A fresh look at old places, spaces: Minneapolis parks

The first talk aimed at rethinking the role of Minneapolis parks happens Thursday.

The series of talks aims to create a sweeping vision of what parks should be, said Jeanette Law, a spokeswoman for the Minneapolis Parks Foundation, a cosponsor of the event. The other sponsors are the Walker Art Center and the University of Minnesota College of Design.

Law said the series will examine the role of parks amid demographic, economic and transportation changes.

All talks will be at 7 p.m. and are free and open to the public. Tickets will be available each day starting at 6 p.m.

What: Dean, the principal designer and program manager of London's Green Grid, kicks off the series by presenting East London's "living network of parks, green spaces, river, and other corridors."

Where: Humphrey Institute 310 19th Av. S. (the University of Minnesota West Bank).

What: Hammond, president of Friends of the High Line, and Switkin, of James Corner Field Operations, will talk about New York City's High Line, an abandoned elevated railway that has been transformed into a dynamic public pedestrian greenway.

What: Olin, a teacher, author and landscape architect will talk about Finding Lost Spaces in urban environments. Olin's projects include the successful Bryant Park in New York City.

Where: U of M College of Design, 100 Rapson Hall.

The Next Generation of Parks speaker series will continue in the early fall.

It will be followed by a "design ideas" competition focusing on a vision for Minneapolis.