Multicultural+Parks

=**Multicultural Parks**=

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Area of Interest
Multicultural Parks - Are activities offered and facilitated by parks mostly limited to the past times of the dominant culture rather than multiple cultures? If so, do the limited facilities in parks contribute to "assimilation" or loss of one's original culture? Does the range of activities available reflect the views of the city? Do people play different sports even if they are not facilitated by the park? How can we educate others on different cultural activities? Is one type of sport/activity valued more than another? What benefits are there to incorporating multicultural activities into our lives?

Research Statement
By observing Brampton parks and the range of activities facilitated and performed in the park, I hope to help build a more cohesive community in the face of increasing ethnic polarization by introducing multicultural sports and activities.

Method
I will observe the range of activities facilitated by the park versus the activities that are actually carried out in the public space. I will also research the demographics of the city and determine if the activities available discourage any particular cultural group from attendance or if the cultural composition of the city affects the activities carried out in the park. I hope to find a range of sports and activities from other countries which can be possible additions to current parks.

Background
The main area of study is located in Chinguacousy Park, which is one of the largest and most facilitated park in Brampton. Facilitated activities include: tennis, skateboarding, BMX, cycling, wading pool, petting zoo, playgrounds, minigolf, skiing, tobogganing, baseball, basketball, and curling.

**Critical Position**
Since the range of sports, celebrations, and most other activities in parks are limited to the dominate North American culture, I think educating, facilitating, and encouraging other cultural activities would benefit the residents by strengthening the neighbourhood, creating a sense of belonging, encouraging dialogue, and increasing interaction and tolerance between cultures.

Images
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Concept Map
[|multicult.jpg]

Slide Presentation
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Observations & Findings
According to the City of Brampton [|demographic report], the city's age profile is younger than that of the Province average with 41% of the population between the ages of 22-44 years of age as a result of young immigrant families. As a rapidly growing city, it receives a large amount of immigrants, with a majority from India, Pakistan, and Phillipines and has a total of 61 different ethnicities. The report also states that cultural sports are played within communities with high immigrant populations.

When I visited one of the largest parks in Brampton, Chinguacousy Park, I noticed that the demographics stated in the report matched the demographics of the park. Many of the park goers are with their families consisting of young children (ages 5-15) and were in the playground area, walking on the paths, or feeding the birds. Others consisted mainly of pre-teens and teens centered around the bike mounds and the skateboarding ramps. It was interesting to note that the multicultural children interacted with each other, while the parents watched without interactions amungst themselves. Unfortunately, there was no one playing cultural sports such as cricket (although I did witness it once ever on my many prior visits). Since the immigrant population is rapidly growing, has a large amount of young people, and has a desire to play culturally different sports, I would conclude that integrating multicultural sports into the park would not only stimulate children and educate people, but would also help define cultures and encourage cultural diversity.

Opportunities

 * Integration of multicultural activities may extend beyond the local park and into national parks, where different heritages and histories can coexist.
 * Children can benefit from a wider range of activities through a broader variety of stimulations and challenges.
 * Partnership with non-profit organizations or public agencies with a cohesive community can spark community-based projects to help meet the common goals and values of the neighbourhood.

Links
A List of Multicultural Games that are a possible addition to current parks. http://www.ga.k12.pa.us/Academics/MS/6th/MCGAMES/Directory.htm
 * Resources**

The article features 20 strategies for organizing and programming parks across cultural boundaries which include taking time to get to know long-time users of the space, and honouring a cultural range of seasonal celebrations, integrating tours, historical programs, community and institutional services, to name a few. http://www.pps.org/parks_plazas_squares/info/parkuse/coleman2

An article that discusses an innovative new park that is based on what the local children want and challenges them in different ways. It also encourages older childern such as 8 or 9 year olds that are tired of conventional playgrounds to play and interact. It offers an opportunity for children to build their own playgrounds. The project demonstrates how new and different activities are essential to a child's growth, which could also be nurtured via multicultural sports. [|http://www.theglobeandmail .com/servlet/story/RTGAM.2 0070918.wlplayground18/BNS tory/lifeMain/home]

These are examples of the kinds of events and activities that take place in parks (most of the ones actually facilitated are part of the 'North American culture': Concerts held at Chinguacousy Park. Flowchild: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XLv67PBCc_Q media type="youtube" key="XLv67PBCc_Q" width="425" height="350" George: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FE82c_W6kxkmedia type="youtube" key="FE82c_W6kxk" width="425" height="350" Skateboarders at Ching. http://youtube.com/watch?v=2deWqYcBny8 media type="youtube" key="2deWqYcBny8" width="425" height="350" Tubing at Ching. http://youtube.com/watch?v=jkqACwSoIug media type="youtube" key="jkqACwSoIug" width="425" height="350" wedding pictures at Ching. http://youtube.com/watch?v=4UTaso_xFvQ Tai Chi in Doncaster park: Note how Tai Chi is performed in a park's parking lot, rather than a proper area (perhaps a small area with lots of vegetation to help relax the mind and soul. http://youtube.com/watch?v=b8zj2ra2GOw media type="youtube" key="b8zj2ra2GOw" width="425" height="350"
 * Videos**