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Beyond the pale: Fencing off parks for festivals

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  • Andrew Smith

Abstract

Pale is the Old English word for fence, and the phrase ‘to go beyond the pale’ means to stray beyond the limits of acceptable action. In this critical commentary I discuss whether the installation of temporary fencing in public parks to secure ticketed festivals is now beyond the pale. Fences restrict access but they also affect how park spaces are perceived, used and managed. I use photographs taken in three different London parks to illustrate the materiality of these temporary structures, but also their aesthetic impact, symbolic significance and lasting legacies. I argue that temporary fences have enduring effects on parks and public spaces by discouraging everyday use, by preparing the ground for future incursions, and by normalising and festivalising barriers that restrict access. My commentary highlights the often overlooked importance of fences and illustrates the splintered and sequestered nature of contemporary cities – where citizens are increasingly fenced off.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrew Smith, 2023. "Beyond the pale: Fencing off parks for festivals," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 60(14), pages 2763-2778, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:60:y:2023:i:14:p:2763-2778
    DOI: 10.1177/00420980231160943
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. David Kostenwein, 2021. "Between walls and fences: How different types of gated communities shape the streets around them," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(16), pages 3230-3246, December.
    2. Camillo Boano & Giorgio Talocci, 2014. "Fences and Profanations: Questioning the Sacredness of Urban Design," Journal of Urban Design, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(5), pages 700-721, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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