Fort Greene Park - analysisofplace by Aamir Ansari

FORT GREENE PARK ANALYSIS OF A PLACE

Urban Placemaking and Management Program Lab: Analysis of Public Space | Fall 2016

INTRODUCTION

As a recent recipient of a $5 million Parks Without Borders grant, the NYC Parks Department and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy asked Pratt Urban Placemaking and Management students participating in a Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment studio to develop vibrant and appropriate placemaking proposals, aiming to improve accessibility and circulation around the park through traffic analysis, activity mapping, and user surveys, with special attention paid to possible connections to the Avenue NYC grant-winning Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project.

Assoc. Prof. David Burney Assist. Prof. Meg Walker Aamir Ansari Ryan Cagle Channa Camins Evangeline Costa Mea Karla Dalumpines Alejandra Gómez Bolívar Nikki Laureola Isha Patel Pratik Patel Danisley Pérez-Bravo Jayson Carlos Rodríguez Estévez Shingo Sekiya Devshri Shah Eric Xue

Urban Placemaking and Management Program Lab: Analysis of Public Space | Fall 2016

Acknowledgments

CONTENTS

--------------------------09 CONTEXT Historical Relevance Vicinity Map Land Use Transportation Income and Race Housing Health Existing Plan and Elements Events METHODOLOGY & ANALYSIS -----21 Methods & Limitations Behavior Mapping Demographics Activity Mapping Entrance Counts Surveys Summary / Ratings Inferences - Analysis Demographics Comparison Activity Graph by Category

RECOMMENDATIONS Entrances Landscape Play Exercise Activation

---------- 33

CONCLUSIONS -------------------89 Masterplan Capital Projects Recommendations Master phasing ------------------------95 APPENDIX Behavior Mapping Activity Charts Entrance Counts Surveys

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks go to Mr. David Barker, Director of Fort Greene Park at NYC Department of Parks & Recreation and Mr. Julian Macrone, Program and Development Manager at Fort Greene Park Conservancy for their support of this study, their help in coordinating volunteers, and their time spent with the Urban Placemaking and Management class at Pratt Institute. Special thanks goes to Meredith Phillips Almeida and Chad Purkey of the Myrtle Avenue Brooklyn Partnership for helping to introduce the project to the class and for providing additional information pertaining to the area surrounding Fort Greene Park. Thanks to all of the survey respondents, additional staff at Fort Greene Park, and all the staff and board members of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy, as well as all the volunteers involved in this project. Thank you to Professors David Burney and Meg Walker of Pratt Institute for their guidance throughout this project, without which this report would not be possible.

CONTEXT

HISTORICAL RELEVANCE

During the Revolutionary War, the high ground that is now Fort Greene Park served as the location of a strategic fort. This fort was rebuilt during the War of 1812, but by the 1840s, the land was vacant. Theneditor of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, Walt Whit man, wrote several columns advocating the land be turned into Brooklynâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first park, and legislation to do so passed in 1847. Twenty years later, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux redesigned the park to include a new crypt and memorial for the the Prison Ship Martyrs, U.S. Revolutionary War soldiers who perished on British prison ships during the Battle of Long Island. In 1905, the monument stairs were redesigned and its iconic doric column was installed. Throughout the following decades, several other additions were made to the park and the northwest entrance plaza, including the addition of a basketball court, retaining wall, and new playground.

1908 The unveiling and dedication of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in Fort Greene Park. Credit Clinton Irving Jones, Courtesy of Fort Greene Park Conservancy

VICINITY MAP

Fort Greene Park is located in the center of the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhood. Bounded by Myrtle Avenue to the north, Dekalb Avenue to the south, Washington Street to the east and St. Edwards Street and the Brooklyn Hospital to the west, the park is surrounded by

a mostly mixed residential and commercial area. Because of its prime location, the park has the opportunity to strengthen connections to the neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill while linking these neighborhoods to downtown Brooklyn via Flatbush Avenue.

Manhattan Williamsburg Navy Yard FORT GREENE PARK

Brooklyn Heights Governors Island

Boerum Hills

Red Hook

Bedford Stuvesant

Fort Greene Clinton Hill

Carroll Garden Gowanus

Prospect Heights

Brooklyn Heights 11

Land Use Map

Fort Greene Park

The Study Area 12

Land Use Map. Fort Greene and Clinton Hill area

Floor Area 1% Factory 3% Retail 6%

Office

26%

Commercial

13% Others

51% Residential

LAND USE The 30.2 acres study area has a population of 76,554 (2014, U.S. Census Bureau population information for New York City). Fort Greene Park is the largest green space within the vicinity. The district includes the neighborhoods of Fort Greene (Population of 28,721 in 2014), most of Clinton Hill, the west part of Bedford-Stuyvesant and the east part of Downtown Brooklyn. Half of the floor area within the study area is residential (51%), a quarter is commercial (26%), 6% office, 3% retail, 1% factory and 13% others. Educational institutions lie along Dekalb Avenue including Pratt Institute, Brooklyn Tech High School, and Long Island University Brooklyn campus. World class cultural facilities cluster along Fulton Street, including the Brooklyn Academy of Music and the BRIC (Brooklyn Information & Culture). There are five major commercial corridors in the study area: Myrtle Avenue, Fulton Street, Dekalb Avenue, Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn Downtown and Atlantic Avenue. Buildings built in the early 20th century dominate the brownstone residential areas to the east and south of the park. New construction is concentrated along Myrtle Avenue, Atlantic Avenue, in the downtown redevelopment area and is dispersed in residential areas.

TRANSPORTATION Fort Greene Park is well connected to bordering neighborhoods as well as to the entire city. Subway stations for lines N, Q, R, B, D, 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C and G are located on the southwest side of Fort Greene Park. Convenient bus stops are located on the north side along Myrtle Avenue, Route B52, and on the south side along DeKalb Avenue, Route B38. Mytle and Dekalb Avenues have shared bike lanes, and the Manhattan Bridge drops bikers off close to the park. The streets surrounding the park are fairly bike friendly with Citi Bike stations on three of its four sides. Due to the subway stations clustered on the southwest side of the park, pedestrians are often seen passing through, with a concentration on the west side of the park. Map of the main transportation routes. Fort Greene and Clinton Hill area

DEMOGRAPHICS (by Census Tract)

From 1980 to 2014, the population of African Americans in the study area decreased dramatically from 73% to 41%, in contrast to only a slight decrease, from 38% to 34% seen in the rest of Brooklyn. Conversely, the neighborhood went from only 16% white in 1980 to 38% by 2014.

