The allure of a pram jam lies in the sight of several strollers, open wide as they usually contain wriggling infants, now parked orderly at the periphery of the park. This arrangement prompts an intriguing query: what became of all those little ones?
Over yonder! A gathering of children lined up at the perimeter of a fresh, verdant park, seated orderly on picnic blankets, daintily enjoying the delightful small treat boxes prepared for them by their moms as they converse softly in the subdued light of a cloudy morning in Osaka.
Is anyone as graceful at picnicking as a Japanese child?
During a recent journey, I chanced upon this location after being directed towards what was touted as nearly flawless exemplification of urban greening within one of the planet’s most deprived-of-greenery metropolises. (Indeed, I confess to admiring infrastructural sights when traveling; perhaps it runs in the family, all those holiday breaks touring hydropower stations with my dad played their part.)
Osaka, a vast metropolitan area, shares an unobtrusive "twin cities" connection with my hometown of Melbourne. Recently, towards the end of last year, they inaugurated a significant urban green space close to their bustling downtown district. This newly-opened park spans across nine hectares, bisected by a major thoroughfare. It’s connected as one cohesive entity through a gracefully arched footbridge that soars above the roadway, linking both sections of this expansive public haven.
The area includes water elements, expansive green areas, cherry blossom trees, tiered seating for performances, and an exhibit space crafted by renowned architect Tadao Ando from Japan. The expansion of The Grand Green Osaka along with Umekita Park will be unveiled next year.
This place is incredibly charming. As you emerge from the bustling gray enormity of the biggest railway station in the city, you feel a sense of relief. It unfolds before you like a meandering trail amidst pleasant foliage, circling an serene open lawn that overlooks a gracefully arched covered area used for events.
Stepping inside, the urge to settle down and just admire the verdant view became irresistible; much like everybody else, we procured a (poor, apologies) cup of coffee, discovered small chairs, and then quietly sat and took deep breaths.
The culture acts as an indicator; creators such as designers, artists, and writers often foresee changes initially. Hence, it’s logical for the renowned publication Time Out to launch a fresh edition of their acclaimed urban marketplaces beneath the surface at the Grand Green. This venue showcases top-tier Japanese cuisine across several tastefully decorated eateries and cafés. Indeed, what sets it apart is that within this subterranean food court lies a café inspired by Melbourne's signature coffee scene. Perhaps these sibling-city connections do prove beneficial after all.
The location of what is currently known as The Grand Green was formerly home to the old Umeda freight station. After collaboration between the city administration and private enterprises, this area has been transformed into an urban hub featuring commercial zones, startup support spaces, along with parks, hotels, and residences. That could very well account for all the baby strollers around here.
Right now, as soon as I bring up old freight yards, your thoughts likely drift to the closest one: that unsightly derelict area with rusty rails, outdated vehicles, and dilapidated structures, often a blight occupying valuable real estate typically smack dab in the heart of town. It’s fitting for those images to come to mind since this neglected tract isn’t just unused; it represents unsustainable use of urban space. As such, your municipality faces a duty similar to many others across the nation—to repurpose these areas into compact living spaces supported by expansive public parks.
Numerous cities are attempting similar things. Naturally, everyone
is looking for something like the High Line now
Following New York’s globally acclaimed resurrection of an old railway line, even Melbourne has been captivated and has already committed millions towards replicating its success.
I’ve consistently been both impressed and disheartened by how this renowned initiative relies nearly exclusively on a rotating team of local volunteers for planting and maintenance. The part that saddens me is that although the City of New York holds ownership of the High Line and its supporting infrastructure, the Friends of the High Line handle management and operation of the park, primarily covering costs via individual contributions.
Therefore, the city receives the greenification, boosts tourism, and improves livability all without requiring continuous project financing. This seems rather unfair. Where is the support from state and federal levels for an initiative that provides universal benefits?
I reside close to Melbourne’s most ancient city park, which today is encircled by residential buildings just as it was before. It continually fascinates and pleases me to observe how extensively Flagstaff Gardens is utilized: mothers with infants, young couples walking their tiny dogs, urban professionals enjoying takeaway lunches, among others.
It's the social exchange that as a country we have been lousy at making and offering: we will build homes for you, on a smaller and denser scale than you originally had in mind, but we will provide a beautiful and accessible green space that we will maintain well and that will connect you much more strongly with your community than any outer-suburban new tree-less mega-home could.
This proposal calls for incorporating the highly skilled architects, urban planners, landscape designers, as well as sustainability and housing specialists whom I am confident reside within our nation. It also necessitates convincing the private sector that in large-scale projects aimed at revitalizing both urban areas and green spaces, maximizing profit margins should not be seen as the top priority.
The proposal requires meticulous planning for compact home designs within residential areas that truly cater to families' actual requirements.
Moreover, it necessitates having highly convincing and trustworthy individuals to convey this concept to those households and families who remain resistant to letting go of their aspiration for an independent house on a quarter-acre lot.
It’s not far-fetched anymore to advocate for these changes. Given the persistent political opposition to tax reform, which has made homeownership unattainable for numerous Australians, reshaping our construction practices and development strategies appears increasingly crucial. It necessitates clear roles for local municipalities and state authorities in this process. Other places have demonstrated successful implementation of such approaches. When you build sustainable communities, people will indeed move in.
This weekend you can choose from
cookbook wars
or
election wars
, among other things: both featuring intensely high-stakes confrontations.
Enjoy a safe and joyful weekend. Remember to catch the ABC’s election night coverage starting at 5:30 pm AEST, available on ABC TV and iView. Fingers crossed we get results early enough for you to still make time for it.
one of the episodes of Creative Types
that you may have missed.
The final episode featuring the remarkable Richard Tognetti will be broadcast next Tuesday, and I want to express my gratitude for your wonderful feedback on the episodes we've had so far. Here’s hoping I have the chance to present more content just like this for you soon.
If all the political chatter from the television becomes overwhelming tonight, pop in your earbuds and crank this track, and the world will fade away — at least for a little while. Have a good one.
Virginia Trioli serves as the host of Creative Types and previously co-hosted ABC News Breakfast and Mornings on ABC Radio Melbourne.
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