Dilly Dally
Dilly Dally provides a safe and traffic free space for the youth of a busy LA area to come to and hang out.
The vacant lot sits between a small neighborhood, the 101 freeway and sunset blvd. There was absolutely no space for the teens of this area to play in other than the Denny's parking lot. Dilly Dally not only gives the youth of the area a space to hang out at, but it also allows for them to participate in a vital and often forgotten form of play, creating and exploring their world.
Design
"everything is normally so finished, so well arranged that nothing is left to the child's initiative." -bengtsson
The design drew heavily form the ideas of Arvid Bengtsson and this study on environmental planning for children's play. It was important for me to provide an active open space for the teens but to also incorporate areas of calm for the inhabitants of the surrounding area. There are no play structures within the park, I have incorporated natural elements that support play like large boulders to climb on or smoothed out indention's in the center cemented area that teens can skate and bike on.
There are three layers to the park consisting of a space for people who are walking dogs or leisurely walking, a center space for the teens to play ride bikes or skateboard, and back space for groups of people who wish to have a more clam experience and relax.
