another contribution to quality of life. The studies indicate similar effects throughout
the world for people of all ages and in communities spanning the socioeconomic
spectrum. Having quality metro nature is not a panacea for the challenges of urban
life. Yet initial findings about a wide range of benefits, once viewed as novelties or
with skepticism, are now bolstered by robust research (Wolf 2015).
Yet in many communities a commitment to green design and infrastructure is
premised on environmental performance but does little to move nature into the
immediate experiential or life world of people. Installations are based on utility
functions adapted from ecological systems, but the presence of nature has little
meaning to the people who live, work, study, and play in its midst. Intentionally
enabling a sacred outlook concerning nature in communities can bring greater
attention to the values and benefits of nature, enable more intimate experiences,
and perhaps even motivate a city’s residents to commit to political support for and
stewardship of metro nature (Maddox 2014). The next sections introduce definitions,
understandings, and potential expressions of civic sacred within cities.
8.4.2 Civic Appropriateness
The term “sacred” can introduce tension in public discourse, as some nations adhere
to a political separation of church and state. Civic policies that separate the sacred
and profane can quickly sidetrack discussions about the role of the sacred in public.
Big “S” sacred is connected to formal spiritual traditions and theology, interlaces
with faith-based organizations, and may be interpreted as a breach of a policy of
separation. Civic (small “s”) sacred is not limited to traditional places of worship and
consecrated sites and includes the opportunity for intentional and meaningful nature
encounters throughout a city.
There are challenges of language filtering down to the scale of specific neighborhoods or communities or even to individual sites and projects. A colleague who is a
regional urban parks planner attempts to inconspicuously bring the sacred into his
work. In a study about civic sacred and public perceptions, a respondent who is a
regional urban parks planner described how he attempts to inconspicuously bring the
sacred into his work (Wolf and Housley 2016, p. 9). He holds that “sacred space
should be part of our assumptions about everyday reality, something we feel
comfortable in and about . . . When we talk about increasing [parks] access,
community-based design policies, or increasing stewardship [participation] among
minority populations . . . we are ultimately talking about how to fold the experience
of nature and sacredness into our everyday lives.” But such discussions do not come
easily. He also notes that “. . . with my work colleagues I’ll say something, and they
hook into it or they don’t. That lets me know where to take the idea, or just drop
it. Usually I don’t use the word ‘sacred’, but use beauty, serenity, relaxation. They
can connect to these words and then we can talk more directly.”
8 From Sanitary to Sustainable to Sacred: Metro Nature Experiences and. . .
143
the world for people of all ages and in communities spanning the socioeconomic
spectrum. Having quality metro nature is not a panacea for the challenges of urban
life. Yet initial findings about a wide range of benefits, once viewed as novelties or
with skepticism, are now bolstered by robust research (Wolf 2015).
Yet in many communities a commitment to green design and infrastructure is
premised on environmental performance but does little to move nature into the
immediate experiential or life world of people. Installations are based on utility
functions adapted from ecological systems, but the presence of nature has little
meaning to the people who live, work, study, and play in its midst. Intentionally
enabling a sacred outlook concerning nature in communities can bring greater
attention to the values and benefits of nature, enable more intimate experiences,
and perhaps even motivate a city’s residents to commit to political support for and
stewardship of metro nature (Maddox 2014). The next sections introduce definitions,
understandings, and potential expressions of civic sacred within cities.
8.4.2 Civic Appropriateness
The term “sacred” can introduce tension in public discourse, as some nations adhere
to a political separation of church and state. Civic policies that separate the sacred
and profane can quickly sidetrack discussions about the role of the sacred in public.
Big “S” sacred is connected to formal spiritual traditions and theology, interlaces
with faith-based organizations, and may be interpreted as a breach of a policy of
separation. Civic (small “s”) sacred is not limited to traditional places of worship and
consecrated sites and includes the opportunity for intentional and meaningful nature
encounters throughout a city.
There are challenges of language filtering down to the scale of specific neighborhoods or communities or even to individual sites and projects. A colleague who is a
regional urban parks planner attempts to inconspicuously bring the sacred into his
work. In a study about civic sacred and public perceptions, a respondent who is a
regional urban parks planner described how he attempts to inconspicuously bring the
sacred into his work (Wolf and Housley 2016, p. 9). He holds that “sacred space
should be part of our assumptions about everyday reality, something we feel
comfortable in and about . . . When we talk about increasing [parks] access,
community-based design policies, or increasing stewardship [participation] among
minority populations . . . we are ultimately talking about how to fold the experience
of nature and sacredness into our everyday lives.” But such discussions do not come
easily. He also notes that “. . . with my work colleagues I’ll say something, and they
hook into it or they don’t. That lets me know where to take the idea, or just drop
it. Usually I don’t use the word ‘sacred’, but use beauty, serenity, relaxation. They
can connect to these words and then we can talk more directly.”
8 From Sanitary to Sustainable to Sacred: Metro Nature Experiences and. . .
143