There’s something about the spirit of Washington Square Park that even now, despite virtually HALF of the Park being closed for the City’s “renovation,” the open space is still filled to the brim with people commingling, creating music, art and conversation in new locations. (There’s no choice as the Fountain, its Plaza, and the Arch are behind gates and off-limits).
Interconnections happen at Washington Square Park in ways that just do not happen in other spaces. That is why it is such an internationally known, perfect public space.
The City’s redesign plans don’t take this into account. Their aspiration is to create a Park that is prettified and glossy and passive.
The areas at Washington Square Park where people are gathering now – the north east corner by the picnic tables, the Garibaldi statue, the teen playground – those areas will all be REMOVED with the completion of the City’s redesign plan. In the North East corner (well, in every ‘corner’ of the Park), there will be a “plaza.” What that means I am not quite certain but the significance of that is – without question – a diminishing of the public space. The Fountain and the surrounding Central Plaza – the premiere area where people gather at the park – are scheduled to be reduced 23 percent. How is this allowed to happen?
At Union Square Park right now, it’s a familiar drama that is being enacted. Some of the same actors, slightly different script, same basic plot, all being pushed through by Mayor Bloomberg and the City’s Parks Department — in the interest of privatizing and reducing the public space. If this is troubling to you, you have to something to say, join us Friday at Union Square Park from 6-8 p.m., pick a Park in the City to represent, create some art, make some music, dress up.
I can’t make it tonight…but I fully support your efforts and will be there in spirit…we have to stand up to the arrogant Bloomberg administration and Parks Commissioner Benepe…
Hey there,
Thanks for using my photo on the post above. I don’t mind one bit – in fact I appreciate it. But I just wanted to give you a heads up that I just replaced that one on my stream. It’s the same image, but the direct link to the photo on Flickr changed, so you’ll probably want to go grab it again and update your post with the new URL. Sorry for the trouble.
Nice blog, by the way.
That really says a lot about the strong spirit of the park. It carries on despite all of Bloomberg’s efforts to destroy it. The spirit of Washington Square Park should never have been in a battle to survive at all. It’s directly being assaulted now, and that is a crime (isn’t that what the last judge’s ruling was, that the spirit and character of the park was not to be destroyed?) I just hope it continues on despite what they are trying to do — until either Bloomberg is out and the community is directly involved in the re-design or leave it alone process again, or until our efforts force them to listen to what the community wants for OUR park. This is all such madness…