Today, the census tracts to the east and south of the park are about 60% white, while those along the northern edge (an area currently occupied by NYCHA residents) is about 60% black. Though the racial mix of Fort Greene looks more like the rest of Brooklyn today, it looks a lot less like the Fort Greene of the 1980s.

AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD INCOME & HOUSING TYPES (by Census Tract)

OWNER & RENTER OCCUPANCY RATES (by Census Tract)

EXISTING PLAN & ELEMENTS

Fort Greene Park is a parallelogram-shaped, 30.2 acre (12.2 ha) park located in the heart of Fort Greene -- a neighborhood situated between Downtown Brooklyn and Clinton Hill. The park’s central feature is the Prison Ship Martyr’s Monument, located approximately 50 feet above street level, at the top of a natural hill. The monument terrace is approached by a 100-footwide granite staircase, which surrounds the historic crypt housing remains from some of the 11,500 American prisoners who lost their lives aboard British prison ships during the Revolutionary War. The monument itself is a 149 feet doric column with a decorative lantern at the peak.

Additional park facilities include two playgrounds, six tennis courts, one basketball court, a visitor’s center, and over 160 benches. The site is adjacent to a public housing complex, the Brooklyn Hospital Medical Centre, Brooklyn Technical High School, and rows of historic brownstone housing.

Source: NYC MapPLUTO™, Nancy Owens Studio LLC, Fort Greene Park, Historic Resource and Management and Operations Study, NYC Parks & Recreation, 2015

EVENTS Fort Greene is a venue for many well known and well attended events including:

Soul Summit House Music Tennis Events BBQ Movie Nights Jazz Concerts Fort Greene Park Greenmarket Holiday Tree Lighting

METHODOLOGY & ANALYSIS

After studying the context and existing conditions of the park and surrounding area, we launched a series of data collecting initiatives, including activity mapping, behavioral observation, pedestrian traffic analysis, and intercept surveys. Data was gathered during a period of four weeks from late summer to mid-autumn. This revealed some limitations in observed park activities, such as a lack of barbecuing and other summer events. Analysis of the surrounding developments focused on the neighborhoods of Fort Greene and Clinton Hill, bounded by Fulton Avenue to the west, Bedford Avenue to the east, the BrooklynQueens Expressway to the North, and Atlantic Avenue to the south. Aside from members of Prattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s studio class, volunteers from the Fort Greene Park Conservancy were also enlisted for on-site data collection. 22

METHODS & LIMITATIONS Methodology

Date

Analysis of Historical Documents

September 2016

Analysis of Census Data

Latest data 2014

Sources

Items Analysed

Data from Fort Greene Original plan 1867, evolution of park design vs. Current condition Conservancy ACS, DNA info, Trulia, NYC maps

Demographic data, land use and real estate, housing, transportation, crime and health statistics

Own work

Photos taken during behavioral mapping, sequences of pictures were taken to report the actual state of the park and the way people use it

Photography

September - October 2016

Behavioral Mapping

September - October 2016

The park was separated into five areas where Data based on uses, activities, and type of users were numerous visits and analysed observations

Surveys

September - October 2016

Number of users were surveyed during Data from park different times and different days of week. users surveyed in situ We looked for suggestions, comments, and and online concerns

Behavioral mapping data was divided into five key park areas.

3 4

BEHAVIOR MAPPING AREA 1 (northwest corner) consists of one playground, the fitness station and basketball court, the designated barbecue area, the circle garden, and the heavily-used diagonal path.

AREA 2 (northeast corner) includes the plaza entrance, surrounding sloping lawns and the Myrtle Avenue sidewalks. AREA 3 consists of the monument stairs and plaza, as well as the lawn behind it. AREA 4 (southwest corner) connects DeKalb to St. Edwards and the Brooklyn Hospital Center. AREA 5, the busiest area, consists of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;dust bowlâ&#x20AC;?; multi purpose active green space, the other playground and the tennis courts. 23

Demographics

The users of Area 5 are predominately white. There is a decrease in the number of African American.

33%

65%

Weekends Weekdays

53%

18%

16%

24%

50%

15%

47%

35%

14%

31%

10%

42%

37%

13% 11%

Area 2

28%

14%

67%

Infants (0-3)

14% 41%

41%

24%

18% 7%

10%

19%

Area 5

Area 3

Area 4

12% 13%

15% 6%6%

28%

13% 11%

30%

Teens

10% 25%

34% Young Adults

Seniors

22%

Adults

Dogs

17%

14%

9% 44%

59%

36%

22% 8%

39%

White

32%

11%

23%

Asian - Middle Eastern

Latino

44%

14%

13%

14%

7% 52%

15%

67% 10% 10%

17%

Children (4-12)

(Data obtained from survey results)

66%

19%

Area 5

Area 4

Area 1

Area 3

Area 2

Black / African American

Weekdays

Latino and Asian represent a consistent and significant portion of park users.

Area 1

Weekends

African American/Black mainly on the North of the park.

37%

15% 10% 13%

39% 1908 The unveiling and dedication of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument in Fort Greene Park. Credit Clinton Irving Jones, Courtesy of Fort Greene Park Conservancy

Activity mapping 3000

AREA 1 is busy in the afternoons 2500

particularly in the active areas (basketball, exercise, playground). Interestingly, the designated barbecue area was not typically 2000 utilized for barbecuing. Barbecuing usually occurs in the circle garden where there are more tables and chairs grouped 1500 together. The diagonal path is consistently busy from morning to late afternoon. AREA 2 Its busiest area is the diagnol 1000 Area 5 Area 4 Area 3 Area 2 Area 1

3000

2500

2000

AREA 3 There is significant exercising activity at the monument stairs and plaza 0 Socializing as well as dogActive walking at the lawn behind.

Playing

AREA 4 is also sparsely used except for the lawn for dog walking and relaxation. AREA 5 is busy all day with a lot of dog walking activity happening during off leash hours between 7 to 9 AM. The dust bowl, the playground and the tennis courts are always used by young families relaxing.

1500

1000 Area 5 Area 4 Area 3 Area 2 Area 1

pathway and corresponding landscape fronting the Willoughby midblock entrance. There is also a significant number of people watching 500 activity along Myrtle Avenue sidewalk.

500

Active Main activities by Fort Greene Park key areas

Socializing

Playing

Passive

Eating 25

Activity mapping Activity mapping clarifies more clusters of activities on the northwest and the southwest part of the park. This is due to first, both areas are flat and more inviting from the street in landscape. Second, circulation-wise, it is inconvinient in access to the subway stations from the northeast entrance to the south west area. Thirdly, shades from the buildings of the hospital makes unattractive space for the southwest part of the park.

