Survey of Outdoor Chess Tables in Your city

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  • Steffen Roller
    replied
    Originally posted by Hans Jung View Post

    I think your explanation is sufficient. If we could get everyone contributing and marking tables that they know about we could then start making progress on mapping all the outdoor chess tables in the world.
    Yessss! That would be awesome.
    Next time we meet I can show you how to edit it.
    Last edited by Steffen Roller; Monday, 10th June, 2024, 11:13 AM.

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  • Hans Jung
    replied
    Originally posted by Steffen Roller View Post

    Not sure what you mean. OSM is the giant database of geographical data of the planet. There are tons of applications which render this data for users. Many people here probably use those apps daily without knowing it :-). (I know that changes I made to OSM showed up in Google Maps and Apple Maps :-)).

    10 years is an eternity on the interwebs.

    For the special case of chess tables one would need a specific app/website like the one I've shared. That's from Switzerland and it seems there's not an English version available yet. But that can be fixed.
    I think your explanation is sufficient. If we could get everyone contributing and marking tables that they know about we could then start making progress on mapping all the outdoor chess tables in the world.

    Leave a comment:


  • Steffen Roller
    replied
    Originally posted by Hans Jung View Post

    It is getting much better but how easy is it to navigate? About ten years ago I wanted to map all the outdoor chess tables in North America for a presentation I was doing. I gave up in frustration as it was a daunting task.
    Not sure what you mean. OSM is the giant database of geographical data of the planet. There are tons of applications which render this data for users. Many people here probably use those apps daily without knowing it :-). (I know that changes I made to OSM showed up in Google Maps and Apple Maps :-)).

    10 years is an eternity on the interwebs.

    For the special case of chess tables one would need a specific app/website like the one I've shared. That's from Switzerland and it seems there's not an English version available yet. But that can be fixed.

    Leave a comment:


  • Hans Jung
    replied
    Originally posted by Steffen Roller View Post
    Openstreetmap is the ultimate atlas for the world these days. Chesstables are just one of thousands of geographical features mapped. Here you can find chesstables all over the world: https://priceless.zottelig.ch/de/?of...ySport%2Fchess

    The general URL for OSM is https://openstreetmap.org. If there are chesstables missing in your neighbourhood please mark them so everybody can get to the information without needing a Facebook or a Google Account.
    It is getting much better but how easy is it to navigate? About ten years ago I wanted to map all the outdoor chess tables in North America for a presentation I was doing. I gave up in frustration as it was a daunting task.

    Leave a comment:


  • Steffen Roller
    replied
    Toronto looks like this. Nathan Phillips Square tables are not mapped. https://priceless.zottelig.ch/de/?of...ySport%2Fchess, you might have to zoom in or out to see the details.

    Leave a comment:


  • Steffen Roller
    replied
    Openstreetmap is the ultimate atlas for the world these days. Chesstables are just one of thousands of geographical features mapped. Here you can find chesstables all over the world: https://priceless.zottelig.ch/de/?of...ySport%2Fchess

    The general URL for OSM is https://openstreetmap.org. If there are chesstables missing in your neighbourhood please mark them so everybody can get to the information without needing a Facebook or a Google Account.

    Leave a comment:


  • Hugh Brodie
    replied
    Montreal has numerous outdoor chess tables and giant chess sets. I have seen other locations with tables with chessboard markings on them - but never being used for chess.

    1) Rachel & Berri. Four tables with either two or four chairs attached - securely bolted to the ground. There are also usually two (heavy, but moveable) picnic tables. Players often bring their own lights allowing play well into the night. Beer (available across the street) seems to be tolerated. Bring your board, set, and clock. Play usually begins around 7 pm (weather permitting).

    2) Ste-Catherine & St-Urbain, or nearby Espace Tranquille - up to four giant chess sets.

    3) Ste-Catherine & Berri - usually one giant set, and players often play with their own pieces nearby.

    4) Lachine Canal between Atwater & Charlevoix - sheltered tables. It looks like the organization that used to monitor chess on weekends has folded.

    5) Place Shamrock - near Jean-Talon market.

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  • Hans Jung
    replied
    London, Ontario has several sets of outdoor chess tables. Two at forks of the Thames, two just outside the downtown library at Dundas and Wellington, two at Springbank Park and at least two at each of a dozen city parks. When I visited my parents I used to go to the park off Barker Street just north of Huron in northeast London but besides myself never saw any other chess players. Definitely a need for a chess facilitator, or another Olga, or at the very least a place where chess pieces can be borrowed.

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  • Olga Mushtaler
    replied
    What are Matty Eckler tables???
    Grace and College parkette has quite a few homeless people bumming around and sleeping on the marble benches there. I am 99% sure the fire was caused by homeless person trying to warm up on a colder eve. The kids are not interested in vandalism unless it involves Palestine Israeli conflict. We just played on picnic tables with painted Palestinian flag on top. Every single table in the Dovercourt Park was painted/vandalized.

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  • Fred Henderson
    replied
    Originally posted by Olga Mushtaler View Post
    Chess in the Park speaking...Erik's map is fantastic, however, because there are just 2-3 tables in most of these spots, it's not enough for over 30 people, so we usually need parks with additional picnic tables to add on to chess tables.
    My favourite chess tables in Toronto are in: 1. Dovercourt Park (new and clean, in the shade of trees, lots of dogs passing by, family park), 2. Manor Community Green (very clean, new) 3. Grace and College Parkette (pink granite chess tables, unfortunately homeless people burned a fire on one of them last year, was quite sad to see it ruined).
    What homeless got to do with it. More likely just high school kids committing acts of vandalism.

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  • Fred Henderson
    replied
    Originally posted by Erik Malmsten View Post

    Yes, used more for eating and reading. City hall tables get used. The Matty ones were used daily for Chinese chess, with paper boards. Chess in the Park will use the Dovercourt ones, and sometimes others, but mainly place vinyl boards on tables.
    I use the Matty Eckler tables regularly over the last few years. All it takes is for one person to set up, and sooner or later people will take notice.

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  • Ken Craft
    replied
    Saint John. Two tables in Queen Square, I believe.

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  • Olga Mushtaler
    replied
    Chess in the Park speaking...Erik's map is fantastic, however, because there are just 2-3 tables in most of these spots, it's not enough for over 30 people, so we usually need parks with additional picnic tables to add on to chess tables.
    My favourite chess tables in Toronto are in: 1. Dovercourt Park (new and clean, in the shade of trees, lots of dogs passing by, family park), 2. Manor Community Green (very clean, new) 3. Grace and College Parkette (pink granite chess tables, unfortunately homeless people burned a fire on one of them last year, was quite sad to see it ruined).

    Leave a comment:


  • Frank Dixon
    replied
    In Kingston, there are two chess tables just behind City Hall, downtown.

    Kingston used to have several more chess tables along King St. West, just south of Queen's University's main campus. These were removed in the renovation of Breakwater Park several years ago.

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  • Erik Malmsten
    replied
    Originally posted by Fred Henderson View Post
    Great Job Erik. I;ll check them out. I imagine most of them never get used
    Yes, used more for eating and reading. City hall tables get used. The Matty ones were used daily for Chinese chess, with paper boards. Chess in the Park will use the Dovercourt ones, and sometimes others, but mainly place vinyl boards on tables.

    Leave a comment:

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