in and around the park, public space, NYC & more
The original tagline of Washington Square Park Blog, which published its first post twelve years ago today, was: “the chronicles of a beloved park and a city government overcome by its own power.” This blog … Read more…
– Updated – Part of the contentious aspect of the redesign of Washington Square Park (late 2007 – 2014) as designed by the Bloomberg Administration, against community wishes, was about the plan’s focus on “alignment” … Read more…
This is a flashback from 2010 of the Washington Square Park Fountain Plaza. You can see to the right – east – Phase II construction is going on. Phase I of the redesign construction, including … Read more…
During Controversial Washington Square Park Redesign, This Came to Light — From the WSP Blog Archive It was allegedly about “aligning” the Washington Square Park fountain to the Arch at Fifth Avenue, and so, after … Read more…
In July, fencing went up at Washington Square Park barricading the Northwest lawn, adorned with signs with Washington Square Park Conservancy logos on them stating “Lawn Restoration Work Ongoing” and pointing to a page on … Read more…
NYC Mayor John Lindsay Attended; Contrast with Recent Bloomberg-Era Redesign Process The 1969 renovation of Washington Square Park was completed with the architects asking for – and including – a significant amount of community input … Read more…
Last week, Community Board 2 held a “public hearing” on the NYC Parks Department’s plans to rebury “human remains” dug up during the park’s redesign construction back into Washington Square Park. We covered what … Read more…
An annual holiday must watch! Scenes Prior to Park’s Redesign The “Merry Mounds” video, set to Karen Carpenter’s “Sleigh Ride,” features kids sledding and frolicking in the snow on the old Mounds at Washington Square … Read more…
Community Push Back Against Redesign, Claim of Dying Trees; Similar to Washington Square Park Contentious Redesign Plan There are similarities ten years on between what is going on now with De Blasio Parks Department’s unwelcome … Read more…
Washington Square Park Blog turns 10 today! The first WSP Blog post: The magical park February 26, 2008 When I first got involved with what was going on at Washington Square Park, someone referred to … Read more…
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 … Read more…
The statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi in Washington Square Park was moved during the park’s controversial redesign (2007-2014+) from his long-standing location facing west looking towards the fountain to face south, where he is now. Garibaldi … Read more…
Washington Square Park Once a “Potters Field” – Skeletons, Bones, Burial Vaults, Tombstones Unearthed Repeatedly During Construction Over Last 10 Years Well, it is All Souls’ Day, isn’t it? This time of year seems to … Read more…
“When cities rely on private donors, we end up with sterile, controlled environments,” states the preface to a recent New York Times Op Ed, How Parks Lose Their Playfulness. The piece delves into the redesign … Read more…
Updated 5:49 p.m.Why do I still think of NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver as ‘new’? He has held the position for three years now hired by Mayor Bill de Blasio. Previous Bloomberg Administration Parks Commissioner … Read more…