7-10am 10-1pm 1-3pm 3-6pm 6-9pm 26

7-10am 10-1pm 1-3pm 3-6pm MONDAYS IN SEPTEMBER, 2016 6-9pm

Entrance counts

An analysis of the users entering the nine entrances of Fort Greene Park revealed how the edges and its surroundings affect the activity distribution and function of the park. As the primary entrances from the Clinton Hill and Fort Greene neighborhoods, the

entrances at the corner of DeKalb Avenue and Washington Park, and Washington Park midblock are the most used entrances of the park. The diagonal path entrance at Myrtle Avenue and N. Portland Avenue is also frequently used by commuters using the subway at DeKalb Avenue and Fulton Street.

Intercept surveys on-site and online were conducted to better understand the uses and functionality of Fort Greene Park. A total of 120 surveys were gathered, with critical feedback received on general aspects of the park, user activities and demographics, and perceived needs in terms of improvement of park assets and programming.

SURVEYS

Survey users revealed that the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main draws are its size and openness, the presence of natural features and the community spirit it engages within the neighborhood.

Among the users surveyed: 70-80% they said live near and walk to the park, the majority citing their zipcode as that of Fort Greene/Clinton Hill (11205). 40-50% said they had lived in the area for less than 5 years, followed by 10- to 20-year residents, 6- to 10year residents, and residents living in the area for more than 20 years. As seen in census data and through declared income of survey respondents, the neighborhood may be considered generally affluent. 31% of respondents reported an income between 50-100k, while 24% declared 100k or more, 16% said between 25-50k, 15% between 10-25k, and 13% below 10k.

Survey results were compiled and placed into a word cloud for graphical representation.

Word cloud of the most-liked features

For recommendations and improvements, park users surveyed want better seating, lighting, exercise equipment, landscaping and an improved implementation of park rules specifically for dog use.

Word cloud of main recommendations and improvements needed

Overall, park users want activities and events such as food concessions, dancing and exercise events, entertainment-related activities and more quiet activities.

Word cloud of the main suggesitons

Surveyed users were asked to rate how they felt about different aspects of the park.

Ratings

features favorite needing features improvement

ANALYSIS positives Fort Greene Park is most notably a well-liked neighborhood park, visited almost daily by many users who live within walking distance.

inferences Fort Greene Park is a well-liked neighborhood park and many daily users are within walking distance. The park’s natural beauty and landscaping are its most beloved features. Passive uses are popular among local patrons, but visitors engage in active uses as well. Need for better maintenance and infrastructure throughout the park, including improved amenities. Steep topography and an imbalance in programmed areas can impede

The park’s natural beauty and landscaping are its most beloved features, and passive uses are popular among local patrons. Within its 30.2 acres of green space, visitors also engage in a variety of active uses, including barbecuing, farmers’ market shopping, and daily fitness activities.

challenges There is an observed and expressed need for better maintenance and infrastructure throughout the park, including improved amenities -- such as restrooms, lighting, water fountains, seating, and signage.

circulation of users within the park.

Steep topography and an imbalance in programmed areas can impede the circulation of users within the park.

There is lack of cohesion between the northwest corner and the rest of the park due to alterations made in this area.

Alterations to the northwest entrance, specifically, have created a lack of cohesion between this area and the rest of the park.

activity by category Of the many activities observed in the park, 32 of the most common were categorized into five major use types: Active Social Play Passive Eating In our observations, Area 5 was the most “social,” also having the most use in “play” and “passive” categories throughout the week. “Active” users were observed in relative balance throughout the five study areas. “Eating” activities were the least common, presumably due to a lack of concessions within the park. Placemaking recommendations considering infrastructure, design, and programming were then developed, keeping these main categories of users and use types in mind.

RECOMMENDATIONS

ENTRANCES

Fort Greene Park has a total of nine entrances that reinforce its prime location and opportunities for strengthening connections to the businesses and neighborhoods of Fort Greene, Clinton Hill and downtown Brooklyn. Behavioral mapping and the entrance count analysis revealed that these means of ingress and the subsequent triangulation that occurs with its adjacent areas are contributing to how these spaces are utilized.

ISSUES

Existing Conditions of Northwest Corner

The following entrance recommendations aim to address community connections, the park’s multifunctionality, and the various capital projects needed to improve the park’s entrances. These recommendations are intended to address the following issues: ‐ Maintenance ‐ Lighting ‐ Infrastructure ‐ Safety and security ‐ Physical barriers around the park ‐ Existing programming 36

Existing Conditions of Northeast Corner

VISION & STRATEGY The main objective is to reduce the mental and physical barriers that the historic wall of the park creates or barriers caused by the historic wall through permeable gateways that work as catalysts to neighborhood engagement. Build welcoming places that invite people to come through them. The entrances and their adjacent spaces can become adaptable spaces that respond to the multi-functional needs of their diverse users.

Based on the design by Olmstead and Vaux of the park (page 10), we focused our proposal for the northwest area creating a significant sight view from the corner to the monument plaza and revive the original Olmsteadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plan which were envisioned as an open plaza for public meetings. This portion of the park was raised and the wall was built around due to a water tunnel construction underneath, and the area evolved into a multifunctional space used for exercising, playing basketball, people watching and barbecuing.

HISTORICAL PRECEDENTS

NORTHWEST PLAZA

Today this wall is a physical barrier that impedes a free access to the park. Opening up this corner will invite people to come through the park and it can engage pedestrians who come from Flatbush Avenue and Myrtle Avenue to enjoy this area of Fort Greene Park.

7 6

The existing perimeter wall was not part of the original Olmsteadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wall and was added afterwards.

2 3

4 2

5 Existing Condition

Enlivened and open a civic plaza as homage of Front Greene Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history and its vibrant neighborhood

1 - Open Plaza 2 - Multifunctional Lawn 3 - Movable Tables and Chairs (dining, passive use) 4 - Pedestrian Path 5 - Stage 6 - Entrance steps 7 - Wayfinding Element (Entrance markers or Info Kiosk)

Precedent images

Hyde Park, Sydney, Australia

Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City, The Philippines 40

Bryant Park, New York, NY

Existing According to the entrance counts, this plaza is the least used by pedestrians. It is a priority to reactivate the correct function of the northwest plaza.

Existing Condition of the Northwest corner

Proposed The existing wall and the removal or relocation of trees opens up the corner and engages the adjacent blocks; senior center, the public housing and downtown Brooklyn towards Flatbush Avenue. This corner was originally planned as the main entrance to the park. Today it is one of the least used access, however our proposal will reactivate it into a vibrant corner.

