Bringing people to the park : inclusion and exclusion in the production of public space

Abstract

In 2003 the Rotary Club of Lethbridge, Alberta proposed a revitalization of Galt Gardens, a small historic park in Lethbridge‘s downtown which was perceived to be the focus of particular kinds of “negative use.” Over the course of the revitalization the park changed significantly – public washrooms and a water feature were installed, and private security guards were introduced. According to the local newspaper, developments have transformed the park into an “idyllic scene of children splashing and playing, families picnicking and people strolling” (Gauthier, 2008). This thesis explores the revitalization of Galt Gardens through a consideration of various texts and practices that (re)produce, not only the park, but also the “public” (and “non-public”). My analysis focuses on the ways in which a revitalized Galt Gardens is discursively represented and materially practiced to include and exclude particular users and uses, with potential consequences for the construction of public social space.