Selected from entries representing urban areas all over the world, six parks were named finalists in the Urban Open Space Award competition, the Urban Land Institute's (ULI) annual contest to recognize successful large- and small-scale public spaces that have socially and economically enriched their surrounding communities.
This year’s six shortlisted projects are the Marina Bay in Singapore; Millennium Park in Chicago; Myriad Gardens in Oklahoma City, Okla.; Thousand Lantern Lake Park System in Foshan, Guangdong, China; Tongva Park and Ken Genser Square in Santa Monica, Calif.; and Washington Canal Park in Washington, D.C.
To be eligible for the competition, a project must have been opened to the public between one and 15 years; be predominantly outdoors; provide features such as shade, varied and abundant seating, attractions, and trees; be used intensively on a daily basis; be economically beneficial on its surroundings; promote the physical, social, and economic health of the larger community; and provide lessons or strategies that can be implemented in other communities.
An international jury—representing the fields of architecture, finance, land planning and development, public affairs, design, and professional services—will select one winning project. The finalist will be announced at the ULI Fall Meeting on Oct. 5–8. A $10,000 cash prize will be given to the individual or organization most responsible for the creation of the winning project.