Proposal for the Northwest corner 41

From our activity mapping and our client concerns we knew that this corner is the least used and it has high levels of crime. This point is asolated from the rest of the park beacuse the previously planned connections with the monument stairs and other areas were ignored.

NORTHEAST PLAZA

An interactive water feature based on Olmstead and Vauxâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s original intent for this entrance will be the highlight of the northeast plaza. Through thoughtful programming and exhibitions, Myrtle Avenue activity will be carried through this plaza and into the park itself.

1 Existing Condition

1 - Widened Stairs and Ramp 1 2 - Dry Fountain 3 - Open Plaza for Flexible Exhibitions 4 - Planting This project will be strong conduit to Myrtle Avenue commercial 5 - Benches district, enhanced by an engaging programming

Precedent images

existing

proposed Sireneviy Sad, Moscow, Russia

Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami, FL

A dry fountain will come alive during summer months, alternately functioning as open space for seasonal markets or exhibitions. The plaza can be used for an expanded farmersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; market, performances, temporary art exhibitions and meetings.

Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 43

MYRTLE AVENUE SIDEWALKS Myrtle Avenue sidewalks are mainly used as seating for seniors and crossing for pedestrians who use subway stations and other public transportation services. These places are actived but they have a huge potential to be exploted.

1 - Benches 2 - Planting strips / Bioswale

Extende sidewalks to create more seating areas and parklets in order to take advantage of the current pedestrian flow and make a new atmosphere for people watching. Street parking is incorporated in the pocket parks to add width to the space. Existing perimeter walls will be used for seasonal art to strengthen the continuity of Myrtle Avenueâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s vibe. 3 - Pedestrian Path 4 - Outside Seating

PROPOSED SIDEWALKS NEAR N.PORTLAND AVENUE

Exisiting conditions

5 - Bleachers 6 - Seasonal Art

PROPOSED SIDEWALKS NEAR ST. EDWARDS STREET

Sidewalk pocket plazas, art and various seating types to elevate the pedestrian and people watching experience 44

New York, NY

30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA

Drexel Park, Philadelphia, PA

Precedent images

Penn Plaza, New York, NY

Bell Street, Seattle, WA 45

SOUTH WEST ENTRANCE

Exisiting conditions

Of all the entrances, the DeKalb-Fort Greene entrance at the southwest corner of the park is the least used and has the highest occurrence of crime. The addition of art, lighting installations and the improvement of wayfinding elements will improve visibility and pedestrian interaction.

1 -Lighting Installations 2 - Rotating Art 3 - Wayfinding Element (Improve entrance marker) 46

Proposed Image

LANDSCAPING

CONTEXT

At 30.2 acres, the park is the largest public green space in north Brooklyn. Needless to say, it is important that its physical infrastructure be maintained. In our survey responses, a priority wa placed on the natural features of the park, with 34% of

surveyed users stating that their favorite aspect of the park is its natural beauty. Additionally, when asked about improvements, landscaping maintenance and the installation of more seating were of high importance.

Fort Greene Park

10 mile

Existing Conditions

In the original Olmsted and Vaux design, intertwining trails throughout the park were proposed. They had a vision for the park to contain shady walkways that snaked throughout, surrounded by trees and foliage. While this is not the current design, anyone who has visited the park would notice the dirt trails that lead off of the official paved paths, intersecting with each other and winding around trees. These dirt paths are desire lines indicating where people enjoy walking and running within the park, which can inform our landscape recommendations.

Recommended interventions Erosion and water retention are big problems for Fort Greene Park, as it is situated on a large hill of glacial deposit. Weather, as well as pedestrian and dog traffic encourage loose sediment to break apart and fall down sloped areas. Certain parts of the park have experienced visibly severe erosion, as indicated by red areas. Blue areas indicate the most recent efforts by the Parks Department to mitigate this erosion. We must continue thinking intentionally about how landscape design can help or hinder erosion of park sediment.

VISION We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to fix anything that isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t broken, therefore we offer some simple recommendations that can build upon the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s existing elements. We advise to revitalize lengths of the dirt paths that are surrounded by eroded lands by planting more shrubbery and brush along them, in an effort to curate a more enjoyable walking experience along these popular natural corridors. In addition, we feel that additional seating, most notably along the southern paths, can help provide more opportunities for park users to enjoy the landscape.

PLAY

Play can have social, cognitive, and emotional benefits at all stages in a person’s life.

“A PEOPLE’S PLAYGROUND:” PLAY FOR ALL AGES

INTRODUCTION It is commonly recognized that play is a fundamental aspect of childhood development. Less emphasized are the social, cognitive, and emotional benefits1 of play at all stages of life. Certain essential characteristics of play do not change regardless of your age. Play as we understand it “is a multifaceted experience”2 which typically includes intrinsic motivation, freedom of choice, pleasure, imagination, and active engagement.3 Time and space for play, pleasure, and recreation, as well as exposure to nature and fresh air, are all important aspects of a high quality of life and can meaningfuly impact health.4 In this report, we propose design and programming solutions to improve the opportunities for play in Fort Greene Park for people of all ages and abilities and which we hope will contribute to the well-being of all consituencies.

VISION

VALUES

We envision Fort Greene Park as a “people’s playground,” offering a variety of ways for children and adults to have a stimulating sensory experience, complete with exhilarating, imaginative, and essentially social forms of physical and social play.

Our design and programming proposals are grounded in the vital connection between the park and Fort Greene’s rich cultural and historical legacy, as well as values of equity, balance, accessibility, safety, sustainability, engagement, stewardship, and appreciation of nature. 55

BUILDING ON STRENGTHS While the steep hills and topography of the park present some challenges, we think it is possible to work with and make use of this landscape.

¡¡ expansive natural landscape ¡¡ rich and diverse history of the neighborhood ¡¡ proximity to arts and cultural institutions ¡¡ strong sense of ownership neighborhood residents feel for the park ¡¡ muliti functionality for passive and active recreation; seasonal uses 56

Fort Greene Park in Winter Sledding by Mitchell J. Silver

CHALLENGES IDENTIFIED

ยก imbalance in design and use between different areas of the park and by different constituencies; segregated use by race ยก the northwest corner, the Myrtle Avenue edge, and the northeast entrance are lack coherence with the landscape, topography, infrastructure, and maintenance of the rest of the park; less active play and social activity on the Northside in the barbecue off season 57

PLAYGROUND CHALLENGES The playground in the northwest corner of the park is interrupted by a major pedestrian route, used to get to nearby transportation. In addition, this heavily used path transects this playground’s water feature, presenting problems for parents who do not have an adequate buffer zone to protect their children.

