A must watch! This holiday video set to Karen Carpenter’s “Sleigh Ride” highlights kids sledding and frolicking in the snow on the old Mounds at Washington Square Park in December 2008 before their remodeling. It illustrates perfectly how the structures, sometimes referred to as “the three hills,” functioned as a place of spontaneous play.
Look at the low fences around the park! You can see parts of the park were under construction in the background. No more sledding now. There was talk at one point of bringing in “temporary sledding structures” but no mention of that recently.
Located in the Southwestern section of the park, the “Mounds” were originally scheduled for removal in the controversial Bloomberg-era redesign plans. Activists pushed for the Mounds to be included, they were successful, and, as we know, they are a hit! The new “Mounds” somewhat resemble the old Mounds and yet are definitely different: they are shorter — the old Mounds were 6 feet tall; the new version was supposed to match in height but does not — covered in artificial turf and “cable-net play.”
This video was produced by Matt Davis who was putting together a film, “SQUARE: Straightening out Washington Square Park,” documenting what went on behind-the-scenes and within the community around the contentious redesign of the beloved park (2007-2014+).
It is ironic that the new Mounds, which the Bloomberg Administration Parks Department and re-designer George Vellonakis (now Park Administrator) so did not want in the park, are so popular.
Click here for what I wrote about this video and the old Mounds in 2013 as the new “Mounds” were set to debut.
Previously at Washington Square Park Blog:
New “Mounds” Taking Shape at Washington Square Park – but in What Form? August 16, 2012
What’s Up With the Mounds? Why People Like Them December 16, 2008
She looks cold but what a fun time for the kids. You can always thaw out in Florida! Hahahaha!
Yes, they were definitely having fun. Ha re: Florida!
Cathryn