4. The Uses of Sidewalks: Assimilating Children 74 - 88
Notes
Jacobs argues here that children are safer on the streets than they are in the parks, though “common sense” planning believes otherwise. One doesn’t think of Jacobs as a feminist, particularly, but you will note in this chapter some observations of gender roles which fit in nicely with feminist theory. Sidewalks of the type Jacobs advocates socialize children into a world in which both men and women play important roles. Suburbs and traditional parks do not. Is she right?
Some of the most elementary and ordinary features of cities turn out to be some of the most important.
We remind ourselves that the lowly sidewalk is itself important enough to demand three chapters, and you will notice that each chapter interrelates with and builds upon the previous one: if sidewalks are not safe, they won’t facilitate contact, and without contact, children cannot be assimilated. These chapters are especially crucial because many of you most likely live in sidewalk-less neighborhoods.
Chapter 5. The Uses of Neighborhood Parks
Jane Jacobs is not a particular fan of parks as theoretical solutions to urban problems. She is in favor of parks which work well. In this chapter she tries to separate good parks from bad parks. To do so, she looks at concrete examples in a number of American cities, some of which are the focus of group projects. Those of you studying places like Los Angeles or Philadelphia may want to try to Google some of the parks she mentions by name. In fact, all of you would benefit by doing this for some of the parks mentioned in New York and San Francisco. You must note that “park” carries a broad definition. If you have in your mind’s eye a vision of trees, grass, and the odd swing or two, you’ll need to broaden your horizons some.
Notes
Chapter 6. The Uses of City Neighborhoods
This chapter may be the most difficult of all in this assignment. This is not Jacobs’ fault, particularly, but the fault of our own preconceptions about neighborhoods and what it means to be someone’s neighbor. We’re going to have to move to different sorts of definitions here. Jacobs wants us to understand three levels of “neighborhood,” all of which have to function simultaneously if a city is to function well. If this is the case, simple geography can’t be the entire definer of neighborhood or neighborliness.
Both pictures illustrate children on the streets of New York in the early years of the 20th century. In both, the neighborhoods are poor (Little Italy to the left, Brooklyn below). But notice that the children are under the close supervision of adults in both instances.
Washington Square, New York City is one of Jane Jacobs' examples of successful city parks. Click on it to reach the home page of the Village Independent Democrats, which can serve as an example of one of the district organizationswhich are so vital in advancing the interests of urban neighborhoods. Walk the perimiter twice--once facing in, once facing out. What's going on?
This rather dingy picture doesn't do justice to the vibrancy of the Back of the Yards district in Chicago, featured in Jacobs' chapter 6. (It figures in Terkel's Division Street America, as well. Clicking on it will bring you to the brochure of the Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council one of the grass roots organizations which Jane Jacobs lauds as vital to arresting decay in the city. Forty years after her book was published the Council remains active and vital, even as the ethnic mix continues to change.
Ordinary days in the lives of ordinary people. Imagine what the mother is telling her children. Imagine as well what the men are thinking about the boys on this street corner, and what the boys are thinking about the men.
For 60,000 Plus images and artifacts at the New York Historical Society, Click either image.
Read, in Jacobs, 
