Wick Park Corner

The corner of historic Wick Park is no longer being put to good use. It is run down and somewhat abandoned, save for a few occasional beer drinks. The goal of the project is to restore the corner of the park to and inviting area that is able to function well and serve the community, re-creating a sense of security and re-establishing a sens of community in Youngstown.

Site Plan

The design is broken down into three phases. The first phase, which is currently being implemented, involves restoring the 6x6 timbers that provide the terraced form of the existing park. A second Phase will involve the implementation of a community garden on the site of a former playground in the park. The third phase includes plans to construct a small, community sitting area adjacent to the sidewalk which aims to give users a private space to relax that is separate from the park's core - allowing the fountain area to once again become open and inviting for visitors.

The Community Garden incorporates a mixture of planted fruits and vegetables in an attempt to encourage community interaction and engagement within the site, The garden includes a rainwater collection tank in order to allow for easy watering and maintenance of plantings. The garden is set back from the sidewalk and physically separated by an undulating aluminum fence in order to prevent theft by passersby. Small holes will be cut into the fence in order to allow for small views into the space and revitalize the streetscape. String lighting will be hung iver the garden, illuminating it at night and preventing possible theft.

The seating garden includes movable seating and creates a space within the park that is secluded and private allowing for multiple uses - such as the beer drinkers who currently occupy the fountain plaza. The enclosed space will feature overhead string lighting in order to create a more inviting, illuminated space at night.

 By creating a separate area for these types of uses, the more visible parts of the park - such as the community garden and fountain plaza - will become much more open and inviting.

Handel's Corner

The goal of the Handel's Corner project is to create a welcoming gateway into the City of Youngstown from the suburb of Boardman. 
In Phase one of the project, a number of planters will be cleaned and refurbished, allowing new grass and trees to be planted in order to bring the street edge to life. Small fences will also be featured in these areas in order to provide screening from the road. The center planting bed will feature a new "welcome to Youngstown" sign, which will mark the edge of the city of Youngstown and provide visitors with a new gateway into downtown.

Phase 1

Phase two will attempt to take full advantage of the vacant corner lot - which is the former site of a gas station. The existing asphalt and broken, exposed building foundation will be re-imagined and re-used to create an open space that the community can use for a farmer's market and other events.
The existing asphalt will be cut into a new geometric form which will create two asphalt "islands" with a large open gravel area in the center. Keeping the space open and flat will provide ample opportunities for social events such as the establishment of a temporary farmers market.

Phase 2

Cutting horizontally through the site are three strips of meadow grasses - which will require minimal upkeep and maintenance once installed - whose form mimics DNA code. Just as our DNA gives us information about ourselves, the same symbolic form gives information about the underlying character and history of Youngstown. 
Each "strand" portrays a particular period in Youngstown's history. The top strand represents Youngstown's intudrial past and the collapse of the steel industry. The center strip represents the current situation in Youngstown - fragmentation and vacancy sitting on an unstable foundation - while the lower strip represents the future potential for Youngstown's rebirth and revitalization, as the story ends on firm footing. 

Planting Design

The open space will provide a new green gateway into the city of Youngstown that also acts as a place for community gathering, interaction and involvement.

Crandall Park South Street Identity

In Phase 1, small planteds will be installed at each corner, adding a sense of unity and datum to the neighborhood.

The Second Phase of the Crandall Park South Street Identity project aims to create a unified streetscape for the historic neighborhood in Youngstown. By highlighting the linear tree lawn spaces along the street, a visual link is created throughout the neighborhood. The experience is amplified for drivers, as a waving, undulating line of perennials is weaved throughout the linear space. 

Community stewardship is a vital part of the design as each homeowner is responsible for maintaining their respective section of the designed area, adding a sense of personal value and neighborhood ownership for residents.