October 19 — Like many of my peers, I have been pleasantly surprised at how easy the
transition from life in Portland to life in London has been. The key
features of cities remain: public transportation, crowded sidewalks,
prominent bike lanes. While the pedestrians seem more diverse here in
terms of language spoken or country of origin, every single storefront,
menu, street sign, and map is written in English; London is not
difficult for an American to navigate.
Our location at the Mile End campus of Queen Mary has also helped with the ease of transition. Walk a few blocks in either direction and you will find a tube station and multiple bus stops. The streets are lined with restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores. We are right on the edge of Regent’s Canal, a 8.6 mile canal linking the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal to the River Thames in East London. The skyline is equally as interesting; the City of London itself can be seen to the west, and the massive structures which housed the 2012 Olympic Games are visible to the northeast.
One of the first things I did upon arrival to campus, after the excitement of picking up keys and moving into dorm rooms, was explore the neighborhood. I wanted to find a grocery store as soon as possible (which was not very difficult at all) and I wanted to explore running routes in the neighborhood. When I learned that Mile End Park was a mere three blocks from my residence at Queen Mary, I was thrilled. And when I noticed signs pointing to Victoria Park less than a mile up the Regent’s Canal, I was equally as excited. I have always preferred running in parks and green spaces to running on sidewalks through a city. I went for my first run on September 18, and very quickly discovered a difference between London and Portland that I had not expected.
We are spoiled at Lewis & Clark with the proximity and size of Tryon State Natural Area. Once you enter Tryon you very quickly lose sight of roads and cars. Even in winter the park is almost shockingly green. In contrast to Tryon, where nature is given free reign within the boundaries of roads, Mile End Park has allowed streets and paths inside its borders to the point where it has been turned into a patchwork of triangular patches of dry grass and memorial benches. Victoria Park is much the same, bisected by a road for cars and filled with paved paths, manicured lawns, and man-made ponds. Nearly every park in London is gated and locked at sundown so people cannot spend the night in them.
The more I explore London, the more I am learning that these “style” of parks are the norm. I have yet to find a park within which I cannot see and hear London’s heavy traffic and busy streets. Every park has a name, sign, paved path, and a variety of other infrastructure: benches, fountains, rubbish bins, memorials, and more. All are mowed and manicured somewhat regularly. Nature is controlled in a way I have not seen in Portland, or anywhere else in the States for that matter.
According to the 2014 ParkScore Index, Portland, ranks third in the US for park land, with 17.4% of city land as park space. In contrast, parks make up only 5.77% of the Greater London, according to Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC, 2015. This is only taking into account defined parks; other green and natural spaces exist in both Portland and London, certainly. But the contrast in the availability in public green spaces set aside for recreation is pretty striking.
Our location at the Mile End campus of Queen Mary has also helped with the ease of transition. Walk a few blocks in either direction and you will find a tube station and multiple bus stops. The streets are lined with restaurants, coffee shops, and grocery stores. We are right on the edge of Regent’s Canal, a 8.6 mile canal linking the Paddington Arm of the Grand Union Canal to the River Thames in East London. The skyline is equally as interesting; the City of London itself can be seen to the west, and the massive structures which housed the 2012 Olympic Games are visible to the northeast.
One of the first things I did upon arrival to campus, after the excitement of picking up keys and moving into dorm rooms, was explore the neighborhood. I wanted to find a grocery store as soon as possible (which was not very difficult at all) and I wanted to explore running routes in the neighborhood. When I learned that Mile End Park was a mere three blocks from my residence at Queen Mary, I was thrilled. And when I noticed signs pointing to Victoria Park less than a mile up the Regent’s Canal, I was equally as excited. I have always preferred running in parks and green spaces to running on sidewalks through a city. I went for my first run on September 18, and very quickly discovered a difference between London and Portland that I had not expected.
We are spoiled at Lewis & Clark with the proximity and size of Tryon State Natural Area. Once you enter Tryon you very quickly lose sight of roads and cars. Even in winter the park is almost shockingly green. In contrast to Tryon, where nature is given free reign within the boundaries of roads, Mile End Park has allowed streets and paths inside its borders to the point where it has been turned into a patchwork of triangular patches of dry grass and memorial benches. Victoria Park is much the same, bisected by a road for cars and filled with paved paths, manicured lawns, and man-made ponds. Nearly every park in London is gated and locked at sundown so people cannot spend the night in them.
The more I explore London, the more I am learning that these “style” of parks are the norm. I have yet to find a park within which I cannot see and hear London’s heavy traffic and busy streets. Every park has a name, sign, paved path, and a variety of other infrastructure: benches, fountains, rubbish bins, memorials, and more. All are mowed and manicured somewhat regularly. Nature is controlled in a way I have not seen in Portland, or anywhere else in the States for that matter.
According to the 2014 ParkScore Index, Portland, ranks third in the US for park land, with 17.4% of city land as park space. In contrast, parks make up only 5.77% of the Greater London, according to Greenspace Information for Greater London CIC, 2015. This is only taking into account defined parks; other green and natural spaces exist in both Portland and London, certainly. But the contrast in the availability in public green spaces set aside for recreation is pretty striking.
I appreciate the London parks for what they
are, and am grateful to have such spaces to explore so close to campus
here, even if they are not as “natural” as I would like. London has a
long, rich history and a massive population; that there are so many
parks (around 3,000 according to the Mayor of London) packed within the
limits of the city despite all that must “fit” within it is a testament
to the regard in which London holds public green spaces. That regard is
something on which I believe both London and Portland can agree.
—Emma Celebrezze