2008 Awards

MERIT AWARD - Landscape Architectural Design

The Trust for Public Land - New York City Playground Program

Mark K. Morrison Associates LTD
www.markkmorrison.com;  www.tpl.org

The Trust for Public Land, in collaboration with Mark K. Morrison Associates LTD founded The New York City Playground Program in 1997. The New York City Playground Program develops new community playgrounds for schools and neighborhoods underserved by existing parks. The concept is simple - playgrounds enhance a child’s mental development by promoting imaginative, as well as social and problem solving skills, create healthier environments by providing creative vehicles for physical activity and build stronger communities by bolstering neighborhood pride.  The New York City Playground Program features a 10-week Participatory Design Process involving the students, teachers, PTA and neighborhood Community Groups. In addition to introducing the students to the Principles of Site Design, we stress the importance of an egalitarian process of programming the site for a diversity of users, as well as engaging all participants to be stewards of their new park. Over the last ten years, we have completed thirty (30) new playgrounds, have nine (9) playgrounds under construction and four (4) playgrounds that have just completed Participatory Design Sessions.