Introduction: On September 22, 1994, is when ‘Friends’ aired on television. It began with ‘The pilot’ episode with 22 million viewers. Friends was done in a live audience for most of their episodes. The laughs were the fans who decided to sit through the whole show and the behind the scenes. They didn’t use laugh tracks like in most sit-coms. The show connected with millions globally by featuring lovable characters, relatable scripts, and heartwarming moments. It portrayed real-life situations about careers, relationships, and friendships, resonating with audiences across cultures. Because of their strong friendships, emotional struggles, and personal progress, viewers from all over the world view these fictitious characters as role models who provide comfort and connection during times of loneliness. But one of the main reasons this monument would be a good idea to replace Admiral David Glassgow Farragut monument is because people don’t seem to be engaged with the history of the monument. The ‘Friends’ couch would take its place with the Admiral monument because many people were devastated when one of the actors in the show passed away this year. Matthew Perry, most known for playing Chandler in the show, had an impact on many people’s lives with his engaging character. Perry not only made audiences laugh, but also bonded with them personally through Chandler’s humor and charm, creating a favorable and memorable impression. 

Definition of the Problem:  This memorial would be placed in the spot of Admiral David Glassgow Farragut monument in Madison Square park. Though his recognition as a civil war commander is known throughout history, people don’t seem to pay attention to the memorial because it doesn’t resonate with them. But his memorial is not just only in Madison Square park, it’s also in Saint-Gaudens National Park, and there’s also another monument located in the center of Farragut Square in Washington D.C. Considering the multiple locations dedicated to Admiral David G.Farragut, replacing the Madison Square Park monument with one dedicated to the beloved TV show “Friends” might not cause significant disruption. Essentially, the replacement could transform Madison Square Park into a more interesting and appealing space, attracting not only fans of the show but also those mourning the passing of a beloved actor. In addition, the nearby The FRIENDS Experience: The One in New York City may see an increase in activity as a result of the replacement monument for Madison Square Park. By installing a memorial related to the iconic TV show “Friends,” visitors to the park may be inspired to explore the recreated film set and immerse themselves in the world of the beloved show. This change has the potential to rejuvenate the park and create a meaningful space for reflection and connection for both fans and the general public. 

Explanation of the Proposed Solution: The memorial will consist of a couch and a lamp standing right next to it with two characters sitting on the couch (Monica and Joey) and four standing right behind it (Rachel, Ross, Chandler, and Phoebe). The orange couch and the lamp are an iconic symbol of the show and are associated with Central Perk since that was the place where the protagonists shared several memorable moments that made their friendship grow stronger. The memorial will be more visual oriented since it is going to have color in order to attract more people/visitors. Visitors will also be able to interact with the memorial since there’s going to be space for them to sit on the couch to take pictures next to the protagonists made of stone. The memorial will also count with a stone right next to it, with the following engraved, “The one where we’re still all together” In memory of Matthew Perry, Oct 28, 2023. To make it known that This memorable is to honor Matthew Perry whose recently passing away impacted millions of lives around the world. 

Logistics: In order to get our memorial placed at Madison Square Park, we would have to complete some legal steps. Firstly we would reach out to the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Then we would have to identify  the type of our memorial and its specific requirements to later submit applications to the park authority.  After that the park authority would review and approve our memorial if it follows the rules and guidelines. Subsequently we would have to pay fees associated with the permit and once the permit is approved the coordinate installation would get started. This involves discussing safety measures and schedules. For this memorial we are going to need several materials in order to build it and add color. We will also need approximately 50 workers in total working everyday to get this memorial done in time. And lastly the memorial would take over 6 months to build because of its big size and all the details it requires.  

Conclusion: Even though Matthew Perry didn’t have an easy life, and he had many reasons to give up, he never did. Although he was struggling significantly in his personal life fighting multiple severe battles like alcoholism and addiction, this never stopped him from wanting to make others happy. He loved making people laugh and also offered help to those who were going through similar adversities in their lives. His character in the sitcom, Friends, enthralled his millions of viewers with his sweet personality and his constant humor. Friends is not only a show, it’s a cherished memory, a source of comfort for all of its fans. The connection that was created  between the characters and the audience was strong enough that to this day this show is still extremely popular and several people from around the world can’t leave NYC without visiting The FRIENDS Experience: The One in New York City. Therefore adding a memorial in Madison Square Park honoring Matthew Perry but with all the Friends characters and the symbolic interactive orange couch would bring more visitors to the Park. 

Proposed by: Ariana Cerron and Catherine Arellano