This repeating five-step sequence allows a community to build a pedestrian network over time, applying the same rules repeatedly to the position of new paths and little sections of paths. As a result of this repetition…
A Pedestrian Network in a Neighborhood
…the individual paths will come to work as a whole network adapted to the neighborhood, with its own appropriate and unique character, according to the position of houses and roads and trees in the existing neighborhood.
1. First: have a look at the whole system of pedestrian paths in the neighborhood, and get an idea what system might be nice.
Imagine the system of paths as a beautiful center, positive and living.
2. In particular, get a general idea where a central focus of pedestrian life might be, possibly a place with a green or a small park, perhaps even water.
To visualize the central green or park establish in your mind's eye, a possible position of such a place.
3. Try to imagine in very general terms, how paths might go to and from this central place, and how the paths might form a connected system in the neighborhood.
For convenience, you may find it helpful to express this in a few lines which you can talk about with neighbors.
4. Please note this set of ideas about the whole are only meant to be general ideas, whose purpose is to orient and support the whole, and to help you, later, create useful piecemeal actions which will gradually build some kind of whole over time. But the whole you envisage is NOT meant to be considered as a plan, and it is not meant to be a kind of scheme which you will later try to implement. It is far more a "feeling".
1. This is a realistic and political condition which must be explored. Any of the following may be possible sources of land that could become converted to fully pedestrian use: front of lots, side yards of lots, abandoned land, publicly owned land, existing parking lots, might all be acquired by eminent domain, or by easement, if the owners or city are willing. Roads themselves could, under special circumstances be converted to pedestrian use; and in some cases a wide swath of road might be made pedestrian, with the roadway for cars made narrow.
In a future era, a city could impose a requirement that whenever building projects are undertaken, provision of a small piece of land for the formation of pedestrian paths—either by donation or easement—is a condition of a permit.
2. At any given cycle, certain of these possibilities will seem more realistic or more attainable than others.
3. Among the attainable ones, focus should be put on those which make the biggest contribution to the creation of a pedestrian network as a whole.
4. Group discussion by members of the neighborhood, and then an approach to the city, will decide what is possible, and what realistic.
1. How to judge what does most for the network as a whole?
A new segment can have impact on (1) connectivity, (2) the pedestrian's experience of the pedestrian network as a centered and focused whole, (3) adding a remarkable and beautiful place, which everyone will remember and enjoy.
All three are important, but of the three the third is perhaps most important.
2. Once chosen, the entire pedestrian area which the chosen segment impacts should be delineated, so that the design and shaping process can begin in earnest.
3. The new segment should be made as far as possible positive as space, and with as much life AS A CENTER as possible. This does not mean it should be fancy or exaggerated: it should be as simple as possible, yet make a coherent and useful place which makes life a little better.
1. The paths and pieces of path are well shaped, each with its boundary, and each made so that, from the shape alone, and its ordinary relation to its surroundings, one can love to be there.
2. It is a nice shape, and its nice shape uses existing fences, trees, gates, buildings, as part of the formation.
3. Part of the niceness of shape will consist of using these existing boundary elements respectfully, and making them be valuable things and places in their own right. That will support the positiveness of the space of the path they help to create.
4. In addition, from time to time, small ancillary centers – a bench, a fountain, a shady place, a lawn, a tree with a seat at its base – as smaller centers will help to enrich and—if used right—to strength the centers which form the positive space.
Embellish the new path with centers like a cherry tree, a bench or sign-post.
Unfortunately, this step is unfinished…
1. This is a realistic and political condition which must be explored. Any of the following may be possible sources of land that could become converted to fully pedestrian use: front of lots, side yards of lots, abandoned land, publicly owned land, existing parking lots, might all be acquired by eminent domain, or by easement, if the owners or city are willing. Roads themselves could, under special circumstances be converted to pedestrian use; and in some cases a wide swath of road might be made pedestrian, with the roadway for cars made narrow.
In a future era, a city could impose a requirement that whenever building projects are undertaken, provision of a small piece of land for the formation of pedestrian paths—either by donation or easement—is a condition of a permit.
3. Among the attainable ones, focus should be put on those which make the biggest contribution to the creation of a pedestrian network as a whole.
4. Group discussion by members of the neighborhood, and then an approach to the city, will decide what is possible, and what realistic.
