Finding opportunities for nature education and wise use of existing public open space : a case study for Delhi Township, Cincinnati, Ohio

Abstract

There is a shortage of public open space in the landscape of America's ever-sprawling urban and suburban areas. Since the 1960's and 70's behavior scientists and psychologists have been arguing that public parks and retreats into nature are beneficial for everyone to escape the stresses of day-to-day life. Landscape architects have been designing these places of retreat from the time Frederick Law Olmsted designed such a park, Central Park, in 1851, and first called himself a "landscape architect." Even more recently, landscape architects have had the proud task to also include environmental education into the design of public open space as an important aspect and an increasing necessity for our future. Olmsted's design was in response to a need for a get-away from the city for those who could not afford to move to the countryside.The need of Olmsted's time still exists today but in suburban areas where land is being eaten up by development, as is the case of Delhi Township in Cincinnati, Ohio. Like many other large communities, Delhi Township, just outside the western portion of the city, is growing, especially in the northwestern area. The need for an environmental education and nature preservation was felt and the opportunity existed. The land for an environmental education center was available on approximately 40 acres adjacent to a new school and the Delhi Park Board had intentions to develop this land into community space but few plans were made.The intent of my landscape architecture comprehensive project was to develop a site-specific master plan for the Delhi Park Board as an environmental education center and nature preserve unique to the native environment and fulfilling the desires of Delhi Township and its residents. Through the design process I was able to determine the buildable area within the site, identify a program, define the goals, and develop a master plan for the environmental education center. The master plan includes several trail systems with interpretive elements, a core area with 11 demonstrative gardens, a 6000- square foot nature center, an amphitheatre, and separate pedestrian and maintenance entrances. The design encourages community involvement, individual, leisure and group environmental education, and a variety of different trail levels and experiences.