Tai Chi Courts

I wonder what the design of this court will look like if it happens.

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State senator wants $40k in public funds to build tai chi court
By: Alan Suderman
Examiner Staff Writer
January 8, 2010

A Montgomery County state senator is seeking $40,000 in public funds to build a tai chi court at Cabin John Regional Park.

A bill proposed by Sen. Robert Garagiola would allow the state Board of Public Works to borrow up to $40,000 and award that money to the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission, which would have to match the funds.

About 15 to 30 people practice tai chi at the park every Saturday morning, according to Joanne Chang, a proponent of the court.

The idea for a park came after David Chen, a longtime tai chi instructor who led free classes at Cabin John every Saturday, died in 2005, according to Charles Votaw, a member of a group raising funds to build the court.

Votaw said friends of Chen from around the country started sending money in his honor, and Chen's former students decided to use the money to build a court.

"People loved him -- that's what happens when you're nice to people and you share," Votaw said.

Chang said a committee of tai chi enthusiasts is trying to raise the matching funds, bringing in about $25,000 so far. State taxes would be used to pay off the principal and interest of the loan given to the M-NCPPC.

The court would be a circle 40 feet in diameter made with black and white flagstone, making a large yin and yang symbol on the surface of the court. Plans call for benches and trees to be placed along the edge of the court.

Construction plans have been approved by the Montgomery County Planning Board, but convincing state lawmakers to approve using public funds for a tai chi court might be a hard sell.

Maryland is facing a $2 billion budget deficit during the next fiscal year, and Gov. Martin O'Malley said severe cuts to state agencies are likely without help from the federal government.

Garagiola could not be reached for comment, but advocates of the court is a good use of public funds because it would add value to the park and the surrounding area.

"A little bit of an educated investment will go a long way," Votaw said.

He said that if state money isn't available, his group would look for corporate sponsorships or individual donations.

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Thats cool.

Probably will look like a large tennis court. Minus the nets.

The long versions of Chen and Yang use a lot of space in all directions. I think the later styles have more of a linear flow. If this is a space for small crowds to use, something like a football field would be best.
Anything like a Bagua or Taichi pattern plan would seem to be for only one practitioner.

Trees, resting, and watching areas are a must.

it should be all stone and flagstone... nice stone benches to rest on, stone columns in foot work patterns, a bagua circle incorporated into the patio via red bricks... ahhhh... i can see it now... glad i have built my own in the front yard. :p

Seems a waste of money to me.

a circle of diameter 40 ft is not enough room for 15 to 30 people to practice on. So they either have a subset on the court or none...and someone gets to practice in the mud after a rain no matter what you do.

A smaller rest area with stretching bars, seating, and such, and a Chinese motif would serve better.

ttt42022!

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San Francisco’s first tai chi court opens in McLaren Park
Practitioners historically shared the space with tennis players

By Bay City News • March 22, 2022 1:30 am - Updated March 22, 2022 4:31 pm
https://www.sfexaminer.com/wp-conten...-1536x864.jpeg
The City’s first tai chi court has opened in McLaren Park. (Courtesy Bay City News)

San Francisco officials opened the city’s first dedicated tai chi space Saturday in McLaren Park.

The Mansell Tai Chi Court sits on a converted parking lot with sweeping views of downtown and low berms offering protection from the wind.

The $1.6 million project was funded through the 2012 Clean and Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond, according to a news release from San Francisco Recreation and Park Department.

Though designed specifically for tai chi, the 4,500-square-foot tai chi court will also welcome park goers who want to stop and admire the view. An asphalt path was realigned south to pass behind the court and offer uninterrupted views from the court and improve park circulation.

Historically, a passionate group of tai chi practitioners shared space with tennis players at the park’s tennis courts. The growing popularity of both activities prompted park neighbors to identify building a tai chi court as a top priority in the McLaren Park Vision Plan.

According to the news release, the centuries-old Chinese martial art — now practiced for its health benefits — is believed to have been brought to the U.S. in 1939, when Choy Hok Pang began teaching tai chi chuan in San Francisco’s Chinatown.

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Now I'm wondering how many TC courts there are in the US.

The ecology of the spatial environment used for physical yangsheng practices has been addressed in some quarters and the work is revolutionary!
As we become "Green" in many social climes, we naturally develop these intuitive native elements associated with well being and health, well beyond the physical though the physical environment is a stimulus.

Link attached:
Health, Identification and Pleasure: An Ethnographic Study on the Self-Management and Construction of Taijiquan Park Culture Space
https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fb5...27ddd21a33.pdf

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Arthur Storey Park
With miles of hiking and walking trails, Arthur Storey Park is the perfect park for a quiet stroll in the Chinatown area!

The park is very large, and a walk around the wide paved 1.8 mile perimeter of the park took us about an hour to do. The main trail takes you around the large lake in the center of the park.

The atmosphere of the park is very quiet and peaceful with lush greenery surrounding the lake perimeter. The park provides home to many wildlife including birds and turtles. There’s even a sign to beware of gators! Luckily, we didn’t see any gators, but we did see some bees pollinating wildflowers. Great to see ecology in action!

As a covid safety measure, most people were walking in a counter-clockwise direction around the park, which limited interaction with other groups of people.

There’s also a tai chi court, playground for kids, gazebo, and exercise gym for adults here. Added perk is the parking lot is huge!

https://i0.wp.com/htxtravelers.com/w...8%2C1024&ssl=1
https://i0.wp.com/htxtravelers.com/w...8%2C1024&ssl=1

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There are other pix. I just copy&pasted the two of the court.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vmas8eSl6Y

Not this David Chin, another David Chin.

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https://formstudioinc.ca/wp-content/...hi-park-01.jpg

Tai Chi Park
The creation of a formal Tai Chi Park of this scale is the first of its kind in the world. Master Peng You provided the vision for the park, recognizing the need to connect the Thunder Bay Tai Chi Association with Lake Superior and the Sleeping Giant. Located in Marina Park in Thunder Bay, the Tai Chi Park includes a “moon gate”� which centers on the Sleeping Giant and provides visitors with a quiet moment to reflect on the beauty surrounding them. The use of local stone to construct the arch and a seamless connection to the existing pedestrian walkways firmly anchors the design in its locale. The 60 ft dia pad, fashioned in the pattern of the traditional Yin Yang symbol, can accommodate a variety of functions, as well as serving the needs of the Tai Chi Association to practice their art.

Client
Master Peng You, Wayne Billborough (TaiChi Association)

Architect & Structural Engineer
FormStudio Architects Inc.

General Contractor
NST Contracting Ltd.

Construction
2011 completed

https://formstudioinc.ca/wp-content/...hi-park-02.jpg
https://formstudioinc.ca/wp-content/...hi-park-03.jpg

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This one is in Ontario Canada. It looks beautiful.