I wanted to start this post with an introduction to explain what BreezyParks is and what I hope to achieve with it.

What is BreezyParks?

BreezyParks is a hobby project where I can bring my ideas to life while learning more about web technologies.

I’ve always enjoyed online interactive experiences. Growing up, I spent countless hours playing Minecraft with friends, and even earlier than that, I have fond memories of collecting puffles in Club Penguin.

Programming has also been a long-standing passion of mine, and I’ve always wanted to create something that blends my love for technology with the joy of shared experiences. While I’m not setting out to build the next Minecraft or Club Penguin, I do want to learn about the technologies behind these beloved experiences and use that knowledge to grow my skills.

BreezyParks is my playground—a space for me to experiment with technologies, develop something tangible, and perhaps even create something that brings laughter to my friends or sparks inspiration in others.

Building BreezyParks.

Getting the website to where it is today has been a long and fascinating journey. While it might not look like much yet, the process has taught me a great deal about what happens behind the scenes. Starting with just a VPS, I had to build everything from the ground up.

The website’s backend is written in Python using Flask. I chose Flask because Python was the first programming language I learned, and I’m comfortable with it. Since I want to expand this project in the future, having a strong foundation in a language I know well felt important. I spent some time experimenting with both Django and Flask, and while Django is feature-rich, I felt Flask’s lightweight, barebones nature suited my needs better. While this might not be an objective truth, I trusted my instincts—and it’s a decision I’m still happy with.

Setting up the Flask web server also led me to explore the world of databases. Although I studied database design in college, I found that my work experience had a greater impact on my understanding of structuring and managing databases than formal education.

I realize that my current setup may not be the "best" solution for what I want to achieve. For instance, I could have used a web engine like WordPress to streamline the process and complete this project in months instead of a year. However, I wouldn’t have learned nearly as much by taking that shortcut. Now that I have something I’m proud to share with the world, I’m glad I chose this route.

Over the past year, as I tinkered with this site, my goals for it have shifted and evolved. Because of that, there may be parts of the site that feel unfinished or out of place. However, now that the site is live, I’m committed to refining and recycling those ideas as the site evolves over time. Expect BreezyParks to grow and change—just like the journey of learning that inspired it.

Closing Thoughts

To wrap up, I’d like to invite you to explore the pilot project for the site: PaperNote. I’m excited to share it with you and look forward to continuing to develop new interactive experiences here at BreezyParks.