This project aims to release the problem of emission and noise within the Hispanic majority community of Parkchester through reproducing the public space with an interconnected capping park structure over the Cross Bronx Expressway. Residents along the Cross-Bronx Expressway have been suffering from noise and emissions caused by passing vehicles. Initial research by Professor Peter Muennig revealed the potential public health benefits and economy of a capping park over the expressway. Thus, the capping is expected to “save both lives and money.” On the other hand, the expressway, serving passing vehicles while located across the center of the communities, has become a huge barrier between both sides while producing neither public spaces nor working opportunities. This project consequently proposes a more complex capping park, consisting of several “corridors” providing space for not only pedestrian passageways but also working opportunities. The corridors interconnect with each other and their surroundings to expand the public domain. Moreover, public health issues have been considered from the beginning of the project, including ventilation, emission treatment, and solar energy utilization. The project also suggested a unified public domain all along the expressway, which benefits the community and is expected to rebuild the urban landscapes.
