Parkour!
Brooklyn, NY

An urban obstacle to overcome is at the heart of the physical skill called “parkour”, an
invention of the Frenchman David Belle. Parkour is an activity with the aim of moving from one point to another as efficiently and quickly as possible. A person who practices parkour is known as a traceur, which translated from French means “to trace, to draw” or “to go fast”. Urbanistically we derived our scheme from the spirit of parkour, in that the constant density of
traffic circulating around Grand Army Plaza is the obstacle we seek to overcome with our design.

Prospect Park is replete with pathways leading through its naturist landscape; a vast network of access and movement. Our idea is to connect into that network, extend it out and up toward Grand Army Plaza. Our pathways, or “traceurs”, leap up and over six to eight lanes of traffic, past the magnificent Quadriga, landing at the base of the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial. Continuing further they dance as they gently reach down to Bailey Fountain. The topside of these traceurs are “greenways” that allow biking, jogging and walking on their self-irrigating system. These traceurs leap and connect, enabling new vantage points for the observation of Grand Army Plaza and the whole of Prospect Park.

The undersides of the traceurs are clad in highly polished chrome. This surface dynamically reflects and refracts the ever present traffic in a truly New York celebration of movement, speed and color.