Student Brainstorm Sessions

During the workshops, students were asked to draw vacant lots with questions over each one of them:  What do I see?  What can I do? What do I imagine?  What can we do?  

Responses were shared within the group and students were invited to reimagine these vacant lots in their own neighborhoods. 

Within the drawings and discussion, we noticed overlapping themes mostly involving greening the space and creating community.  Many imagined a space that could become extensions of the backyard – a shared park or outdoor space for neighbors to meet, that would not only provide more green access in the city, but also serve as a stormwater management solution and a space to foster public gatherings and public programs. Students came with hopeful and playful energy as exhibited by amenities like dog parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, fields, gardens, or bandshells. Some drawings incorporated simple infrastructure, such as built-in arches or bridges, connoting a sense of safety. 

Synthesizing Student Concepts

The Canopy team met to best way to synthesize the student ideas into one cohesive piece to share with a larger audience. Our office is located at the intersection of Washington and Wells, right beside an Elevated Train line and regular foot traffic. After a brainstorming session, we came upon the image of two people gathered in conversation, their minds unfolding together with ideas. The quilt above the figure’s head shows the original student sketches. To build a greener, more welcoming community in the vacant city, we first need to sit together and listen, exploring the possibilities that may unfold in that space.