Creative Brief for Armory Square Project

This project is in regards to using the creative channels of art to present a work that will be stationed in either Onondaga Lake or Armory Square in Syracuse, NY. The project will take the form of a playground. The location of Armory Square is ideal for the playground because it is a great site that draws many people, albeit from only a small niche of the population. By putting in a playground, the hope is to establish a family-friendly environment that can subsequently allow for more generations to experience Armory Square. The history of the site is that Armory Square was once the center of Syracuse. A thriving industrial and business district and its close proximity to the railroad enabled Armory Square to be the center of city life. The site is appropriate for the project because its deficiency is the lack of outdoor open space for families to congregate together, thus dissuading families to experience Armory Square together. The project is integration because it will utilize space that is already considered part of Armory Square and simply transform it into the playground.
The permission to work on the site will come from the owners of whatever piece of available land we desire to put the playground on. The piece will be a disruption because it is fundamentally different than anything else in Armory Square, where right now it is simply buildings and streets. Our project is similar to the work of Maya Lin. Her ice skating rink in Michigan is ultimately what our playground will attempt to replicate. Lin created a rink in the center of the city, as a place for recreation and to pay homage to the history of the town. The playground will do the same as it will be created with the image of Armory Square in mind. The goal of the project is for people to be able to experience Armory Square together as families. Success cannot be quantitatively measured for this project, but if children are playing and parents are proudly watching, then it could be called a success. Our target audience is families. We want the playground to serve as a stepping stone to the Armory Square experience. Parents bring their children to the playground, and then enjoy Armory Square together with the whole family.