Unstructured Reflection: Eyes on the Street or Eyes on the Park?

I have really enjoyed the public spaces here in Copenhagen. The playground search was beyond amazing to witness cities for children. In my planning curriculum at Cal Poly the work of Jane Jacobs is discussed a lot. Specifically the eyes on the street philosophy. She talks about this idea of witnesses, a multitude of activity, and a sense of community. The witnesses are created through the activities and multiple uses that exist when we develop for mixed-use. Combining residential, commercial, and other uses such as office space allows for movement in a space at all times throughout the day.

I noticed that the playgrounds, parks, and courtyards are secluded and separate from life on the street. I went to a few playgrounds that were gated and enclosed with vegetation. The trees were tall enough that you could only look up and see second story windows. This made me question how well I knew the eyes on the street philosophy and it made me think about how planning and design is adapted place to place.

Jacobs wrote her work based on her experiences in the Lower East Side in Manhattan. While her ideas have been applied globally, there are adaptations of concepts. Eyes on the street is applied to parks and playgrounds through the staff at manned playgrounds and parents accompanying their children. Looking at design eyes on the street is applied when parks are located on corners or used as a pathway for bikes and pedestrians to cut through to access other streets.