Seymour M. Gold

Profile photo of Seymour Gold

In Memoriam
Professor of Professor of Environmental Horticulture and Environmental Planning and Management
1933-2002

SEYMOUR M. GOLD

Birth: 1933
Death: March 2002

Education

  • Graduate Studies, Park Administration, Michigan State University
  • Graduate Studies, Urban Planning, Wayne State University
  • Ph.D., Urban and Regional Planning, University of Michigan

Employment

  • Professor, Department of Environmental Horticulture and Environmental Planning and Management, UC Davis, 1969–1999
  • Professor Emeritus, UC Davis, 1999–2002

Honors, Awards, and Professional Societies

  • Founding Fellow, Academy of Leisure Sciences
  • Regent, Pacific Risk Management School
  • Member, Recreational Safety Committee, National Safety Council
  • Professional Honor Award, National Recreation and Park Association, 1995
  • Distinguished Public Service Award, University of California, 1995
  • Safety Citizen of the Year Award, American Society of Safety Engineers, 1998

Research Contributions and Impact

Professor Seymour (“Sy”) Gold was a nationally and internationally recognized authority on park and recreation planning, urban design, and environmental management. During his 30 years at UC Davis, he taught courses in urban and regional planning and authored more than 250 journal articles and two major books — Recreation Planning and Design and Urban Recreation Planning.

His research spanned park and recreation management, playground safety, open space preservation, and community development. In 1981, Gold helped develop playground safety standards for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and later served as a consultant on California’s Playground Safety Law (SB 2733), the first such legislation in the nation. He also served as a technical advisor on educational videos on playground safety and inspection, helping make complex safety issues accessible to broader audiences.

Teaching and Mentorship

Gold was deeply respected as a teacher and mentor. His courses combined academic rigor with practical insight into community needs, and his colleagues noted that he chose research topics “on the basis of their social significance and policy relevance.” He guided generations of students in environmental planning, recreation management, and public safety, emphasizing the value of research that directly benefits society.

Collaboration and Community

Beyond academia, Gold was actively engaged in the Davis community and beyond, applying his expertise to local planning projects and safety initiatives. He was known for his dedication to improving the safety, design, and accessibility of public spaces, leaving an enduring impact on both professional practice and community well-being.

Legacy

Gold’s scholarship, teaching, and public service defined a career devoted to improving the relationship between people and their environments. His leadership in playground safety and recreation planning reshaped standards nationwide, and his commitment to translating research into public good remains a hallmark of UC Davis’s environmental planning legacy.

References

For additional tributes, interviews and biographies, see the following resources: