History

This remarkable place was named after the great Civil War Activist, Rosa Parks. It stands as a memorial to her dedication to the issue of equal rights. The water-based theme of the park was inspired by the name of its home, Grand Rapids. Lin has even commented that it is possibly the most complex piece she has ever constructed.

About the Artist

Maya Lin is the American child of Chinese immigrants; she was born October 5, 1959 in Athens, Ohio. Inspired by diverse cultural sources (more than just Chinese), she found art to be an outlet and a way of finding her place in the world. Not only did she design and create Rosa Parks Circle, but she was also the architect of the famous Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington DC. As an architect student at Yale University, she entered a contest regarding the designs of this memorial; she won the competition at the age of 21. Much of her works mix her architectural and sculptural skills by incorporating water, earth, and stone.

Attractions

Rosa Parks Circle is a great place for many fun activities. These activities feature fountains of water in the summer, in which children may play. Concerts often take place in this park during the summer months as well, in the area referred to as the Ecliptic. In the winter, dependant on the weather, the Ecliptic becomes an ice rink. This is not your average ice rink, for in the evening hours, the fiber-optic lights below the ice light up to enhance the appearance and experience. Remarkably, these lights are arranged in such a manner as to mimic the star patterns that were over the city in the year 2000.

Upcoming Events

You are invited to visit Rosa Parks Circle September 8-10, 2005 for the 26th Annual Celebration on the Grand. This free festival features free fireworks on Friday night, and also live entertainment all day Saturday. For more events, follow the above link to access the events calendar for the park. This may be updated at any time.

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