¡¡ interrupted by a major circulation route ¡¡ no adequate buffer zones between essential activities

The northwest corner feels like a “collection of distinct objects” not a “total composition experienced by moving through it.”5

CURRENT PLAYGROUND: playgrounds don’t reflect the park landscape, nature, sensory, and social play in a natural context

“internally focused facilities”6

ALTERNATIVES:

The departure from Olmstead and Vaux’s original design for the northwest corner as a grand open plaza has created what feels more like a “collection of distinct objects,”5 essentially making the playgrounds of Fort Greene Park “internally focused facilities”6 that do not reflect the unprogrammed naturalistic style and flexibility of space popular in the rest of the park. Safety barriers reinforce this disconnect with the natural landscape, though concerns that had led to their ubiquity have been shown to be largely unfounded.7 The formulaic jungle gym and use of hard and unwelcoming materials limit exploration and opportunities for creative and sensory social play. Many of us are aware of increased concerns about high rates of obesity and sedentary lives of American children. The increasingly “programmed indoor existence”8 of many NYC kids (and adults), and their disconnection from nature is a detriment to their social, emotional, and physical health, and promoting an active and outdoor lifestyle would be to their benefit.

create soft boundaries with plantings and low barriers that maintain connection to park

seating & low barrier

design can reflect and connect to topography Washington Square Park Playground with less physical barriers9

East 110th Street Playground, Central Park10

MULTIFACETED PLAY EXPERIENCES

Kids’ Trek. Photo credit: Ingrid Barrentine11

PLAY[ground] for Vivid Sydney, 201512

Double Dutch Aerobics in Fort Greene Park13

¡ incorporate physical & social play, both of which improve health, and well being ¡ opportunity for manipulation & stimulation of the senses ¡ opportunity for exploration, observation, & imagination ¡ connect users to nature and landscape Natural Playscape/ Aires de Jeux Naturelles14

Bernard Family Playground in Central Park15

SITE PLAN 10

lively multi-purpose community space 10

10 10

Food Vendors

EXERCISE STATION

3 1

7 2

E CIS ER ION EX AT ST

8 1 5 9

Multi-Purpose Plaza, Lawns, & Inviting Program Seasonal Water Feature, Roller Skating, etc. Hillside Picnic/Barbecue Coves (off season uses)

Public Art & Play Space

Slides

Greenway, New Seating, & Bike Lane (Myrtle only)

Basketball & Multi-Use Courts Additional Playscapes in Nature & Learning Areas

New Designed 100 meters N Full Playground

Health & Wellness “Play” Space 61

DESIGN FOR MULTI-PURPOSE COMMUNITY SPACE ¡ vibrant community park with programs at entrances that are visible from the street

¡ incorporate programming of spaces that reflect diverse cultures and identities

¡ design and manage infrastructure to meet the full range of community needs

Central Park Dance Skaters Association Northeast Entrance Redesign 2 ¾ Widened staircase, new ramps, and multi-use plaza create an inviting space that reflects Frederick Law Olmsted and Clavert Vaux’s original design ¾ Greater pedestrian access increases circulation with Myrtle Avenue 16

North Lawn Area 4 9 ¾ Newly designed playground; picnic and barbecue coves ¾ Slide attraction utilizing the hilly landscape offers thrilling play for all ages Willoughby Street Accessible Entrance & Health Connection 8 ¾ Ramps make the north side of the park more accessible ¾ Utilize the void space behind the hospital to create connections between a health institutuion and the park; function as wellness zone and hub for triangulation of exercise, nutrition, mental health and wellness activities 62

Patrick Dougherty’s Stick Sculpture,

Olympia Children’s Museum17 Myrtle Avenue Sidewalk Redesign 10 ¾ New seating and softscape create sociable sidewalk ¾ Protected bike lanes and maintained crosswalks encourage alternative transportation and protect pedestrians ¾ Sidewalks become a greenway featuring bioswales and perennial plantings that will have aesthetic as well as environmental value; ex tend to streets between Ingersoll and Whitman Streets, and both sides of Myrtle Avenue.

The democratic function of Fort Greene Park is fundamentally to offer space for diverse groups of people to interact, to gather, to exchange ideas, information, culture, and to experience the many benefits of open green space and playful recreation. Fort Greene Park should strive to maximize equity and access in park infrastructure, limit barriers to use or exclusion in design or management, and create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere for diverse users through programming and the built environment.

32% of all Walt Whitman Houses households are composed of a single parent or grandparents with children. Additionally, no less that 15% of residents in the NYCHA developments within walking distance of Fort Greene Park are single seniors and this population is increasing rapidly. In both cases, Fort Greene Park and the Fort Greene Park Conservancy should tailor programs to meet the needs of these core constituencies currently underutilizing the park for play and recreation.

¡ incorporate play equipment that limits barriers and enhances park accessibility

¡ teen and adult intramural programming

¡ create programming that is accessible and engaging for single parents and grandparents, as well as paid childcare providers at varied times

¡ foster positive social interaction; enhance opportunities for intergenerational recreation

¡ equity in recreational facilities; enhancements to basketball facilities to include an additional multi-use court

proactive outreach to diverse users

equitable facilities

accessibility

T h e S e a g u l l i s a “s y m p a t h e t i c ” s w i n g : a c h i l d of special needs can sit on one swing seat and automatically swings by the movement and p u m p i n g o f t h e c h i l d o n t h e o t h e r s e a t . 19

¡ prioritize age targeted programming not just based on interest but also varied physical abilities

Above: East 110th Street Playground, Central Park;18 Below: City of Cambridge Playground (Universal Design)19

QUALITY PROGRAMS &FACILITIES SERVING THE COMMUNITY A’beckett Urban Square Melbourne, Australia22

Above: PPS - Activating space with games20 Below: Lawn on D, Boston, By Anthony Flint

¡¡ maximize opportunities to learn about nature and the environmment ¡¡ developing the next generation of park stewards

¡¡ promoting an environmental ethic ¡¡ teaching about sustainability and practicing these methods in park design and maintenance

¡¡ the hill is an iconic asset; utilize topography for programming and play structures ¡¡

play spaces in nature allow for exploration and activate the senses, and benefit social, emotional, and physical health at all ages

Park Design & NATURE PLAY & URBAN SUSTAINABILITY LAB

Infrastructure

INTEGRATED WITH THE LANDSCAPE 4

See Chapter Endnotes for photo credits for Nature Play & Urban Sustainability Lab23

