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CONTENTS
PURPOSE/RATIONALE.....................................................................................................................1
BACKGROUND OF THE PARK:..........................................................................................................2
SITE CRITERIA FOR A PARK..............................................................................................................5
ECOLOGICAL FACTORS....................................................................................................................7
SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS.........................................................................................9
AESTHETIC AND PHYSICAL FACTORS.............................................................................................12
MOVEMENT SYSTEMS AND CIRCULATION FACTORS....................................................................15
UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK..................................................................................19
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................20
PURPOSE/RATIONALE
The study aims to answer the following questions:
A. What are the criteria for selecting the site for a park?
B. What are the ecological factors considered in planning of the
Centennial Park?
C. What are the social and psychological factors considered in
the park?
D. What are the aesthetic and physical factors considered in the
park?
E. What are the movement systems and circulation factors
considered in the park?
F. Who or what government entity is responsible for the upkeep
and maintenance of the park?
BACKGROUND OF THE PARK:
THE CENTENNIAL PARK Also known as Igorot Village, Imelda Park & Baguio Botanical Garden
Baguio City probably has the most visitor attractions clustered
in a relatively small area compared to other tourist destinations in the
Philippines. The most popular tourist attractions are located near each
other, on the East and South sides, although there are a few near the
residential areas. One of the best known sites is a large park known as
the Centennial park more popularly Baguio Botanical Garden.
The Centennial Park is one of the green parks of the City of
Pines "where nothing much happens" - and this is precisely what is so
great about it! It is a huge piece of land that is owned by the Philippine
government, Centennial Park, like Burnham Park is one of those prime
pieces of real estate that provides priceless peace and tranquility to a
city that is in danger of becoming an urban jungle.
Said to have been at one time a zoo and actually named the
Botanical & Zoological Garden, The garden has a long history of
naming and renaming. It was originally named the Botanical Garden
during the pre-Martial Law times. It was then named the Imelda Park in
1970 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos when he declared Martial
Law on the country. The park was named after his wife, First Lady
Imelda Marcos. Years after the Marcos regime, it was renamed Baguio
Botanical Gardens up until year 2009. In celebration of the city’s 100th
year of founding, the garden was then officially named Centennial Park
in September 2009.
The Centennial Park is located just 1 kilometer from Session
Road, along beautiful Leonard Wood between Teachers Camp and
Wright Park. You will be welcomed by a bas relief sculpture made of
cement and stone depicting the different rituals of the Cordillera tribes,
with real live Igorots who will be more than willing to pose for photos
for a small fee.
The park is thickly forested, which makes it a prime place of
relaxation and tranquility for some. Visitors enjoy roaming around the
park to appreciate the many flowering plants which have become
prevalent in the city. Visitors are in for a treat for the eyes with a
variety of shrubberies displaying various colors of flowers and leaves.
Shady trees and winding paths snake along the park with the perfect
touch of a charming wooden bridge. The Centennial Park serves the
dual purpose of providing visitors and resident’s valuable breathing
space and re-greening a fast developing city with greenhouses and
nurseries designed to propagate the flora and fauna species that will
eventually find their way to parks and gardens around the Summer
Capital. Stone steps and paths will guests around the different areas of
the Garden, that include an Art Gallery (as the Centennial Park is the
home of the Baguio Arts Guild), pocket gardens developed and
maintained by Baguio's sister cities, areas where folks from elsewhere
have planted pine tree seedlings, a small row of souvenir stalls selling
native handicrafts. Then there are the different relics from Centennial
Park 's Igorot Village days with large statues depicting different
Cordillera tribesmen and symbols, Cordillera huts that have seen
better days that visitors used to be able to climb into to get a glimpse
of the different cooking implements and home fixtures.
Recently renamed Centennial Park a valuable addition to the
park are the Dap-ayan and a beautiful bronze sculpture by famous
Filipino artist Ben-Hur Villanueva depicting the original builders of the
city, composed of Cordillera natives, Americans, Chinese and Japanese
working together. Construction is also on-going, as of March 2012, for
an amphitheater, and a tourist bus parking.
With the increasingly crowded city of Baguio, it is but a
refreshing experience to stop at the Centennial Park and be enthralled
by the delight and bloom of its surroundings. Other garden tourist sites
may offer the same natural scenery, but this garden provides a unique
heritage and culture that adds to the distinct characteristics of this
enchanted location.
SITE CRITERIA FOR A PARK
“If we as planners are concerned with wedding a proposed
structure or use to a site, let us first be sure the parties are
compatible”
–Simonds/Starke
Site-an area or plot of ground with defined limits on which a
building, project, park etc., is located or proposed to be located
(Harris, 2006).
