Background
A public space that is a park, for me, must be a portal to escape into a low pressure, low stress dimension. With this blog I, Tom Davis of
Houston Texas, want to share thoughts and observations about the creation of public spaces in the urban environment. I also want to hear from you particularly about the small spaces that really work; i.e. are used for something besides a short cut to the other side.
As part of Davis Alliance Corporation, I served as the construction-phase adviser for the re-construction management of 26 parks in the inner city and suburbia. As an employee of the Houston Downtown Management District I have been directly involved with significant parks including Discovery Green, Market Square Park and the Bayou Portals. In addition we enjoyed romantic strolls and have pushed three kids and two grandchildren in park swings. With that as my platform I hope what is shared here is helpful. 
We participated in park visioning workshops including two lead by the nationally recognized Projects for Public Spaces and participated in many meetings discussing what a park should or could be. We have spent many more hours discussing/debating/working with contractors, architects, engineers, park operations staff and the park’s neighbors about how to make those visions and plans evolve in the real world of budget, contracts, politics and politics.
I hope you will try the test I often fail. Go to a outdoor pubic space, find a bench or tree in hopefully a quiet place, and sit for fifteen minutes without answering the cell phone or email. I am getting better at that test–maybe growing older helps.
Tom Davis
