserts and junk food jungles. Process and outcome are particularly crucial, as the young school age population makes up a major part of KPS. The youth are being educated in sustaining themselves, while also being able to bring home fresh veggies and share with the local community. The locals take part in and benefit from the community garden, given them voice, power, and pride in themselves and their community.
Given that the food is locally grown, it is a step towards meeting the needs of current and future generations. KPS doesn’t produce nearly enough to feed the entirety of Hartford, but it is a very positive step. The sustainable practices of recycling materials, farming, and composting are all contributing to a lesser carbon footprint for the next generation.
In terms of one planet living, KPS is making major strides as well. Providing for the local community is essential, as there are vulnerable members of every community. Making sure everyone is included is essential to KPS, especially the impressionable younger generation. It’s about teaching people how to live within our ecosystem limits without lacking healthy food at a reasonable price. Teaching people how to grow food is essential to one planet living, as it has a generally lower environmental impact than store bought veggies(due to emissions from farm to table and chemical fertilizers/pesticides). KPS is making major progress to fully attaining all 4 tenets of just sustainability.
Elizabeth Park: This park is a very challenging case to assess because it is a bit difficult to be truthful; Elizabeth Park is specifically meant to be beautiful, and not at all functional, aside from a casual stroll or photos. Is quality of life and well being improved by having a rose garden? Statistics show a clean, vibrant environment is generally conducive to a happier mood; but how does that translate in Hartford, when the park is neither functional nor serviceable? It is truthfully just a postcard photo opportunity, or a lavish wedding location, but it does not necessarily serve the residents. This park is at the center of the downtown where politicians and businesses are; it’s not a neighborhood playground. That being said, Elizabeth park was never meant to be just or equitable; it was supposed to reflect an elevated socioeconomic status. The procedures and processes have underlying racial motives, as reflected by the outcome of demographic dispersion between neighborhoods (Putterman, Takyi). Also given the fact Elizabeth Park is a detailed rose garden and requires and receives some of the better and more frequent maintenance in the city, it is not very sustainable. This is not because it doesn’t supply food or have trees that specifically utilize a fair amount of carbon, the maintenance the park requires also consumes a lot of fossil fuels. Between mowers, trimmers, and other tools, a fair amount of gas is being consumed. All parks get mowed and trimmed; and almost every yard in the US is maintained by gas consuming tools. But, Elizabeth Park receives a fair amount of attention, simply because its in the highly trafficked and politicized downtown.
Bushnell Park: Bushnell Park has been improved a lot by iQuilt’s efforts. Lighting projects, greens, and simple improvements are all conducive to quality of life and wellbeing; without being superficial like Elizabeth Park. Lights and the encouragement of walking are healthy habits both physically and mentally. Inclusion, justice/equity and recognition have been a bit difficult, as any equity has been described as a “side effect.” That, and the needs of the community are only recently being considered. Through the community outreach project, iQuilt is gathering opinions for local’s goals for the city in the future. While their need are beginning to receive recognition, justice and equity have yet to truly manifest in practice.
Bushnell Park would be much closer to one planet living and meeting the needs of current/future generations had the garden project come to fruition. It would be difficult to ensure that the community garden stays a community garden, and is not an imposed policy. Imposed policies tend to never reach the target audience, and are the reason behind many social outreach failures. Walking is a sustainable practice to be encouraged and can make a measurable improvement, but it is not a task that will be solved in a short amount of time. It is a step in the right direction, but there is still much work to be done.