On January 26, 2008, PS 9 held a Community and Family Design Day attended by over 150 people. The goal of the day was to gather people's ideas about what a new PS 9 playground should include. With the help of the Center for Architecture, we generated 42 playground models, on view in the slideshow below. To see individual photos of the designs, click here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rsherz/PS9PlaygroundDesigns
Thanks to everyone who participated!
Interesting article in the NY Times on the subject of playground design and use. It would be good for citation in grant writing!
The discussion at this meeting focused on ways to involve the school community and the neighborhood community in the design process to gain momentum and exposure for the project, which would in turn help with fundraising.
We discussed hosting a community "charette," which would bring together design professionals, students and community members in a celebratory day of brainstorming, drafting and presenting design possibilities to the school. The charette would be an excellent way to involve the community, link the project with architects and designers and generate enthusiasm for the renovation. We decided that we would research the process and follow up with contacts at Pratt, Center for Architecture Foundation, and the Design Collective Studio.
Committee members also suggested that the charette might be a culminating event after a series of smaller awareness and fundraising activities. Among the ideas was a neighborhood "playdate" at PS 9 and a community soccer game.
PS 9 is also planning a fundraiser called "Taste of Prospect Heights" and a committee member suggested that the Playground Committee might support that fundraiser as a way to combine/maximize resources.
The next meeting is set for Wednesday, January 3rd at 6:30pm.
At this meeting the Committee discussed two existing programs in New York City that match chosen schools with playground designers and financial sponsors for the renovation process:
The committee would like to see the design of the playground built from the grassroots in order to meet the needs of the entire PS 9 community, especially its students. Two committee members volunteered to develop and distribute a survey form to begin to cull ideas and peak community interest.
Architect Illya Azaroff volunteered to lead the committee in fleshing out what the playground’s initial design vision might be, which would be useful for fundraising purposes. It was also suggested that Mr. Azaroff might offer the project as part of a classroom curriculum at Pratt’s design school.
A playground with turf and goals for soccer... for details see http://www.focpny.org/
We need your voice!
Please join us for the upcoming meetings:
Wednesday, November 8TH
• Fundraising Committee @ 6PM
• Design Committee @ 6:30PM
At PS 9 – 80 Underhill Avenue
For questions or additional information contact:
• (Fundraising) Rebecca Herz: rherz@guggenheim.org - OR -
• (Design) Jennifer Bainbridge jenniferbainbridge@earthlink.net or 917.756.9029
