Fisher Brothers has picked 17 finalists for  “Beyond the Centerline,” its privately-funded, $30,000 design competition to re-envision and enliven the traditional traffic medians of the Park Avenue commercial district between 46th and 57th Streets.

The finalists propose to adorn the median strip with features including an aquarium, an Alpine mountain, a botanical circus and even a Mimosa Pudica plant, whose leaves open and close to the rhythm of the trains operating underneath.

The finalists also proposed to program the spaces with activities ranging from art installations and performance, to carnival rides, spin and yoga studios, basketball courts, mini-golf, a skate park and even kayaking.

A jury of architects will select a $25,000 grand prize winner, and a popular vote will determine a $5,000 prize winner.

“We are overwhelmed by the response – with nearly 150 submissions received from artists, architects, landscape architects, urban planners, and students – and blown away by the level of thought, creativity and attention to detail,” said Winston Fisher, partner with Fisher Brothers.

For comments, questions or concerns, please contact our New York commercial real estate editor Bendix Anderson