Welcome to the Parks Helix Project Reflections

The aim of this blog project is to create an online resource reflecting the process and outcomes of a community development arts based project. I would like to share the experience of an artist working on two different types of community art project - a commissioned public art piece, and a collaborative community artmaking workshop series with a public art outcome, while creating documentation of the project. I will invite thoughts and reflections from others who were involved in this project - community participants, project partner staff, and other artists- as well as linking to other online representations of the Parks Helix Project.

The initial focus of this blog project will be on two initiatives - the photographic seats and Parks Childrens House Creative Network mosaic stepping stones - part of the final third year of the project. This collaborative stage culminated in the creation of the 'walking connection walking trail', and included a public walking event with temporary art installations, and publication of a brochure style map, listing the permanent artworks installed along the trail. I would like to eventually document the entire 3 year Parks Helix Project online.

The Parks Helix Project ran for 3 years in the Adelaide group of suburbs called "The Parks" - Athol Park, Mansfield Park, Ferryden Park, Angle Park, Woodville Gardens - ending in June 2007. Funded by Arts SA as part of its Partnerships for Healthy Communities program, and WURF (Westwood Urban Development Fund), this project involved partner organisations based at or around the Parks Community Centre: City of Port Adelaide Enfield, Parks Health Service, Parenting Network/Parks Childrens House, Ridley Grove School R-7, Westwood, and Flinders University Department of Public Health.