The Playgrounds Project
Place in History has launched The
Playgrounds Project.
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Photos by Matt Mitchell for Place in
History
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The Playground Project is an examination
of the history of Brooklyn's many play spaces, an investigation
into their cultural significance, and a celebration of their
contribution to the urban landscape.
The Playgrounds Project involves:
· personal histories - of how
people (both adults and kids) experience Brooklyn playgrounds;
· photography touching on both
the beauty and neglect of these spaces;
· public history - of playgrounds
as a site of urban reform, and a persistent maintenance
headache.
The Playgrounds Project is fueled by
the following questions:
· What role do play spaces hold
in forging the social bonds that are the essence of urban
society?
· Conversely, how do play spaces
and people's experiences of play spaces reflect a continuing,
historically embedded pattern of fear and racial segregation
in Brooklyn?
· How do playgrounds connect
people with the realms of dream and imagination, and what
might these spaces (and their neglect) tell us about the
collective psyche of the city?
What's a Playground?
By Place in History's definition, any
outdoor space designed for people to come together for some
reason besides frenetic work or domestic retreat counts as
a playground. We've focused to date on spaces ranging from
basketball and handball courts to chess tables, tot lots,
soccer fields, and swimming pools. By drawing attention to
these and other spaces, we hope to get people thinking in
fresh ways about their connections to place, and also about
historical attempts to "reform" New York neighborhoods.
Playgrounds Project Events to Date
Panel and Photo Exhibit
November, 2001
This event, held at Place in
History's Gowanus studio space, included an exhibit of photographs
by PIH Trustee Matthew Mitchell of play spaces in Brownsville,
Coney Island/Brighton Beach, Flatbush, Greenpoint, Kensington,
Marine Park, Park Slope, and Sunset Park.
The event also featured a panel
discussion on the historical role of playgrounds in Brooklyn.
Discussion participants included Prospect Park Admistrator
Tupper Thomas, Amboy Neighborhood Center Director Julian Grant,
and McCarren Park Moms founder Susan Monagan. Read
the transcript.
Outdoor Event at McCarren Park: Co-sponsored
by McCarren Park Moms
November, 2002
This event included direct input from
several children from St. Cecilia's school with regard to
their own experience with playrounds. The event also involved
large outdoor 2'x3' photographs and text images from the larger
playgrounds project.
Event in Prospect Park
May 10, 2003
This event, proposed for the 9th Street
playground near the Prospect Park bandshell, represents a
unique opportunity to learn directly from children's and adolecent's
experiences with play spaces in New York City. More details
forthcoming soon.
Sponsors
Brooklyn Arts Council
Greenpoint Bank
Consolidated Edison.
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