Special Place: Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater
A specific place in which our whole group feels is special is the Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater. It is located on campus here at Chico State behind the Bidwell Memorial Presbyterian Church at 1st Street and Esplanade. Built in 1938, it was a project that created work for people during the Great Depression. In early history, this amphitheater held various gatherings such as concerts and speeches but today, it is mainly used for reserving outdoor meetings, presentations, and even weddings, as it can seat up to 300 people.
Our group feels this location is special because this amphitheater is a significant and famous landmark in the city of Chico. It is interesting because of it's historical background and remote location on campus. According to Yi-Fu Tuan's article (1991), he expresses his idea about giving titles to certain areas that people admire. For instance, he believes, “Naming is power--the creative power to call something being, to render the invisible visible, to impart a certain character to things” (p. 688). Although our special place is commonly referred to as just "the amphitheater" by many, it's correct name, "Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater" brings significance to this location because of it's historical background and importance to Chico. Another article, "Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment" written by J.M. Brehm claims, “Many researchers assert that sense of place is a combination of two concepts: place attachment and place meaning" (Brehm, 2013). Place attachment is established with this amphitheater through outdoor gatherings and other recreational activities held here. The Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater is a popular place for both students and the public to visit and socialize at, giving it meaning and adding to it's overall significance. To make the amphitheater so that people would create place identity to this location, more events could be held here and it could be better maintained as it is gotten worn down over the years.
The Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater could be improved by fixing up and repairing the splintery, wooden benches that are broken and discolored due to weathering. It could also be better maintained and well kept because there was trash on the ground when our group visited and moss growing on the benches inside the amphitheater. Making these improvements would help attract more people and it would make it a nicer, cleaner, and more pleasant environment for the amphitheater. Chico State and the city of Chico are appreciative of the Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater and as long as it is well kept and maintained, it will remain a special place for future generations to come.
References:
Tuan, Y. F. (1991). Language and the making of place: A narrative-descriptive approach. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 81(4), 684-696.
Brehm, J. M. (2013). Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment. Society & Natural Resources: An International Journal, 26:5, 522-538, DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2012.715726.
Our group feels this location is special because this amphitheater is a significant and famous landmark in the city of Chico. It is interesting because of it's historical background and remote location on campus. According to Yi-Fu Tuan's article (1991), he expresses his idea about giving titles to certain areas that people admire. For instance, he believes, “Naming is power--the creative power to call something being, to render the invisible visible, to impart a certain character to things” (p. 688). Although our special place is commonly referred to as just "the amphitheater" by many, it's correct name, "Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater" brings significance to this location because of it's historical background and importance to Chico. Another article, "Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment" written by J.M. Brehm claims, “Many researchers assert that sense of place is a combination of two concepts: place attachment and place meaning" (Brehm, 2013). Place attachment is established with this amphitheater through outdoor gatherings and other recreational activities held here. The Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater is a popular place for both students and the public to visit and socialize at, giving it meaning and adding to it's overall significance. To make the amphitheater so that people would create place identity to this location, more events could be held here and it could be better maintained as it is gotten worn down over the years.
The Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater could be improved by fixing up and repairing the splintery, wooden benches that are broken and discolored due to weathering. It could also be better maintained and well kept because there was trash on the ground when our group visited and moss growing on the benches inside the amphitheater. Making these improvements would help attract more people and it would make it a nicer, cleaner, and more pleasant environment for the amphitheater. Chico State and the city of Chico are appreciative of the Bidwell Bowl Amphitheater and as long as it is well kept and maintained, it will remain a special place for future generations to come.
References:
Tuan, Y. F. (1991). Language and the making of place: A narrative-descriptive approach. Annals of the Association of American Geographers. 81(4), 684-696.
Brehm, J. M. (2013). Environmental Concern: Examining the Role of Place Meaning and Place Attachment. Society & Natural Resources: An International Journal, 26:5, 522-538, DOI: 10.1080/08941920.2012.715726.