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Momentum Park(our)
This summer, the National Building Museum invites visitors of all ages to experience Momentum Park(our), a bold new installation that transforms the Museum’s Great Hall into an immersive parkour environment. Open from July 3–20, this limited-time exhibition offers a thrilling physical and educational journey through the intersections of movement, design, and spatial awareness.
Rooted in the athletic discipline of parkour, developed in France in the 1980s and shaped by early 20th-century military training, Momentum Park(our) celebrates the human body’s ability to move fluidly and creatively through space. The installation is also inspired by the landscape architecture of Lawrence Halprin, whose dynamic public spaces have long served as natural canvases for parkour athletes. Notably, the National Building Museum presented The Landscape Architecture of Lawrence Halprin in 2016 with The Cultural Landscape Foundation. The exhibition provided context for Halprin-designed landmarks such as Freeway Park, Skyline Park, and the FDR Memorial, all of which continue to shape how we move through and interact with urban space.
Guests will navigate a custom-designed obstacle landscape that challenges agility and invites new ways of engaging with the built environment.
The exhibition was developed in partnership with Mark Toorock, a leading figure in the parkour community and founder of American Parkour. His creative and technical guidance helped shape Momentum Park(our) into a one-of-a-kind experience that’s both physically engaging and grounded in real-world movement practices.
Key highlights include:
- Forces of Motion Zone: Interactive stations exploring the science of motion, momentum, kinetic energy, and acceleration, designed to engage visitors with hands-on learning. Sign up for our workshops HERE.
- Live parkour performances and demos by professional athletes, who will also be onsite offering coaching and informal talks.
- Immersive media projections and photography that highlight the global culture of parkour and its deep connections to urban design.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Mark Toorock
Mark Toorock is a pioneering figure in the global parkour movement and the founder of American Parkour (APK), one of the first organizations to bring parkour training, education, and community development to a broad audience. With experience in engineering, technology, and fitness, Mark has spent over two decades advancing the discipline through accessible programming, innovative equipment design, and nationwide instructor training.
At the heart of his work is a deep belief that resilience and self-belief can only be earned through real-world accomplishment. Mark emphasizes that teachers and coaches play a vital role in this process—by creating thoughtful, achievable challenges that allow students to succeed and grow. Through APK, he continues to champion play and movement as fundamental human rights—and lifelong sources of empowerment
About American Parkour
American Parkour (APK) is a leader in parkour education, performance, and community development. Founded to make parkour safe, accessible, and transformative, APK has created scalable training systems used in over 40 schools and youth programs across the United States. Its curriculum emphasizes creativity, resilience, and mastery through movement—offering students real opportunities for success and self-discovery.
APK has performed and taught in more than 14 countries, representing the discipline on an international stage. The team has worked with some of the world’s leading brands to showcase parkour as both an art form and a celebration of human potential. Through school programs, instructor certifications, and public events, American Parkour continues to champion play and movement as powerful tools for personal and collective growth.
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