Good Morning, Hello! How Are You?

As an urban planner, traveller and photographer, one of my past times is to observe how people use public space. As the pandemic dragged on, the Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park saw a very subtle change in its use. Gone were community events, concerts and large gatherings.

At some point in time picnic tables were removed and seating restricted.

The space became far more passive than active. A stroll along the waterfront or on to the pier became one of the few activities. However there was one change that did catch my eye.

People, friends and groups began to use the park as a meeting space. A place to sit, meet up, catch up and have a discussion. At its core was the need and desire for human contact and interaction. In some cases meeting out side replaced the backyard, the kitchen or gathering at the coffee shop.

This was not unique to Bronte, I observed it in other parks in Oakville, Burlington and other places. As picnic tables were removed, or seating restricted people began to improvise. For younger ones, it was seating in a circle on the grass, for others the solution was in those wonderful fold up chairs. What were one off gatherings, became a regularly scheduled time and place.

Seating is plentiful throughout the Bronte Heritage Waterfront Park and along Bronte Road. This includes the amazing Muskoka (Bronte) Chairs. In almost all cases the chairs are positioned to take advantage the various vistas of the marina, the Lake, Bronte Beach or to observe people walking along the boardwalk. A a basic level, their position is one that re-enforces solitude or limited interaction.

In my travels, especially in the US South, I was particularly interested in the small squares in Savannah Georgia and Charleston South Carolina. Particularly the orientation of the seating. The benches faced each other and groups would gather to meet and talk.

As a life long resident I often hear the complaints about the change in Bronte and the call for the "village" to be protected. While Bronte has changed physically, it is not the most profound change.

For myself, the biggest change is in the interaction between people or more pointedly the lack of interaction. Bronte is far larger and more populated now than decades ago. It was small enough that you would know most people. Even if you didn't; as you walked by, there would be a good morning, a hello, a smile or simple and visual acknowledgement. It was this interaction, that for me best defines what Bronte was, made it so special and bound it together as a community.

Today, as you walk down the sidewalk or through the park the good mornings, hellos, smiles or visual acknowledgements are fewer in numbers. It is replaced with eyes averted, or attention taken up by the music in the headphones or worse, a conversation on the cell phone we all can hear.

In away, the positioning of the chairs and benches while taking advantage of the lovely vistas in an indirect way re-enforces the singleness or limited interaction between people.

As the Town and BIA looks towards next summer, it would be interesting to reposition some of the chairs and seating into discussion circles or squares, where people can meet, talk and interact.

Or better still that strangers may sit down and strike up a conversation.

One of the other interesting ideas from Charleston, is that all seating does not need to be a chair.

Or other unique ideas from the waterfront in Oslo Norway