Parks are both public amenities and agents for change, which is why HR&A Advisors focuses its work on parks and open space strategy. The economic development consultancy firm approaches community development through strategic connections and real estate transactions, creating value through data-driven and robust programs.
HR&A is a consultancy company that provides a suite of core services to ensure developers can create self-sustaining and vibrant parks and urban areas. In addition, their approach enables cities to view and transform open space through a lens of social revitalization.

How Do You Finance Development of Open Spaces?

As part of its parks and open space development strategy, HR&A works with private and public clients, civic stakeholders, urban design professionals, and community leaders to build a financial model for parks and open space costs. They then guide value considerations, and they advise on the monetary challenges and opportunities associated with various stewardship models.
HR&A examines potential income sources for a construction funding plan. Since the firm has planned and implemented public open space models in cities across the United States – and worldwide – they are in an ideal place for leveraging the resources of parks departments to meet development funding goals. HR&A also has extensive experience in forming not-for-profit open space conservancies and strategizing earned income sources.
Flexibility in strategy is critical, as HR&A knows from its work on parks and social development all over the country. The consultancy company understands the strengths and weaknesses of open space stewardship models, and it tailors best practices to each client and project.

What is a Sustainable Approach to Operations and Maintenance of Open Spaces?

Planning for the ongoing operations and maintenance of newly developed parks and open spaces is essential. The health of our urban parks comes from a foundation of sustainable operations and maintenance, and HR&A says an approach to this vitality is three-pronged:

• Organizational vision
• Park activation
• Existing financing

HR&A partners with its clients to document each open space’s current stewardship model and it evaluates ongoing costs – capital projects and associated costs. In addition, its strategy includes estimating operational costs and revenue planning, and identifying potential structures that might provide ongoing revenues for the park.

Why Leverage Programming to Increase Value of an Open Space Development?

HR&A believes that new parks and open spaces must leverage vital programming for a layered demographic. It believes the development of parks and urban areas should include bringing in more local residents, workers, and visitors.
Through collaboration with park management experts and urban design professionals, HR&A evaluates the feasibility of new park programming elements. It also studies how a range of programming and specific structures might increase the value of newly built open spaces.

HR&A Featured Work

HR&A has offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Raleigh, and Washington D.C. This presence allows the firm to serve clients all over the world. HR&A’s list of projects includes:

• Anacostia Waterfront Framework Initiative
• Brooklyn Bridge Park
• Downtown Cincinnati Revitalization
• Economic Assessment of the Dallas Park System
• Game On! Programming for Water Street
• Menil Collection Neighborhood Preservation and Development
• Philadelphia’s Delaware Waterfront & Penn’s Landing
• Programming The Lawn on D
• Rebuild by Design Completion
• Revitalizing the Toronto Waterfront
• The High Line Transformation