Chinatown Echoes

A Memory Walk in Columbus Park

Set yourself on a journey to explore the past, present, and future of Columbus Park by listening to memories of people living in that area. Learn and appreciate how the park is integral to Chinatown's community and culture.

Project Video

Abstract

The urban construct of a community is critical to its culture and identity. This idea is demonstrated by the construction of Columbus Park in Chinatown during the 1900s. Before the park was built, the area was a swampy place with very poor sanitary conditions. It was widely known as the “Bend” and a place full of violence and crime. Thanks to the construction of a new park, the area was transformed to motivate social and cultural activities which the audience will get to explore in this experience in the form of a memory walk.

The memory walk is created using augmented reality to guide the audience on a specific path with visual indicators. The journey will begin at the southeast corner of the park where the audience will learn about its history. They will be presented with a visual overlay overviewing what this exact street corner looks like a hundred years ago. Then it will continue to Mulberry Street where the audience will again see what the street looks like in the past before the park was constructed. After the audience learns about the history of Columbus Park, it will bring them back to the present and to the heart of the park where they will explore two main cultural activities (opera playing and chess). They will listen to memories of people unfolding their reasons for being here and how this place is significant to them. The first memory is about Mr. Wong who plays Cantonese opera and the instrument called Erhu. The second memory is about an ex Hongkong detective who immigrated to the U.S and became a popular chess player in the park. The two memories will help the audience immerse themselves in the already bustling park and they can see other activities by themselves that are not part of this experience. In the end, the audience will be guided to the north exit where they will see a black building rising. They will encounter a protest against the recent development of a mega jail that is soon under construction across the street. The visuals and audio of the construction will bring annoyance to the audience just like it does to the local people. The experience will not only bring appreciation for the park but also social awareness of the urban transformation within Chinatown.

Photos