Plikta Park, Gothenburg, Sweden - Courtesy of Elizabeth Dunker/ FineLittleDay.com24

¡¡ art objects incoporated into play space, adding an aesthetic element and intrigue ¡¡

utilize the walls, plaza, and park landscapes for temporary installations to the park as a public space

¡¡ art may engage us in conversation as a community ¡¡ temporary progamming allows testing of ideas and encourages commmunity input

¡¡ relaxing space for people of all ages ¡¡ simple use of netting and other temporary materials can be playful and engaging

PUBLIC ART & POP UP PLAY

Giant Doodling Slate on Pedestrian Only Stretch of Paris’ Left Bank, Cultural Activity Hub26

Recycled Cardboard Elephant, Nituniyo, Valencia Spain25

Primary Structure, Wanås Foundation by artist Jacob Dahlgren27

RELAXATION & PLAY 1

Héctor Esrawe & Ignacio Cadena, Mi Casa-Your Casa, Sifly Piazza, Atlanta28

Jessica Sanders, Ground, Flow.14 Art and Music at Randall’s Island Nov 201429 N e t t i n g s t r u c t u r e 30

21 Balançoires (21 Swings) from Daily Tous Les Jours - A Public Art Installation31

¡¡ arts, music, and culture ¡¡ activate spaces ¡¡ foster community and welcome

¡¡

invite community partners to create exciting arts programming & make Fort Greene Park the ‘stage’

PUBLIC ART & PLAY

Jeremy Plays Guitar Band, Fort Greene Park (reimagined in proposed hillside picnic coves)32

Make Music Day in Balboa Park, San Diego, CA33

ARTS, MUSIC, DANCE, & DIVERSE CULTURES 1

Mesa Musical Shadows Interactive Pavement, Mesa Arts Centre, Arizona by Daily Tous Les Jours34

El Museo’s Annual Block Party35

¡¡ acknowledge the history of Fort Greene, including rapid gentrification and the dynamic of a divided community and park

¡¡ foster community through story ¡¡ celebrate cultural assets and telling and seek out many the legacy of African American voices artists, musicians, writers, and neighborhood activists

C o r o n a Yo u t h M u s i c P r o j e c t i n C o r o n a P l a z a , Q u e e n s 36

78th Street Play Street, Rodrigo S a l a z a r 37

F o r t G r e e n P a r k P i c n i c Ta b l e s

C a t c h t h e D r a g o n ’s Ta i l A c t i v i t y - L e a d e r s h i p D e v e l o p m e n t 38

The Uni Project, Make A Place For Learning C o r o n a P l a z a , Q u e e n s 39

SHARING HISTORY & MAKING MEMORIES 1

STEWARDSHIP, VOLUNTEERISM, & WELCOME

Central Park Conservancy Discovery Programs41

¡¡ explore collaboration with area secondary schools like Brooklyn Technical High School ¡¡ experiment and innovate 68

Seward Park Audubon Center Volunteers40 - Community Roots Restoration

¡¡ engage with local community organizations ¡¡ build strategic partnerships with local cultural and arts organziations

¡¡ foster volunteer leadership ¡¡ proactively seek out community input ¡¡ install positive and inviting wayfinding and signage

