Visiting Sunset Park in Brooklyn

In the middle of the ongoing project in Bronx, I squeezed an afternoon, dragging my roommate and myself to the Sunset Park in Brooklyn, and I am glad I did not waste the time.

Sunset Park is located in a Hispanic neighborhood. Since my roommate is Hispanic, she was excited and kept explaining every Spanish she saw, along with a few hilarious stories happen in between Hispanics.

We arrived there around 4 in the afternoon, the most active hour in the park during the day. Sunset Park is founded based on a hill. Thus, you cannot see over the whole park at any point. As soon as entering the park, the typical fast beats of New York City faded away, while the soothing melody of Sunset Park emerged out. A long straight path at our left, people sitting on the benches or wandering around.

A stairway invited us into the deep of the park. 

At the top of the stairs, we turned back, and the whole view of Manhattan was picked up by eyes. Crowded high-rises connected to the horizon line, sucked in the sky. The tower of a beautiful church stretched itself on the top of other buildings

The paths of the park were carefully paved, grass and trees were attempting to grow into the Spring. A family was having a picnic on lawn. 

A lot of available benches. We did not wait to the lamps were on, but I can imagine. People were chatting, walking their dogs, reading books; kids were chasing each other, playing soccer, riding scooters. 

At the back of the park occupies the recreation center, basketball courts, soccer fields, and playgrounds. Kids and teenagers went here to hang out with their friends, playing sports within their local park and community. 

Not exactly sure, but I noticed some groups of kids might be in some sort of after-school class or activity that led by someone.

They even had a small volleyball court!

I chose a spot that included the strongest view energy and began to draw. 

At the back of my drawing spot was a ceremonial place. Benches were arranged in rows, nice and neat. You would never know if one day, a romantic wedding will be held here.

What astonished me a lot was the trees in Sunset Park. They were so rare in such a modern city that were like walking from an old growth forest. 

Only considering the feelings of drawing in Sunset Park and Tremont Park, I felt there was so much I could pulled out from the reality and put on the paper in Sunset Park, but so limited in Tremont Park. 

On our way out, we encountered this little girl. This photo concludes the day and my experience in Sunset Park.

Aiming to improve the Crotona Park and Tremont Park in Bronx, I was inspired a lot from Sunset Park. What makes a park? Park itself, or people who in that area?

First, facilities are always the key factors that shape people’s behaviors. Basketball courts, soccer fields, playgrounds, volleyball court, skate park…Sports are the most direct and simplest way to connect people, to make the interaction between strangers possible.

Second, the proper amount of green. A park with no trees (Tremont Park nearly has any) is too dead to cheer people up, while a park covered with too many trees seems mysterious and repulses people away. The importance of trees to a park cannot be emphasized enough. Nobody would ever want to visit a park that you can see the other side at the first glance. Trees offer a park energy. The appropriate amount of energy would invite people to come in and relax, not too much tension or too loose.

Third, whether the design of paths, stairways, entrances is inviting. The staircase at Tremont Park refuses you to walk on. Had it not been necessary that morning (according to GoogleMap, the closest way), I would not have walked on that stairway because it was not only narrow, but also steep. Quite the opposite, the stairways in Sunset Park have their own aesthetic pleasing, a feeling of inviting you to walk upon. A positive conversation happens between me and the stairs when I saw them.

Fourth, lamps and benches. Basic things that constitute a park. However, the arrangement of benches is worth studying too. When will probably someone be tired of walking and want to sit? Where can be the best place to rest while keeping an eye on my kids? Where should be the quiet spot for reading, instead of being distracted by sports? Benches are not benches, but a breach to think about people’s behaviors and how to control or facilitate them.