As part of an extended public engagement program on the development of a new property, students in one Michigan town will take a shot at designing a park.  From the local online paper:

After a brief overview of the project and an introduction to park planning, student teams will be given a box containing an array of park features printed on acetate. These include such elements as an amphitheater, dog park, soccer fields, concession stands, skateboard park, etc. The students will be asked to arrange the park features on a large map of the actual 350-acre site (former Northville State Regional Psychiatric Hospital). They can use whatever park elements they want, where they want, and even draw some of their own. Creativity will be encouraged.

Township and Stantec staff will circulate around the room to answer questions and interact with the students.

After this approximately 30-minute exercise, the “new” park maps will be reviewed and discussed. Students will have the opportunity to learn about planning and design, while taking an active role in developing a vision for development of this key community natural resource.