Why One City Is Helping Residents Hang Their Hammocks
Columbus, Georgia, is a model for deploying a cost-effective, placemaking idea.
Columbus, Georgia’s “Urban Glen” project is a model for cities looking for low-cost ideas to attract residents to unused or underutilized spaces around town.
A city that’s part of the Knight Foundation’s portfolio of philanthropic investment, Columbus won a $4,000 grant for a relatively simple idea: Improve placemaking around parks and other municipal assets by erecting poles people can use to hang hammocks.
The city, Georgia’s second-largest by population, has the funds for 30 poles, which will double as painted art pieces in areas where officials want to see more social activity.
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Much of Columbus’ vacant land is privately owned and already home to retail stores or residences scheduled for demolition—not exactly inviting to hammock owners. The city owns more vacant lots, better suited for placing hammock poles encouraging residents to meet and engage.
While that doesn’t preclude Columbus from working with private landowners—the city’s eyeing three uptown, riverfront hammock locations belonging to a private organization—the process for using non-public land takes longer.
Weracoba Park is a popular, midtown space with a trail running around the outside. As a result, the park’s interior often isn’t explored by visitors and could use some hammock poles to draw them in.
Once a popular spot for birthday parties, Wildwood Park is older and sits in a historic neighborhood.
“It’s kind of the perfect setting for the Urban Glen project,” said Phillip Trocquet, the city planner who came up with the idea.
Places with trees are best because fewer hammock poles are needed, while unwooded areas like the Public Library’s civic commons need at least two poles in order to hang a hammock.
Trocquet got the idea for the project when he noticed a lot of college students around town already used portable hammocks.
“Hopefully it will also highlight the character of Columbus,” Tocquet said. “It’s got a lot of charm.”
Dave Nyczepir is a News Editor at Government Executive’s Route Fifty.
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