Kounkuey Design Initiative Inc

Our work also extended outside of california. In pennsylvania, we oversaw the landscape-related construction of a renovated vare recreation center, a community center in south philadelphia that has been beloved for over 100 years. Over the center's long history, disinvestment took a toll on the integrity of the building and surrounding green space, prompting the city to rebuild. Kdi led the landscape architecture design and helped reimagine this community hub with local residents. Through the engagement process, the community shared the vital role played by a front 'stoop', which is a set of stairs leading up to the front door of a house that serves as an informal meeting space between friends and neighbors. We worked alongside these residents to incorporate this tradition into the site design with a 'community stoop' running alongside the recreation center to act as a threshold space between different programs and to encourage gathering. The new design for vare includes an ada-accessible playground, a community plaza with a splash pad, a full-sized football field, basketball courts, an outdoor classroom, and community artwork woven throughout. The renewed vare recreation center opened to the public in 2024 to much celebration.