Photo Courtesy of John Garcia
NYC Parks is pleased to announce the winning designs for the Rockaway Barrier Beautification Project, selected by the Rockaway community by popular vote. Over Memorial Day weekend, nearly 500 people cast their votes for their favorite design at MoMA PS1’s VW Dome 2. Artists Jade Chan, John Garcia and Patty Harris received the most votes, and will join volunteers to paint their striking designs along both sides of the jersey barrier protecting the new pedestrian and bike lane on Shorefront Parkway. Painting will take place this summer, with volunteer dates to be announced shortly. Those interested in helping can email artandantiquities@parks.nyc.gov to receive these dates when they are confirmed.
The barriers will separate a pedestrian and bike lane from vehicular traffic for approximately 1.5 miles along Shore Front Parkway from Beach 74th to Beach 107th Streets. There will be approximately 20 access points for pedestrians, bicycles and emergency vehicles, bordered by plastic bollards. The barriers are currently being placed along Shore Front Parkway and are anticipated to be installed along the entire stretch by the end of the month.
For this contest, Parks invited artists and designers to envision the surface of these ordinary barriers as canvases for art. Artists were encouraged to offer proposals that consisted of a simple, bold pattern that could be painted by volunteers using stencils. They were instructed to account for the function of the barrier and its uneven surface, as well as the community’s design preferences, which were gathered at a community brainstorming session. After receiving more than 50 submissions, a committee of NYC and Rockaway artists, architects and designers selected ten finalists. Images of the finalists’ and winners’ proposals can viewed on our website.
Parks is partnering with the NYC Department of Transportation, the Community Affairs Unit (CAU) of the Office of the Mayor, NYC Service, New York Cares, and community groups – including the Rockaway Beach Civic Association, Rockaway Artists Alliance, and Friends of Rockaway Beach – on this initiative.
