Carolina Angles’ First Semi-Annual Photo Contest

Second place went to this photo of Gathering Place Park in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was designed to be an inclusive, interactive, and educational space for all residents and visitors. It opened in September of 2018, and is the largest privately-funded public park in the U.S. Sustainable water management, biodiversity, and connectivity of park spaces, formerly divided by a roadway, were priorities for design. The park also features many attractions, including a boathouse, skate park, stage, and adventure park, pictured here.

First place goes to this image of the Biltmore Conservatory. Tourist attractions are an important part of a community’s economic well-being. The Biltmore Estate brings visitors to Asheville from all over the United States. I saw license plates from Florida, Maryland, Pennsylvania and others at the Biltmore parking lot. The revenue that tourism yields can really have an impact on the local community, especially if properly managed. According to Tourism Economics, these revenues covered 63% of police spending, 72% of the fire budget, and all of the planning, development, and transportation spending in Asheville. These are all integral components of local communities.

Advocates, professionals, and a Raleigh City Councilor pose for a photo during the 2018 NC Bike Walk Summit on Saturday, October 20th, 2018 in Raleigh, NC. The summit is meant to provide information useful to a variety of audiences, from transportation planners to tactical urbanists. Experts and professionals from all over the state gather to share their expertise. The mission of the summit is to foster collaboration, educate community members and stakeholders, promote sustainable modes of transportation, and highlight efforts in North Carolina to become a bike-walk friendly state.

This photo was taken at Hanging Rock State Park. Expansive parks like Hanging Rock are important to planning because they provide opportunities for resource preservation, recreation, tourism and environmental education. Planners have an important role in making and informing decisions related to park planning and land use. On a different note, I like this picture because it provides a bird’s eye view of the different land uses that exist beyond the park. As planners, we often look at things spatially on maps, so I love the opportunity to get a good view from above.

This home was on a Mid-Century Modern (MCM)  housing tour in the community I grew up in, the Moyaone Reserve. It is part of one of the nation’s earliest view shed, designed to protect the view from Mount Vernon. MCM houses are loved for their focus on bringing nature in through light, views, and materials crossing the boundaries between indoor and outdoor space.

This photo was taken on a planning trip, where we explored everything from resiliency to urban design to historic preservation to economic development. Resiliency refers to a community’s ability to absorb the outcomes of natural hazards, and to be able to quickly recover and implement adaptive techniques. Historic preservation is crucial for preserving national or local heritage. It also yields a lower environmental footprint as buildings are preserved rather than demolished and replaced via new constructions projects. Additionally, historic preservation can be an important component of economic development as it can help revitalize a downtown area, increase job numbers, and raise property values.

This photo was taken from atop the Old Cigar Factory in Charleston, SC and overlooks the Cooper River and Arthur Ravenel Bridge. This factory has been renovated to house several business and Clemson University graduate programs. Many similar sites in Charleston offer a unique blend of historical preservation and forward-thinking, innovative features related to planning and resiliency. This trip served as a reminder to always allow the history of our past development to positively inform the way we think about our present and future plans.