Janet Marie Smith, famous for helping plan Camden Yards in Baltimore, discusses how Dodger Stadium's 'new front door' will optimize transit and pedestrian access while preserving the field's historic character and sweeping 'postcard views.'
Following the recent announcement by Guggenheim Baseball Management of their $100 million investment to renovate and upgrade Dodger Stadium, all-star stadium veteran Janet Marie Smith joined TPR to talk about the planned renovations and opine on the role of sports stadiums in urban place making, and her experience working on notable ballparks and stadiums across the country—including the famed Oriole Park at Camden Yards.
Dodger Stadium's "new front door" will optimize transit and pedestrian access to the park while preserving the field's historic character and sweeping "postcard views." Smith reveals that the planned upgrade aims to "connect the other entrance plazas at the Top of the Park, Reserve, Loge and Field levels, giving fans the ability to move freely up, around, and through the park in a dynamic way. For Dodger Stadium, carved into the hillside of Chavez Ravine—this additional vertical circulation means a major shift in the way fans can use the venue."
Read the full interview at The Planning Report.
Additional coverage of the renovations is available from the Los Angeles Times and Curbed LA.
FULL STORY: Janet Marie Smith on Dodger Stadium as Civic Space with a New Front Door
Mired in a Sea of Parking, Dodger Stadium Architects Design a More Urbane Experience
In renovating Dodger Stadium to enhance the fan experience, the baseball team's ownership brought together a team of architects and planners known for integrating stadiums into the urban fabric of their surroundings.
An Aerial Tram Could Carry Fans to Future Dodgers Games
A coach suspended from a cable (like a big gondola or ski lift) has been proposed by private company Aerial Rapid Transit Technologies, to bring fans to Chavez Ravine in 2022.
Like City, Like Stadium
Beloved as it is, Dodger Stadium did not come easily to Los Angeles. Its development was fraught with protests, political rivalries, and debates over public investment and urbanism. Those debates continue today.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
Detroit Says Problems With Property Tax Assessments are Fixed. Advocates Disagree.
With higher-valued properties under assessed and lower-valued properties over assessed, advocates say there's still a problem with Detroit's property tax system.
Defunct Pittsburgh Power Plant to Become Residential Tower
A decommissioned steam heat plant will be redeveloped into almost 100 affordable housing units.
Trump Prompts Restructuring of Transportation Research Board in “Unprecedented Overreach”
The TRB has eliminated more than half of its committees including those focused on climate, equity, and cities.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Jefferson Parish Government
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont