Field Goals: A Framework for Integrating Sustainable Design Methods to Retrofit Existing Sports Park Infrastructure
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Date
2024
Authors
Khalid, Basil
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
As climate change and its impact on heat island effects, water scarcity, and loss of biodiversity all become
increasingly more pressing from year to year, designers and planners play an integral role in managing the
effects of these impacts to provide a more sustainable way forward for future generations. One of the ways
in which designers and planners can contribute to more sustainable design solutions is through improved
land use management practices. While occupying large footprints in regard to land use, sports parks and
fields have long been considered an essential feature for communities. Sports parks can be defined as
public outdoor spaces that serve the primary function of providing organized physical activity and sports
opportunities to a wide variety of users1. Ranging from rural to urban centers, sports parks promote health
and wellness through exercise and physical activity, stimulating economic development and benefits, as
well as supporting social inclusion and cohesion.
Although the health, economic, and social benefits may be apparent through sports parks and fields,
what is often a challenge to incorporate into the design of these spaces is an environmental and multifunctional
benefit to the land they encompass. This project seeks to integrate sustainable design principles
and practices into the planning of sports parks and fields. Incorporating a multifunctional landscape
approach to the design of sports parks and fields can allow planners and designers to employ innovative
methods to addressing specific sustainability challenges related to land use efficiency, along with storm
water management, renewable energy sources, and habitat restoration, while promoting social and health
benefits for communities.
Description
52 pages
Keywords
climate change, sports parks, sustainability, resource scarcity, habitat fragmentation