[Public Design Project] Steem Park, Moving Forward!

Welcome to Mintvilla!

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Hi everyone! I'm excited to give an update on STEEM Park today. As I mentioned in my intro post, I've been working with @hitheryon and @sndbox to take on more responsibilities concerning the park project. As Public Programs Associate at the Von King Park Conservancy (where the project is located), their team introduced me to Steemit and the incredible process in which they fundraised. The Herbert von King Park has historically seen very little funding and government support so it's exciting to see such an innovative technology make great impact.

From our side at the conservancy, STEEM Park was the best way to jumpstart our long-term development plan. The New York City Parks Department only supports parks that have a proven record of engagement and communal investment. With STEEM Park's momentum, we were able to start our needed portfolio of installation work, new infrastructure, cultural events, and community engagement. Today I will present our short and long-term goals for STEEM Park in Bedford-Stuyvesant.

Short-term Goals

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First things first, STEEM Park is the initial spark to bring ongoing engagement to the park. Our primary goal is to bring a diverse array of activities that sustain the park as a communal and cultural destination. Vibrancy is the ultimate goal as vibrant life encourages safe, uplifting, and productive life.

In this way, the Steemit project was a proof-of-concept that these activities are really possible. In less-supported areas of the city, there is a general sentiment that these communities are “left behind” and subject to the eventual dangers of gentrification. The idea that a diverse group of people can pull off exciting projects is generally non-existent and met with levels of pessimism.

But now, the head of the conservancy Wayne Devonish and I can begin to pursue outdoor theater, musical events, community picnics, artistic workshops, public gatherings, and so on.

Among those precedents, one thing we're immediately working on is more substantial signage and wayfinding elements in the park. This will provide more welcoming elements and a general sense of accessibility for those that are not just local residents.

• Wayfinding Outdoor Signage Examples from FWD Sign Solutions

We have a number of components we want to incorporate including audio histories and QR codes that reference historic photos and resources. We'll definitely open this up to ideas within the Steemit community soon!

Moving Forward

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Our more long-term goals in the coming year is to establish the Von King Park as an official 501c(3) conservancy in New York and leverage that position for more involvement. Be sure to follow these posts to see our updates to the website, newsletter, and physical park itself.

Also, thank you @hitheryon for the SBD grant to start these projects!

Thanks everyone! Let me know what you think below.

Thanks for reading & Stay tuned for the next story!
@Mintvilla, an ever-learning landscape architect