Rocket Park Mini Golf Course in Corona, New York by Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Article source: Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

This project on behalf of the New York Hall of Science (NYHS) included Concept Planning through Construction Administration for the Rocket Park Mini Golf course. The project features an interactive outdoor miniature golf experience themed on rocket science physics. The nine-hole miniature golf course with interactive components illustrates various concepts of rocket science physics, from Blast Off to Splash Down. Concepts are further explained through interpretive graphics.

Rocket Park Mini Golf Course aerial view , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

• Architects: Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership
• Project: Rocket Park Mini Golf Course
• Location: Corona, New York, USA
• Photography: New York Hall of Science

Rocket Park Mini Golf Course with Rockets , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

The client envisioned this unique educational environment as an excellent vehicle to demonstrate classic Newtonian physics – a key component in rocketry and all physical science education, from elementary school through Ph.D. level science – to kids.  LHSA+DP worked with a miniature golf course designer in the early months of the project to establish the overall planning and layout of the course.  The design team studied recommended relationships between holes, traffic flow and pacing of visitors to optimize the experience on a restricted quarter-acre site. Each hole can function independently to allow visitors to move at their own pace through the course and, unlike most regular miniature golf courses, the holes do not need to be experienced in any particular order.  The nine holes are arranged, however, according to the sequential stages of a rocket’s journey.  Hole #1 is “Launch Window” and Hole #9 is “Splash Down!”.  In between, the other seven holes include: “Blast Off!”, “Zero Gravity”, “Orbit the Earth”, “Space Docking”, “Space Junk”, “Gravity Whip”, and “Re-Entry”.  Tying this course together is a large central plaza area representing a lunar surface, complete with a replica Mercury space capsule, that serves as a practice putting “green” (seamless, poured in place EPDM surfacing comprised of 100% recycled tires).  This space is designed with bench seating and attractive landscaping in order to control crowding on busy days and offer a vantage point from which caregivers can keep an eye on their children as they move through the Rocket Park.  And the cushioned rubbery surface gives players a bit of “moon bounce” as they navigate the course.

Rocket Park Mini Golf Course with Rockets , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

Rocket Park Mini Golf Course , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

The look and feel of the project is inspired by the popular culture of the late 1950s/early1960s. Space Age iconography, toy robots, futuristic roadside architecture and imagery from the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair, all drove the highly colorful and stylized design elements of the project. Custom illustrations were commissioned by LHSA+DP to explain the various physics concepts being engaged at each hole.

Rocket Park Mini Golf Course , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

Hole 4, aerial view , Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

Not since Alan Shepard drove a golf ball on the moon in 1971 has there been this much enthusiasm for the sport in an extraterrestrial context.  At Rocket Park Mini-Golf, the colorful hardscape design, varied challenges of the golf holes, retro-style informational graphics and landscaping come together to form an out-of-this-world rocket ship journey through space for all ages.

Detail of shuttles, Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Hole 1, Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Hole 2, Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

Hole 3, Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Hole 7, Image Courtesy © New York Hall of Science

Hole 2, Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Hole 9, Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Image Courtesy © Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership

Tags: New York, USA

Categories: Golf Course, Park

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