Rosa Parks Circle
Artist Maya Lin invited QRP to collaborate on this new park, public plaza, and amphitheater in downtown Grand Rapids. Situated at the historic focal point of the city, the plaza provides a civic gathering place for concerts, a farmers’ market, and community activities. In winter, a refrigeration system transforms the plaza into a unique environment for public ice-skating.
The elements within the park – the skating rink, the bubbling water fountain, the mist fountain, and the wave-like earthen mounds – capture water in each of its three states: solid, liquid and vapor. The amphitheater/skating rink at the heart of the park is surrounded by terraced seating arranged in concentric rings, reminiscent of ripples caused by a drop of water on a still pool.
Beneath the surface of the amphitheater, 165 fiber-optic lights mark the position of the constellations over Grand Rapids on January 1, 2000, the year in which construction of the park was begun. The plan is soft in design, with gravel instead of hard paving and mounded lawns with informally scattered trees. Lightly shaded lawn terraces surrounding the central oval allow seating for lunchtime picnics and casual concert viewing. The plaza also includes a covered stage with equipment storage, public restrooms and food concession facilities.
Location
Grand Rapids, MI
Client
City of Grand Rapids & Frey Foundation
Role
Landscape Architect, Prime Consultant
Team
Artist Maya Lin
Design + Architects/Engineers
Tillett Lighting Design
Hobbs Architectural Fountains
Moore/Brugginck Engineers
