Context and connection: Evaluating success in urban parks

This thesis suggests that the success of an urban space does not lie solely within the space itself. It is proposed that the more significant influence on an individual site's performance is its context and its connections with the immediate surroundings.;A survey of twentieth century urban design theory is presented and five urban parks in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas are introduced as case studies. The five spaces are analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively to determine the extent to which the parks are integrated with their surroundings. Questionnaires and user counts are also utilized in this research.;The research expands the body of knowledge which investigates twentieth century design in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, and the study concludes with a presentation of ideas on how park sites may best be integrated into the urban fabric of the city.