Criteria- standards or rules on which decision may be based,
forming a basis for the establishment of acceptable limits of
environmental conditions in buildings (Harris, 2006).
Park -defined as an area, usually of public land set aside for
recreation and leisure, usually owned and managed by a
municipality, a state, a nation, or held by royal grant or in some
cases by private organizations (Harris, 2006).
The following are the general site criteria that need to be
considered in selecting a site for parks:
LOCATION
According to Jane Jacobs parks should be located in areas where
people live and there are activities of daily life and culture. A park
should take advantage of its natural setting and supported by its
adjacent diversity to stay as public area.
Centrality. One of the most important factors in determining the
optimal location of a park is the equitable access of all people.
Compatibility with Adjacent Uses. All neighboring uses have
to coordinate and complete each other to provide better
function.
Accessibility. Each park should have access to the road
network to provide the possibility of to attract more people and
the possibility of social control and increase park security. Parks
has to connect to surrounding commuting networks, again, to
attract more people,
SIZE
A park, being a public area for recreation and leisure, should
have adequate and appropriate space to accommodate its facilities.
TOPOGRAPHY
Topography refers to the configuration of surface features of a
plot of land, which influences where and how to build and develop a
site (Ching, 2008). Approach on this factor varies depending on the
purpose of the park and the activities to be accommodated.
SITE CONDITIONS
If a central purpose of planning is to create for a person or group
of persons an environment suited for their needs, then climate must be
a consideration (Symonds/Starke, 2006). In selecting a site, the region
should be appropriate for the proposed activities.
*Criteria may vary depending on the type of park.
ECOLOGICAL FACTORS
Outlined here are the ecological factors the centennial park was
able to consider:
Ground Form
For ecological reasons, the general intent in developing a site
should be to minimize the disturbance of the existing landforms and
features while taking advantage of natural ground slopes and the
microclimate of the site (Ching, 2008). The topography of the site of
the Centennial Park was considered by the following ways:
Terracing. In
landscaping the site,
terraces and
retaining walls were
incorporated in the
design of the
planters.
Avoiding building structures on steep slopes. Most major
areas are located in level areas while other areas ate left to be
conserved as they were naturally.
Soil and Geology
PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING TERRACED PLANTERS
Since minimal disruption was done in the park, the soil remained
fertile for plants to grow.
Microclimate
The microclimate in the site is vey ideal for the parks purpose.
So, the challenge was not to improve it but to preserve it. According to
Ching, the microclimate of a site is influenced by the ground elevation,
the nature and the orientation of landforms and the presence of water
bodies. Among the aforementioned factors, two of them can be
affected by development, the nature and the presence of water bodies.
Fortunately, these two factors were preserved.
Water Resources
Not so popular feature of the park is the creek which is the main
water source of the Sagudin-Balili River that flows to La Trinidad,
Benguet. Recently, the efforts of the city to save its environment got a
boost from the Pines City Colleges (PCC) which adopted a seven-
hectare forest area of the park for plantation and maintenance for five
years starting 2011.
SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS
The following are the social and psychological factors the
Centennial Park was able to consider:
Historical Significance
The park itself has
played a part on Baguio
city’s history. Other than
that, one of the attractions
of the park is the tunnel
built way back during the
Japanese Era. Not to
mention, the old pine trees
all over the park which are considered as
one of the most valuable features of the
city itself. In addition, as of march 2012,
the park is under redevelopment and the
design would take on a "walk-through-
time" pattern that presents the various
periods in the city’s history - pre-American,
American, second World War, post-war,
earthquake and post-earthquake.
THE PROPOSED REDEVELOPMENT
THE JAPANESE TUNNEL
Unique Character
Botanical garden provides priceless
peace and tranquility to a city that is in
danger of becoming an urban jungle. This
characteristic of the site is the one that
makes the Centennial Park known as it is
now. The park is developed into a
complex of different structures but still
maintains its natural setting. Compared
to other parks, something great about it
is that there is nothing much happening
inside. Not only that it has this nature setting but it also has this
unique heritage and cultural aspect that makes it more unique
compared to other garden attractions.
Intangible Qualities
The Centennial Park
which is popularly known as
Botanical Garden is one of the
few things that come to mind
when someone hears the
words: Baguio City.
