Designing Small Parks
Laura Musacchio & Ann Forsyth, University of Minnesota

Small parks play crucially important roles in metropolitan areas, but their designs rarely reflect all that is known about people, ecology, and landscapes.  Designing Small Parks translates current research into design guidelines for parks of less than 6 acres, and is aimed at parks professionals, citizen groups, and designers.  In compiling the book, the authors read more than 600 articles and books, and then developed guidelines and design prototypes.  From leisure sciences and ethnic studies to conservation biology and forestry, the studies tell an emerging story of the importance of small parks and the role of design in increasing their value.