PLAY: CITATIONS AND PHOTO CREDITS “Play in the Park | Play Today | Plan for Play,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://planforplay.org/play_today/play_in_the_park.php. Ibid. 3 Ibid. 4 Nov 04, 2015 | Harry J. Heiman, and Samantha Artiga, “Beyond Health Care: The Role of Social Determinants in Promoting Health and Health Equity,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://kff.org/disparities-policy/ issue-brief/beyond-health-care-the-role-of-social-determinants-in-promoting-health-and-health-equity/; “Social Determinants of Health,” Wikipedia, August 9, 2016, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Social_ determinants_of_health&oldid=733736169; Norman Sartorius, “The Meanings of Health and Its Promotion,” Croatian Medical Journal 47, no. 4 (August 2006): 662–64; Brian L. Cole and Jonathan E. Fielding, “Health Impact Assessment: A Tool to Help Policy Makers Understand Health Beyond Health Care,” Annual Review of Public Health 28, no. 1 (April 2007): 393–412, doi:10.1146/annurev.publhealth.28.083006.131942. 5 “Introduction | Planning for Play | Plan for Play,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://planforplay.centralparknyc.org/planning_for_play/introduction.php. 6 Ibid. 7 Hanna Rosin, “The Overprotected Kid,” The Atlantic, April 2014, http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/04/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/; “Dispelled Kidnap Myths Do Little to Allay Parents’ Fears,” The Denver Post, November 27, 2010, http://www.denverpost.com/2010/11/27/dispelled-kidnap-myths-do-little-to-allay-parents-fears/; “We’re All Agoraphobics Now,” Washington Post, accessed January 26, 2017, https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/01/30/were-all-agoraphobics-now/; Lenore Skenazy, “A Parent’s Nightmare—Increasingly Unlikely,” Wall Street Journal, June 20, 2016, sec. Opinion, http://www.wsj.com/articles/a-parents-nightmareincreasingly-unlikely-1466465122. 8 “Play in the Park | Play Today | Plan for Play.” 9 Manhattan Media, “Playground Pick: Central Park’s East 110th Street Playground,” Http://Www.newyorkfamily.com, accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.newyorkfamily.com/playground-central-parks-east-110thstreet-playground/. 10 Manhattan Media, “Playground Pick: Central Park’s East 110th Street Playground,” Http://Www.newyorkfamily.com, accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.newyorkfamily.com/playground-central-parks-east-110thstreet-playground/. 11 “Kids_Trek_boy_in_rope_tunnel_Ingrid_Barrentine.jpg (3204×2132),” accessed January 27, 2017, https://www.pmap.co/c/56f986bb/images/article/8744/Kids_Trek_boy_in_rope_tunnel_Ingrid_Barrentine.jpg. 12 “PLAY[ground] for Vivid Sydney, 2015,” Playscapes, November 9, 2015, http://www.play-scapes.com/play-design/contemporary-design/playground-for-vivid-sydney-2015/. 13 “Double Dutch Aerobics Sweeps Fort Greene Bringing Childlike Joy to Exercise,” DNAinfo New York, accessed January 27, 2017, https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130717/fort-greene/double-dutch-aerobicssweeps-fort-greene-bringing-childlike-joy-exercise. 14 LesKidz, “Natural Playscape/ Aires de Jeux Naturelles,” Les Kidz, June 23, 2016, http://www.leskidzsf.com/2016/06/23/natural-playscape/. 15 “Plan for Play | The Harlem Meer Landscape Slideshow | Bernard Family Playground,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://planforplay.centralparknyc.org/slideshows/the_harlem_meer_landscape/bernard_family_ playground_5.php. 16 “Central Park Dance Skaters Association — CPDSA,” Central Park Dance Skaters Association — CPDSA, accessed January 27, 2017, http://cpdsa.org/. 17 “Patrick Dougherty Stick Sculpture, Olympia Children’s Museum, 2014,” Playscapes, April 13, 2015, http://www.play-scapes.com/play-design/natural-playgrounds/patrick-dougherty-stick-sculpture-olympia-childrensmuseum-2014/. 18 “Plan for Play | The Harlem Meer Landscape Slideshow | East 110th Street Playground,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://planforplay.centralparknyc.org/slideshows/the_harlem_meer_landscape/east_110th_street_ playground_6.php. 19 “18. Inclusive Playground for All Kids,” City of Cambridge Participatory Budgeting, accessed January 27, 2017, http://pb.cambridgema.gov/udplayground. 20 “Lighter Quicker Cheaper,” Great Public Spaces, accessed January 27, 2017, https://www.pps.org/places/lqc/; “Activating-the-Space-with-chess1-1024x683.jpg (1024×683),” accessed January 27, 2017, https:// pkdf0tgenk-flywheel.netdna-ssl.com/places/files/2015/09/Activating-the-space-with-chess1-1024x683.jpg. 21 “BostonPlayground.jpg (678×696),” accessed January 27, 2017, http://i0.wp.com/daytoncollaboratory.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/BostonPlayground.jpg. 22 Ibid. 23 “12BOTANIC4-master1050.jpg (1050×767),” accessed January 27, 2017, https://static01.nyt.com/images/2015/06/12/arts/12BOTANIC4/12BOTANIC4-master1050.jpg; Worldview, “Global Activism: Teaching Kids About the Environment,” WBEZ, accessed January 27, 2017, https://www.wbez.org/shows/worldview/global-activism-teaching-kids-about-the-environment/225ba4b6-bcfd-4ee9-b098-b7ca781b4a39; “Engaging Children in STEM Education EARLY! | Natural Start,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://naturalstart.org/feature-stories/engaging-children-stem-education-early; I. Was Always Interested in Meditation et al., “Eight Spiritual Qualities to Learn from Small Children,” The Spiritual Indian, October 10, 2015, http://www.thespiritualindian.com/spiritual-qualities-to-learn-from-children/. 24 Lauren Wade, “Recess Just Got a Lot More Fun: 15 of the World’s Most Amazing Playgrounds,” TakePart, accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.takepart.com/photos/worlds-most-amazing-playgrounds. 25 “Recycled Cardboard Elephant, Nituniyo, Valencia Spain, 2015,” Playscapes, March 9, 2016, http://www.play-scapes.com/play-design/contemporary-design/recycled-cardboard-elephant/. 26 Maggie Gorman, “Paris Opens Pedestrian-Only Stretch of the Left Bank,” Fodor’s, June 25, 2013, http://www.fodors.com/news/paris-opens-pedestrianonly-stretch-of-the-left-bank-6889. 27 “Primary Structure, Wanås Foundation 2011 — Jacob Dahlgren,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.jacobdahlgren.com/?p=6280. 28 “Mi Casa-Your Casa - News - Domus,” Domusweb.it, accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.domusweb.it/en/news/2014/07/29/mi_casa_your_casa.html. 29 “Art in the Parks Current Exhibitions : New York City Department of Parks & Recreation : NYC Parks,” accessed January 27, 2017, https://www.nycgovparks.org/art/art409. 30 “Landscape Architecture : Photo,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://landscape-a-design.tumblr.com/image/109631098259. 31 “Play Sweet, Sweet Music Using 21 Musical Swings In This Public Art Installation,” The Creators Project, accessed January 27, 2017, http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/en_uk/blog/play-sweet-sweet-music-using21-musical-swings-in-this-public-art-installation. 32 Fort Greene Focus, Jeremy Plays Guitar, photo, June 4, 2012, https://www.flickr.com/photos/fort-greene/7336831682/. 33 “Make-Music-Day.jpg (3000×1996),” accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.bloggazwithattitude.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/make-music-day.jpg. 34 “Mesa Musical Shadows | Daily Tous Les Jours,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.dailytouslesjours.com/project/mesa-musical-shadows/. 35 “El Museo’s Annual Block Party and the Museum Mile Festival,” Harlem Trends | Harlem, New York City, June 11, 2013, http://harlemtrends.com/2013/06/el-museos-annual-block-party-and-the-museum-milefestival/. 36 “Make Music New York,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.makemusicny.org/gallery/photos/. 37 “Come Out and Play! Musicians and Performers Wanted for 78th Street Play Street,” Jackson Heights Beautification Group, April 10, 2015, http://www.jhbg.org/2015/04/09/come-out-and-play-musicians-andperformers-wanted-for-78th-street-play-street. 38 “Nycdot,” The Uni Project, February 7, 2013, https://www.theuniproject.org/about/share/nycdot/. 39 “Five Fun Games from Around the World,” InCultureParent, accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.incultureparent.com/2012/09/five-fun-games-from-around-the-world/. 40 “Community Roots Restoration,” Seward Park Audubon Center, December 22, 2015, http://sewardpark.audubon.org/programs/community-roots-restoration. 41 Central Park Conservancy, “Discovery Programs,” accessed January 27, 2017, http://www.centralparknyc.org/about/programs/discovery-programs.html. 1 2

FITNESS

Outdoor fitness, where the natural setting encourages repeated use, helps create a healthier, happier society.

building a robust fort greene park Park Users Are Active

OBJECTIVES

When asked, “What activities or events would make Fort Greene Park more enjoyable for you,” 14% of survey respondents mentioned,

“exercise” in their response.

building equity across gender Fort Greene Park is an active park known for attracting fitness enthusiasts, non-professional leagues, and intramural teams from local schools including neighboring Brooklyn Tech. However, surveys and observational studies revealed women and seniors are an underserved constituency in terms of equipment usage and programming.