Undeniably, the park has this
emotional attachment to
people especially tourists. It is
also the most relaxing among
the attractions in the city (Cruz, 2006). In addition, some parts of the
SIGNAGES WITH THE NAMES OF SISTER CITIES OF BAGUIO
park are maintained by the sister cities of the city thus symbolizing its
ties with other places.
Cultural Significance
Formerly called the
Igorot Village, the
Centennial Park used to
feature native huts typical
of Cordillera architecture.
The park, before, captures
the ethnic spirit and cultural
legacy of the Igorot dweller.
Cultural presentations and
other tribal meetings also
used to take place in the
park. Today, the park is
under redevelopment
(March 2012) and shall
feature an amphitheater
and the “Dap-ayan “in
which cultural presentations shall take place, again.
THE DAP-AYAN
THE REMAINING NATIVE DWELLINGS
AESTHETIC AND PHYSICAL FACTORS
The following are the aesthetic and physical factors the
Centennial Park was able to consider:
Site Context
Buildings do not exist in isolation. They are conceived to house,
support and inspire a range of human activities in response to socio-
cultural, economic and political needs and are erected in natural and
built environments that constrain, as well as offer opportunities for the
development (Ching, 2008). In short, designers should carefully
consider the contextual forces that the site presents. In the case of the
Centennial Park, since it is originally a Botanical and Zoological garden,
the site is perfect for the project itself. Why? The microclimate and the
topography of the site are appropriate for growing plants and zoning
wise, its adjacent spaces coordinates and compatible with it. Even now
that it has been turned into a park, the same factors still apply
appropriately.
Image/symbols
The identity or image of a place is based on its shape, color, texture
and arrangement of sensory quality. According to Simonds and Starke,
image has been classified into five
elements:
Paths: the circulation routes or lines
on which people move. In the case of
the centennial park, the walks are
the main routes, characterized by
uneven, curvy and rocky walkways.
TYPICAL PATH TEXTURE
Nodes: the centers of activity. The
CP has several of these. First is the
amphitheater, which is under
redevelopment (March 2012) and
the dap-ayan area.
Edges: the boundaries. CP seems to
be an endless forest, but it has
boundaries, remarkable among them is the elevated roadway.
Districts: the large to medium parts. CP has been like dvided into
parts having distinguished characteristic, for example, the Japanese
park, the Taebek park, the terraced garden and many more.
Landmarks: the point
reference. Centennial Park’s
landmark is definitely the
beautiful bronze sculpture by
famous Filipino artist Ben-Hur
Villanueva depicting the
original builders of the city
composed of Cordillera natives,
Americans, Chinese and
Japanese working together.
Structures and Site Volumes
THE DAP-AYAN
BEN-HUR SCULPTURE
In two dimensional site planning, we are concerned with defining
use of areas and relationship to one another and to the total site. In
further developing the conceptual plan, attention is centered upon the
translation of the areas into functioning volumes (Symonds/Starke,
2006).
Spatial Impact. According to Garrett Eckbo,”The experience of
being within fine three-dimensional spatial volumes is one of the
greatest experiences of life”. The park itself was developed to yield an
experience of pleasure. It is free, undulating, expansive and enclosed
with foliage and has a spatial characteristic that induces “relaxation”.
Spatial Quality. As mentioned above, the park is undulating. It
is also flowing, suggestive of directional movement and developed as
an optimum environment for relaxation.
Spatial Size. It is well known that the size of a space in relation
to people has a strong effect on their feelings and behavior. This fact is
considered in the planning of the Centennial Park considering that it is
expansive but not overwhelming in size.
MOVEMENT SYSTEMS AND CIRCULATION
FACTORS
Circulation systems are vital linkages that relate uses on the
land. One of the major concerns of site planning is to develop the
vehicular and pedestrian circulation systems (Rubenstein, 1996). In the
Centennial Park, several movement systems can be found;
Roads were used to allow some vehicles to enter the site like
the employees’(NEDA and HLURB) and service vehicles but not
the private ones (visitors’)
Walks. definitely essential for a park; they are the main
movement systems which allow the visitors experience whatever
the Centennial Park has to offer. Generally, they are oriented to
follow the contours thus giving them a curvilinear form.
Steps and ramps. Since the site has an irregular contour,
ramps and steps could not be avoided. They were used to link
and help the walks adopt with the terrain.
Outlined here are the fundamental criteria on circulation and site
access the centennial park was able to consider along with some
observations:
Safe and convenient pedestrian access. Loading zones for
public transport. Loading zones were designated but rarely
utilized due to its location.
Service, vehicular and pedestrian traffic separation.
Provision of parking spaces.
