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Our proposal brings a new, interactive children’s sprinkler to the playground in Cherry Tree Park, a playground sited on what was once Harlem’s Marshland on today’s East 99th Street and 3rd Avenue. This project addresses the lack of physical space dedicated to the representation of environmental justice histories, the inherent vulnerability of both the natural and manmade landscape, and the inequity in the distribution of green spaces in Harlem.
Cherry Tree Park is within the historic pathway of Harlem Creek, connecting our proposal intrinsically to the physical site of intervention. The new water feature will consist not only of a new and improved spray head, but will create a flow of water that gushes through a topographic model of the historic waterways of Harlem, combining Harlem’s past with its present, as represented through an overlay of New York City’s street grid. By embedding this historical context back into the neighborhood, we hope to shed light on a since-buried history. Providing educational moments, particularly in a playground that caters to younger residents, is a meaningful first step towards a more just and equitable Harlem.