How a Cheap Paint Can Turned Brooklyn into a Social‑Distancing Playground
Imagine strolling through Brooklyn’s Domino Park and finding perfectly sized circles drawn on the grass—each one wide enough for one person and a good half‑meter of personal space. Sounds like a bizarre art‑project, right? All it took was a 99‑cent can of spray paint and a lot of creative thinking.
What Sparked the Idea?
When lockdowns hit in March 2020, New Yorkers were scrambling for safe ways to enjoy public spaces. “Everyone was looking for a simple, visual cue that fit into their day and was easy to follow,” said Michael Lampariello, director of Domino Park. “These circles hit the sweet spot.”
From a Test to a Global Trend
- “The experiment was overnight,” Lampariello recalls. “We splashed out a discounted can of paint and instantly it became a live‑action instructions board.”
- Word spread like wildfire. Parks in Sydney, Santiago, and almost every major city down the line sprang into action.
- “We started getting emails from parks worldwide blasting us for more info,” Lampariello says. “It was a textbook case of how urban rules can be reinvented in a single day.”
Would This Have Happened Before COVID?
“Not likely,” Lampariello admits with a chuckle. “People already had their daily routines set. We had to give them a clear, concrete method to keep safe—and the circles made it happen.”
Why It Works
These circles do more than just keep distance; they also:
- Show visual leadership in public spaces.
- Make compliance feel less like a chore and more like a shared adventure.
- Invite visitors to sit with confidence while still enjoying the park.
So the next time you’re in a city park, keep an eye out for those orderly dotted circles. They might just be the most creative, low‑budget crowd‑control solution you’ll encounter this season.
