Singapore will be deploying Boston Dynamic’s dog robot to ensure social distancing in its parks. The robot will patrol the area, broadcasting a pre-recorded message to remind visitors of the importance of social distancing while its cameras will scan the surroundings and help officials estimate the number of people gathering in parks.
Parks
Singapore
Photo credit: https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/08/tech/singapore-coronavirus-social-distancing-robot-intl-hnk/index.html
As cities are being re-imagined, with more bike lanes and other amenities that support social distancing, Austrian design studio Precht has created a maze-like public park that encourages social distancing while promoting 20min walking.
Access to parks and recreation areas for leisure time physical activity and mental health is rapidly evolving. The Center for Disease Control released updated guidelines for visitors and administrators to prevent and support social distancing and safe, clean facilities. Submitted by Ingrid Schneider, University of Minnesota (ingridss@umn.edu)
Parks
United States
Photo credit: Ingrid Schneider
Peavey Field Park, in a diverse section of the city, stands in stark contrast to parks like Lake Harriet. With limited seating and smaller trees, it is not as inviting to neighbors. Parks are crucial for health and well-being, particularly in highly impacted neighborhoods of communities of color.
Parks
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Photo credit: Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
As Adam Grant, reknown organizational psychologist at the Wharton noted on a LinkedIn post, “if you’re working from home, the pandemic has extended the average work day by 2-3 hours.” He called for testing out 6-hour work days or 4-day work weeks. Urban parks, such as Lake Harriet, offer an invitation to people to stop and rethink their priorities and how they spend their time and energy.
Parks
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Photo credit: Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
Well-maintained and cleaned gardens, such as the Lyndale Park Rose Gardens close to Lake Harriet, are an invitation to slow down and benefit from nature’s lessons, blue skies, and sunny days. Parks of the same caliber in neighborhoods with communities of color are an instrumental way toward recovery and erasing disparities.
Parks
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Photo credit: Tasoulla Hadjiyanni
Cities with lots of green space and provisions for cycling are healthier. Providing handwashing facilities in public places and parks could further help to reduce the risk of passing on infections.
Trees at Minneapolis’s Lake Harriet park enable teenagers to maintain social distancing while sitting in hammocks. The hammocks’ womb-like feeling and soft swaying engender feelings of comfort and safety to a population scarred from anxiety after their lives have been turned upside down.
Parks
Twin Cities, Minnesota
Matternhorn in the Swiss Alps transforms into a symbol of solidarity. The mountain is lit up with flags by artist Gerry Hofstetter to honor many of the countries battling the virus, including the US.
Parks
Switzerland
Photo credit: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/coronavirus-matterhorn-flags-us-trnd/index.html
As a medium for fostering global solidarity, Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue lit up as a doctor to pay tribute to healthcare workers who are fighting the coronavirus around the world.
Parks
Brazil
Photo credit: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/christ-the-redeemer-doctor-easter-sunday-scli-intl/index.html