Disregarding the development
proposal, the park does have
PERSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE PROPOSED BUS PARKING
parking spaces but lacks in number. The slots are only intended
for cars and visitors have difficulty of maneuvering on the road.
Considering that it is a tourist spot, parking for buses should
have been considered. The good thing is, the abovementioned
observations have already been addressed on the proposed
development of the park.
The following are the circulation factors considered in the
Centennial Park:
Sequence
Defined as the succession of perceptions having continuity, the
sequence was achieved in the park by organizing the elements by
using the mini parks and other attractions inside (e.g. The Japanese-
Filipino peace memorial park, Art Gallery etc.) as sub climaxes thus
providing a progressive order of perceptions.
Visual Approach
When in motion, we are
acted upon by the physical
environment through which we
pass (Rubenstein, 1996). Each
part of the park’s approaches was
designed with sensitivity. For
example, the Japanese part was
marked by a Torii and the pathway THE TORII
of Buddha statues, the Korean part having the two giant heads
representing Korean people and the Christian portion marked by the
giant chrome plated cross.
Space Modulation
One of the reasons why people move is for the experience of
space modulation because they seek harmony or unity. The park was
designed as an evolving complex of spaces each complete in itself. As
you enter a specific part of the park, for example, the part featuring
Japanese themed area where one is toured in a unified space.
Distance and Grade
Since the park is located on a sloping site, climbing a grade could
not be avoided. Also because of the site’s terrain, size and shape
caused some apparent distance between the parts. So, these negative
factors are reduced by providing walks and pathways aligned with the
contours and by space modulation.
Accessibility
Disabled persons should also be considered in the design of the
park, for it is a public space. Previously, the Centennial Park was not
that accessible for disabled persons due to the absence of a ramp at
the main entrance. Since the park is under redevelopment as of March
2012, the proposed redevelopment of the main entrance already
features a ramp instead of the old stepped entrance, which by the way
shall be turned into an amphitheater.
UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PARK
The Baguio Centennial Park is under the City Government of
Baguio’s management,
specifically, the City Parks
Management Office
(CEPMO). However, the city
is not shouldering all the
Taebaek City Park
maintenance for the park. Some parts were adopted by some
institutions for them to maintain. For example, in 2010, Philippine Mine
Safety and Environment Association (PMSEA) adopted a 1,000-square
meter area inside the park to develop and nurture for five years
(philstar.com)and Pines City Colleges (PCC) which adopted a seven
hectare forest area of the Botanical Garden for plantation and
maintenance for five years which started 2011(baguiocity.com).
Sister cities of Baguio also maintain some parts like the Japanese cities
that maintain the Japanese - Filipino Peace Memorial Park and made
the clearing of the Japanese tunnel, and the Taebek, South Korea’s
Taebaek City Park.
REFERENCES
Simonds, John Ormsbee, Barry, Starke(2006). Landscape Architecture.
A Manual of Environmental Planning And Design. 4th Edition.
New York:Mcgraw
Rubenstein, Harvey M. (1996). A Guide to Site Planning and
Landscape Construction. 4th Edition. New York: Wiley
Ching, F. D. K.(2005). Building Construction Illustrated. 4th Edition.
New York: Wiley
Pines City Colleges Help Save Dying River;
http://baguiocity.com/news_article/pines-city-colleges-help-save-
dying-river accessed Jan. 27, 2012
Looking beyond Burnham Park for Tourism;
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2971/looking-beyond-burnham-park-
for-tourism accessed Jan. 28, 2012
Finalizing Plan For Botanical garden;
http://www.baguionews.net/news/index.php?
option=com_content&view=article&id=3612:slu-finalizing-plan-
for-botanical-garden-&catid=1:baguio-news&Itemid=9 accessed
Jan. 25, 2011
Botanical Garden; http://www.gobaguio.com/botanical-garden-baguio-
city.html; accessed Nov. 27, 2011
Centennial Park (was Botanical Garden was Imelda Park);
http://www.baguio-city.net/2011/02/centennial-park-was-
botanical-garden.html; accessed Nov. 27, 2011
From Imelda Park to the Baguio Botanical Gardens to the Centennial-
Park; http://www.baguiohotels.net/baguio-attractions/from-
imelda-park-to-the-baguio-botanical-gardens-to-the-centennial-
park; accessed Nov. 27, 2011
Baguio Botanical Garden;
http://www.asiarooms.com/en/travel-guide/philippines/baguio/pa
rks-and-gardens-in-baguio/baguio-botanical-garden.html;
accessed Nov. 27, 2011