The Park Renovation Conflict

The City Parks Department has secured a budget for a major renovation of the city’s central but aging Liberty Park. Two project leaders must agree on the plan for the park’s largest unused area.

Profile 1: The Historical Preservationist

Background:

You are a project manager with the City’s Historical Resources division. You believe that the park’s primary value lies in preserving its 19th-century design and ensuring all new additions are architecturally consistent with the original vision. You prioritize heritage, documentation, and minimizing radical change. You can be perceived as resistant to innovation.

Position:

The unused area must be converted into a traditional, fenced-in, formal botanical garden.

  • This design requires importing specific historical plant species and maintaining the area under strict security.
  • It aligns with the park’s original landscape architecture plans from 1895.

Interests (The “Why” behind your position):

  1. Protecting Heritage (Legacy): You need to safeguard the park’s historical integrity for future generations and secure national landmark status.
  2. Order and Predictability: A formal garden is easier to manage, has clearly defined maintenance protocols, and minimizes unexpected wear and tear.
  3. Aesthetic Value: You want the park to serve as a beautiful, quiet refuge that showcases the artistry of historical landscape design.

Scenario Instructions for Role-Play

The Challenge:

You have been told by the Parks Director that they must submit a single, unified renovation plan for the unused area within the next 15-20 minutes. The plan must be one of your current positions or a creative new option that addresses the core interests of both.

Task:

Use the Active Listening and Principled Negotiation techniques to find a resolution that honors both historical preservation and modern community needs by focusing on the underlying Interests, not just the stated Positions. Be prepared to share your proposal with the group.

  • 2 minutes: Introductions and identify a person to report out to the group.
  • 2 minutes: Reviewing instructions and project profiles.
  • 4 minutes: Active listening to understand interests.
  • 4 minutes: Brainstorming options for mutual gain.
    • Get creative, listen!
    • Don’t counter arguments at this time.
    • Write down all ideas.
  • 4 minutes: Identify objective criteria.
    • Winnow your options using objective criteria.
  • 4 minutes: Determine proposal to present to group.