City Park Ordinance: Solving Community Issues
Explore how a local government ordinance aimed at preserving nature in a city park can lead to both solutions and new challenges. Design a park, enforce a "No Vehicles in the Park" ordinance, and consider alternative solutions in this engaging lesson. Help shape a community space that balances conservation and recreation.
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No Vehicles in the Park This lesson shows how a local government ordinance can solve a community problem, but when the law is enforced it creates new problems that need a better law.
In this lesson, you will see how a city ordinance in a local park addresses a community problem. This lesson has 3 parts. Part One - Create a park. Part Two - Decide whether a park ordinance is being followed in different cases. Part Three - Explore alternative solutions. Materials you will need: Paper, markers, pictures of park equipment (or draw) A No Vehicles in the Park Chart
Part One CREATE A PARK
Our town of Beautifica is asking you to design a city park. The city council wants to preserve some elements of nature, undisturbed by city noise, traffic, pollution and crowding. It should be a place where people can go and find grass, trees, flowers, and quiet. In addition, there are playgrounds and picnic areas. Will you help?
Directions 1. On a piece of paper draw the boundaries of a park (8 by 10 inches) and then draw two lines connecting the top left corner to the bottom right corner. This is a road that runs through the park.
2. What does your park look like? Are there trees? flowers? pond? walking paths? playgrounds? swimming pool? ball field? 3. Now decide what kind of park your community wants. Who will use the park? What kind of activities can people do in your park? What kind of equipment do you need? Draw and/or paste pictures to show what your park looks like.
Congratulations! The city council approved your design and the park has been built. Now the city council wants to address the problem of keeping the park quiet and protecting nature. So the city council passed a law, called an ordinance, to address the problem. The ordinance says, No Vehicles in the Park. City workers posted the following sign, NO VEHICLES IN THE PARK at all park entrances. On your park drawing, write out the sign at each park entrance.
Part Two: DECIDE THE CASES
Lets look at the ordinance more closely. On your paper: 1. Write out your definition of a vehicle. One definition of vehicle is something with wheels that carries people or things. Compare the two definitions. How are they the same? different? NO VEHICLES IN THE PARK! 2. What exactly does the law say about vehicles in the park? 3. What is the purpose of the law?
NO VEHICLES IN THE PARK The ordinance seems clear, but some disputes have arisen over how the ordinance should apply to different situations. Read the cases on the following slides and fill out the No Vehicles in the Park chart as you answer each slide s question. If you check Yes you are allowing the person/vehicle in the park. If you check No you are not allowing the person/vehicle in the park. Keep in mind the letter (what the words say) of the ordinance as well as the intent (the goal) of the ordinance. Give reasons to support each of your answers.
VEHICLE YES NO Reason to support your choice CAR Complete the chart as you answer each of the following situations. SANITATION TRUCK POLICE CAR AMBULANCE BICYCLE STROLLER SKATEBOARD WAR MONUMENT MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR SEGWAY DRONE
1. John Smith lives on one side of the town and works on the other side. He will save 10 minutes if he drives through the park. Should Smith be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
2. There are many trash barrels in the park so that people may deposit trash without leaving the park. The sanitation department wants to go in to collect the trash. Should the sanitation department be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
3. Two police cars are chasing a suspected bank robber. If one cuts through the park, he can get in front of the suspect car and trap him between the patrol cars. Should police be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
4.An ambulance has a dying car accident victim in it and is racing to the hospital. The shortest route is through the park. Should the ambulance be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
5. Some of the children who visit the park want to ride their bicycles there. Should the bike riders be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
6. Mr. Her is jogging in the park with his baby in a stroller. This stroller allows Mr. Her to jog or run quite fast at the same time as he is pushing the stroller. Should Mr. Her be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
7. A monument to the town's citizens who died in past wars is being constructed. A tank, donated by the government, is to be placed beside the monument. Should the monument be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
8.Kalia and Kelly have come to the park to ride their skateboards on the road in the park. Should the skateboarders be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
9. Mrs. Washington has just gotten a new motorized wheelchair and is looking forward to "drives" through the park. Should Mrs. Washington be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
10. A local tour company wants to have its tourists drive through the park using Segways. Should the Segway riders be allowed in the park _____Yes _____No Reason:
11. Some flying enthusiasts want to fly drones in the park. Should drones be allowed in the park? _____Yes _____No Reason:
I wonder. . . Revisit your definition of a vehicle. Has your definition of vehicle changed? How so?
VEHICLE YES NO Reason to support your choice Now review your chart and answer: CAR SANITATION TRUCK POLICE CAR 1. Look over vehicles marked in the YES column. How are they similar? AMBULANCE BICYCLE STROLLER 2. Look over the Nos. How are they similar? SKATEBOARD WAR MONUMENT 3. Do you see a pattern? Describe it. MOTORIZED WHEELCHAIR SEGWAY DRONE
1. Is the ordinance NO VEHICLES IN THE PARK a fair one? Why or why not? 2. Did you follow the law by not allowing any vehicles in the park? What kind of vehicles did you allow? Why? 3. What is a good reason to allow a vehicle in the park?
Part Three: EXPLORE OTHER SOLUTIONS
So there is a problem in our park - we have an unclear law ordinance. Too many people want to use the road and ask to be an exception to the ordinance. BUT the city council still wants the park to be a quiet place and to preserve nature. Please help brainstorm solutions to this community problem. A city council can choose to write a better ordinance. What would a new ordinance say? FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR THINKING ON A NEW ORDINANCE WITH YOUR TEACHER.
Choose one question and explore another way to solve the problem. How could city services help? (police, sanitation trucks, other authorized vehicles) How could the park be redesigned? (location of road, accessibility for all) What new resources might help? (new technology) Should the park have a different purpose? FEEL FREE TO SHARE YOUR NEW IDEA WITH YOUR TEACHER.
CONGRATULATIONS! You have done an amazing job examining multiple perspectives on a community problem and learning how city ordinances can be fair in helping solve a community problem. IN THE NEAR FUTURE, PLEASE TAKE TIME TO ENJOY A PARK IN YOUR COMMUNITY!