Exercise area (dominated by men) Basketball Court (dominated by men) Jogging/Walking/Monument Stairs (mixed use) Open Lawn (mixed use) Tennis Courts (mixed use)

A sizeable population of seniors are represented in Area 1. However, surveys and observational studies revealed seniors participated in more passive than active uses. Two NYCHA housing developments and a senior citizen residence are adjacent to Area 1. Chronic illness like heart disease and obesity disproportionately affect low-income populations, including those in public housing. Promoting regular, accessible physical activity is a public health priority. Currently,

an exercise station is adjacent to the basketball court, often predominantly occupied by younger men. Its small size limits the number of people who use it simultaneously. In addition, its close proximity to the incredibly busy diagonal thoroughfare through the northwest corner of the park may present an impediment to some users. Fort Greene Park can be a catalyst to promoting physical activity among community members, starting with making available more accessible fitness equipment and targeted programming.

accessible equipment proposals - Install multiple fitness destinations adjacent to well-used jogging path - New stretch- and toning-focused stations encourage walking, running or jogging from station to station, providing organized cross-training opportunities - Destinations offer new areas for potential socialization

- Senior & Mommy Boot Camps promoting early morning exercise targeted at unique needs - Tai Chi, Stretching, and Toning Classes to promote holistic muscle development - Walking Clubs and Laughing Clubs for Seniors offer low impact movement while encouraging social interaction and community engagement - Sunrise and Sunset Yoga for all skill levels can provide balance, flexibility, and improved mental well-being

equitable exercise opportunities for all groups

- Rope Course and Wall Climbing for Adults and Children, promoting strength, balance, and agility utilizing Fort Greene Park’s unique topography - Kids Only Ice Skating at the Northwest Entrance Plaza - Beach Volleyball in the “dust bowl”

- Volleyball as a mixed use of the tennis courts - BMX track using jogging trail around park perimeter - Giant Twister and other physically active games on the lawns

ACTIVATION

GOALS

As our behavior mapping identified the northeast and southwest areas of the park as the most underutilized, we hope to bring a level of activation there that can attract new audiences to the park and encourage an interaction between its diverse community members, who are currently the highest proportion of park users. Concessions and vendor programming also offer an opportunity to showcase neighborhood small business, such as those emerging on Myrtle Ave., to their local audience.

By introducing universally attractive and Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper (LQC) features or flexibly installed amenities on a short-term basis, formal events and informal activities can develop into annual festivals and permanent amenities based on public response.

ACHIEVING BALANCE THROUGH STRATEGIC ACTIVATION

TARGET AREAS

As such, this corridor presents neutral territory in which underutilized space can become a catalyst for attracting new users to the park, as well as bring returning users to new areas of the park, foster new interactions and a greater sense of community.

NORTH EAST PLAZA

ART INSTALLATIONS** WATER FEATURE** FLEA/HOLIDAY MARKET* FARMERS MARKET* The addition of a water feature (refer to north east entrance proposal) in this corner can act as a visible attraction to the surrounding neighborhood, inviting their participation in programming taking place there when the feature is turned off, such as locally-focused flea and holiday markets or a relocated and expanded version of the already popular Fort Greene Greenmarket -- a common request among surveyed park users. Welcoming art installations and mobile food vendors create an inviting environment at this underused entryway while terraced rock seating and coved barbecue pits integrated into the landscape can provide casual picnic space that remains flexible year-round. 80

HAMMOCKS** MOBILE FOOD VENDORS TERRACED SEATING BARBECUE AREAS** INFORMATION BOARD FITNESS STATION *event based

**seasonal

Precedent images

SOUTH WEST GARDEN Here we hope to turn what is now an empty knoll and vacant wall into a serene garden destination by introducing a communitycentric mural, rotating sculpture and lighting installations, (refer to southwest entrance proposal) and an educational Discovery garden, to be seasonally emptied and distributed to volunteers and youth in the community. In addition, food trucks can be invited at the St. Edwards & Willoughby Street entrance during lunch hours or events taking place in the newly opened northwest plaza, as rock formations and more terraced seating in this southern section can provide a quiet or more private setting for attendees of those functions to socialize or take a meal.

Precedent images

Already an important focal point and popular gathering place, the monument plaza has ample open hardscape to accommodate programming from day to night and year-round, including movie screenings, international food festivals, and pop-up beach lounges, giving the diverse members of this community even more reasons to interact.

MONUMENT

PICNICKING**

Precedent images

Through a variety of active and passive use combinations, we see Fort Greene Park transitioning from summer to winter and everything in between with

programming and events for all seasons celebrating the many cultures of the community -- bringing together neighbors, local vendors, and park-lovers alike.

SEASONS

PROGRAMS / EVENTS

CONCLUSIONS

1. Entrance Conditions 2. Landscaping & Circulation 3. Play 4. Fitness 5. Strategic Activation These five interlocking Parks Without Borders recommendations aim to improve Fort Greene Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s entrance conditions, enhance its already beloved natural landscaping, and encourage play and fitness activities suitable for all ages and abilities, using strategic programming and universally attractive amenities, such as food and art, to keep interactions among the diverse members of the Fort Greene community going throughout the year. Of course, none of these ideas can achieve success without proper support and management -- with a special attention to infrastructure maintenance -- on the part of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, as well as the help of the dedicated volunteers of the Fort Greene Park Conservancy. We highly recommend developing lasting partnerships with local organizations like the Myrtle Avenue Revitalization Project, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Brooklyn Arts Council, and Brooklyn Tech and Long Island University campuses. The support and possible programming opportunities presented by such relationships would display a genuine commitment to community building -- maximizing the potential of this well-loved neighborhood green space to improve quality of life for all current and future residents of Fort Greene and its surrounding neighborhoods.

CONCLUSIONS

MASTERPLAN The proposed placemaking recommendations are collective responses to the data gathered based from user interviews, behavioral mapping and intercept surveys. These cover maintenance, programming and design improvements in order to create a balanced activation in all areas of the park. Focus areas were based on developing the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s highlights which are: - Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s size, space and multifunctionality - Natural landscape features and overall feeling of serenity - Fitness, sports and active play - Improvement of existing amenities such as equipment, seating and lighting - Introduction of strategic programming such as food, entertainment and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s programs - Overall community spirit and historical highlight

CAPITAL PROJECT RECOMMENDATIONS In order to properly implement many of the aforementioned recommendations, expected park-wide improvements should be made. The following capital projects have been identified from public response and observed need and would greatly increase the safety, accessibility, and overall comfort of the Fort Greene Park user.

- Regrading of â&#x20AC;&#x153;dust bowlâ&#x20AC;? (and other erosion control and stormwater runoff measures) - Improved quality and increased hours of security lighting throughout park - ADA ramp installation at St. Edwards and Willoughby entrance - Resurfacing of thoroughly cracked, truck bearing hardscape - Addition of wayfinding signs and water fountains wherever possible

MASTER PHASING

MYRTLE AV E

APPENDIX

BEHAVIOR MAPPING

MONDAY AREA 1