Memorial Walkway

About this pattern

A designated walkway between two activity spaces that is marked by shady trees planted close enough to provide a cool corridor around a paved or unpaved footpath. The trees and walkway are meant to communicate across generations the importance of memory, and care for an event or people or something.

Along the walkway there are benches for rest and reflection. There could be commemorative plaques in the paving. Shrubs or flowers that are of particular significance to who or whatever is being commemorated can be planted between the trees.

Memorial walkways that commemorate those killed in war are common around Australia. But shaded walkways could be built as part of a community building exercise to commemorate other events, people or species.   

Planning note: As trees will take some years to grow to a size that provides shade, community involvement needs to be backed up with care by a continuous authority such as a council.  

Pattern Conditions

Enablers

• Walkway location to be identified at planning stage.
• Identify a route connecting activity spaces that are frequently used.
• A walkway capable of being used by walkers, tricycles, wheelchairs and low traffic bikers.
• New residents are invited to participate in deciding what the Memorial Walk will commemorate, as part of a community building exercise.
• An annual event that remembers what the walkway is for and invites other new community members to join in the commemoration.
• Trees are selected for shade and longevity.
• Planting of trees to be a community event coordinated by a local association or Municipality.

Constraints

• Maintaining care of the trees during the establishment stage.
• Maintaining a connection to a community of rememberers.

Commoning Concerns

Planning and establishing a Memorial Walk is a commoning intervention that has the potential to call forth a community of commoners (people who initiate and care for a commons). Generating interest in ‘leaving a mark’ and communicating across generations will take time and commitment by a community development agent working with new residents.

Access: All residents, visitors, birds, animals.

Use: All residents, visitors, birds, animals.

Care:  Of trees performed by Local Government Authority (LGA), of commemorative plaques performed by commoning community in partnership with LGA.

Benefit: Atmosphere, coolth, shade, rest spaces, community connections.

Responsibility: Commoning community who have identified what will be commemorated.

Ownership: Publically owned open space; trees ‘owned’ by LGA.