Paper Road

Hey! Here are some of the outcomes related to my previous post about the co-design process Paper Road ran in Palmerston North for the design of Featherston Street. The larger project was all about making cycling safer, especially around the two schools that were centrally located along the street. We worked closely with the schools and wider community to ideate and create features along the street to make it more attractive, safe, vibrant and comfortable. Key ideas that came from the community were: ?? More greenery to soften and beautify the space ???♂? Exercise equipment for high school students ?? Art installations that tell local stories ?? More seating to create inviting places to gather ?? Scooter racks to keep the footpaths clear ?? Activities for primary school students on their way to school ??? A stronger village feel to foster connection ??♀? Safer walking and cycling infrastructure for everyone The Outcomes Were: ?? Transformed urban spaces with strategically placed planters in key village areas around local schools ?? Created a new garden and informal seating area specifically designed for high school students to relax and connect ??? Installed an outdoor gym set to provide fitness opportunities for students, encouraging active lifestyles ?? Commissioned a stunning art piece of Fred Hollows by street artist Swift Mantis, celebrating an exceptional alumni of Palmerston North High School ?? Added convenient scooter racks to keep pathways clear and provide organised parking ?? Displayed silhouettes of remarkable former students, creating an inspiring visual narrative on the high school exterior ?? Collaborated with Central Normal School students to develop creative activity art, making their daily school journey more engaging and fun ?? Introduced an interactive race track with a speedometer, motivating kids to challenge and improve their personal best times ?? Empowered students with a creative budget to document and paint meaningful neighborhood locations on their school fence ?? Enhanced the shopping area with additional seating, cultivating a stronger sense of community and village atmosphere Although the budget was limited, these projects added a beautiful spirit to the project through it’s collective ideation and creation. Well done to Palmerston North City Council on the wider project and thanks to Michael Bridge, Sam Kilmister and Manumea Durie for working with me on this! #UrbanDesign #CommunityEngagement #PlaceMaking #CivicInnovation #SchoolCommunity #StreetTransformation #UrbanPlanning #ActiveTransportation #CommunityDesign #YouthInvolvement #CreativeCities #UrbanRenewal #NeighborhoodRevitalization #ParticipatoryDesign #CivicSpaces #UrbanLandscape #CommunitySpirit #SustainableDesign #PublicSpaceDesign #LocalInnovation

Kia ora all! After a glorious weekend celebrating the refurbished and iconic Te Whare o Rehua Sarjeant Gallery here in Whanganui, I'm settling back in to the work week. Still buzzing from the incredible moments that took place during the celebrations especially in light of the huge amount of work that went into this project and the enormous challenges key people faced in the journey of making the extension become a reality. Thank you so much to the Whanganui people, arts community and everyone that contributed over the years to this project. Below is a link to my interview with Emma Bugden on RNZ on Culture 101 recorded at the newly renovated gallery. I highly recommend going and listening to all of the interviews on the programme. Such an excellent selection of people on there.