Our approach to striving for more inclusive future cities involves the process of co-design. Our co-design workshops and community interviews (both online and on-site, at Sydney Park) are great examples of how involving different people in the design process can lead to urban spaces that work for everyone. By bringing together artists with skateboarders, roller skaters, and BMX riders, the group came up with fresh, age-inclusive, and multi-user-led ideas for transforming Mestrom’s sculptures into skate-obstacles that people of all skill levels can explore. Additionally, these focus groups, workshops, and site visits provided valuable experiences and perspectives that also inform the sociological and community-led resources being developed by her collaborator, Dr. Indigo Willing.
This approach is a win-win because it creates spaces that serve multiple purposes. Skaters (and all others from non-traditional urban sports) get to ‘shred’, ride, and grind on bespoke sculptures in the public domain, while non-skaters can still appreciate the art and the unique cultural and intellectual dimension the sculptures bring to the area. This co-design project is all about designing places that encourage people to interact, express themselves, and have fun.
What’s really special about this participant-led co-design process is that it gives many in the community a sense of ownership over the space they are regularly using but rarely given a sense of civic agency and a say in its design. When skaters (et al.) get to be a part of designing skateable-obstacles – creatively made and aesthetically striking public art, not generic obstacles seen across multiple skateparks – they’re more likely to take pride in the area and remind and encourage their fellow users to do the same. This can lead to stronger connections between people who are non-skaters and also across creative sports, fostering a more tight-knit community overall, as well as attracting users that might not normally approach traditional skate parks.
The ideas from our focus groups, online and on-site workshops, and upcoming interviews will be used by Dr. Mestrom and Dr. Willing in various urban design projects in both cities and regional areas. We foresee our collaborative research project adding important arts, community-led, and culturally informed contributions to strategic spatial and social activities of small to medium creative sport-events, as well as international ones such as the Olympic Games. By actively seeking out opinions from different groups – like kids, seniors, athletes, including adaptive athletes/people with disabilities, artists – we can create spaces that cater to a wide range of needs and wants. This inclusive approach is all about promoting fairness and ensuring everyone feels welcome in the public domain.
