An Urban Land Institute study for East Parkside recommended improving the neighborhood school. As part of pursuing that goal local leaders wanted to explore how to improve Leidy’s bleak playground. The design team’s observations of children gleefully playing on snow mounds inspired a major feature proposed for the playground, sculpted play surfaces surrounding a sundial.
"When people can take part in affecting the outcome a project, they tend to care more about how it gets built and used."
"All the design team members have great experiences and ideas, but it's the community that has the intimate experiences and ideas that are needed to develop the project concepts and designs."
“Design gives people a tool to be active in the decisions of their community and see the impact it can have.”