Karamjit Singh 

Victor Ng

Introduction: 

We have an ambitious plan to restore Madison Square Park’s most famous historical memorial, the Admiral David Glasgow Farragut monument. We want to do this by creating a more modern memorial and changing the name of the park. We felt like David Glasgow Farragut is very underrated and should be recognized more. To honor Admiral David Glasgow Farragut and recognize his legacy and important contributions to American history, we feel like renaming Madison Square Park to Farragut Square would be fitting and honorable.  Also, we are taking advantage of the park’s excellent location in the middle of New York City. This idea hopes to draw the attention of a wide variety of tourists and citizens of New York City on a national and worldwide scale. Our group is aware of how important it is to maintain Admiral Farragut’s legacy and works to improve this memorial by bringing attention to its significance in the past and making it easier to visit. Today the park is known for Admiral David Glasgow Farragut Monument and we want it to be a memorial to not be forgotten for both current and future generations. Since we have an unlimited budget,  we would like to see Madison Square Park transformed into a place that honors Farragut’s legacy while also acting as a center of learning and remembering.

Definition of the Problem: 

James Madison, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, is often celebrated for his role in drafting the Constitution and his contributions to American democracy. However, it is important that we have to acknowledge that Madison was a slave owner. This fact raises ethical questions about how we commemorate historical figures and their legacies. The decision to name a park after James Madison can be seen as a reflection of our complex relationship with history. On one hand, Madison’s contributions to the nation cannot be denied. His ideas on separation of powers and checks and balances continue to shape our American governance. However, his ownership of slaves is a dark stain on his legacy. David Farragut was an influential naval officer during the Civil War who played a crucial role in securing Union victories. He was also born into a family that owned slaves. David Farragut himself did not own slaves.

Explanation of the Proposed Solution:

Our version of Admiral David Glasgow Farragut’s memorial will be refurbished and will stand as a monument to his unbreakable leadership and outstanding accomplishments in American naval history. We thought that in order to improve the monument’s beauty and value, the new design would include modern features while still saving the monument’s important qualities. The main feature will show Farragut on top of a smooth, naval warship, which will show his fearless leadership when he leads his people through a field of torpedoes. Also, they submerged explosives, while they took Confederate fire from the shore. Since technology today is getting better by the day we wanted to add Interactive features such as digital screens and a voice box that tells people about the key events in Farragut’s life. It will circle the so the visitors of the park can understand his background and his legacy. In addition, the memorial will have carved quotes that highlight Farragut’s historical courage and knowledge, urging viewers to think about his words.  The memorial will be open and interesting for everyone by using touch components like touch maps or visual writings, which will guarantee access for a variety of audiences that come to the park. Also, we thought that benches and seating carry a very important value so they will not be changed. Therefore everything will be thoughtfully positioned throughout the memorial to encourage thought and silence, which creates a calm environment that will allow tourists to fully appreciate Farragut’s amazing story.

Our ambitious plan aims to restore the David Glasgow Farragut structure in Madison Square Park and create a more modern memorial to recognize his important contributions to American history. By renaming the park to Farragut Square, we hope to honor Admiral Farragut’s legacy and draw attention from both tourists and New York City residents. With an unlimited budget, our goal is to transform the park into a place that not only commemorates Farragut but also serves as a center of learning and remembrance. While we acknowledge the complex relationship with history, we believe it is crucial to maintain and improve this memorial for current and future generations.