Skate>>Streets>>Trees

Young Planners ideas come to life for the Vancouver Plan. 

Complete communities work well for everyone, which means people of ALL ages, backgrounds, needs and abilities can live, work, shop, learn, and play in close proximity to one another in their neighbourhood. When a community is just (equitable), green (sustainable) and fun, everyone can stay healthy and happy in the city. 

We began with a SmartMap that asked how well your neighbourhood works for you and others.  How well does it work for animals and plants? Where are your favourite places to work, play, shop or learn?  Participants tagged the places that they thought would make their community complete with a happy face pin. They tagged places they thought needed to change with the not-so-happy pin. What should these changes be? Add your comments, suggestions, photos, and drawings.  We made the map for the Vancouver Plan Young Planners program, a collection of educational and interactive activities for kids and youth to provide input into the Vancouver Plan. 

The map helped us establish 5 different different contexts to work on in the Studio:

1. SKYTRAIN STATION and surrounding area (examples: 29th Ave. / Broadway) 
2. MAIN STREET CLOSURE and surrounding (car-free day everyday examples: Robson St. / Commercial St.)
3. NEIGHBOURHOOD PARK and residential streets around it (example: MacLean Park)  
4. GREENWAY amenity or destination point (examples: Arbutus / Central Valley) 
5. HIGHSCHOOL and surrounding area (interesting and safe place to hang out/wait for something…) 

Our context based co-design process were these 4 steps:

1. Response to Context - Many public spaces don't work for young people. What are your ideas for how they could be improved? 
2. Master Planning
3. Vignettes for Roll, Street, Trees
4. Additional details for the Master Plan or design features. How is the space used during the day and night?