"Honey, I Shrunk the Park"
Figures don’t lie. But a lot of liars figure. The NYC Parks Department figures that the “new and improved” Washington Square Park will have just as much public space as the old one. But let’s … Read more…
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Village Voice on Balloon Protest
See Village Voice article here. (They link to our blog entry on Bloomberg/NYU/Tisch Privatization of the Park within the story.) Spread the love
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Report back from Washington Sq Park Balloon Protest 3/13
Yesterday’s Balloon Protest organized by NYU Theatre students was a big success! It was colorful and upbeat while simultaneously providing a platform for people to express their outrage over the City’s domineering plans for the … Read more…
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Contact NYC elected officials re: Washington Sq Park
Now is a good time to contact the New York City Council as they prepare for hearings next week on the Parks Department Preliminary Budget! The Parks Department needs further oversight by the New York … Read more…
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What makes a great public space?
A study of Washington Square Park in 2005 by the Project for Public Spaces concluded: “Washington Square Park is one of the best known and best-loved destinations in New York City. And as a neighborhood … Read more…
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Take Flight: Balloon Protest @ Washington Sq Park Thurs March 13th
In the Inbox, we got news of an action NYU students are putting together for THIS Thursday, March 13th, inviting EVERYONE across the city to come by and express your thoughts & concerns about the … Read more…
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Speak Up for the Park(s)-NY City Council Hearings March 19
Mark your calendars … We want money allocated for Parks in our city. There has been a 70 percent reduction in personnel at Parks across the City. (What is the real reason the Parks Department … Read more…
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Music Jam Fridays at the Park
Do you have a Washington Square Park-related story? I’d like to intersperse the chronicles of the City descending on Washington Square Park with their redesign plans with historical notes and personal stories that might be … Read more…
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The Skeletons of Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park “Renovation” (note: fountain entirely torn up now; trees gone.) Washington Square Park first came into being as a Park in the 1850’s. It was a Potter’s field (a “common” burial ground) from … Read more…
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Why Mayor Bloomberg Wants Redesign of Washington Sq Park/NYC
Bloomberg Where to start about NYC Mayor Bloomberg…? Because of the mainstream media’s general lack of greater scrutiny of Mayor Bloomberg’s actions, the Mayor has almost succeeded in pulling the wool over the eyes of … Read more…
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NYC Parks Department-No Oversight ? Out of Control
“Thank you for your patience while we rebuild your park into a private park for wealthy kids paid for by taxpayers.” (seen at Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn) When we hear the word ‘parks,’ we think … Read more…
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Bloomberg's Privatization of the Park: NYU, Tisch, Who Else?
Phase I of the City’s extensive planned “renovation” of Washington Square Park has gone from a projected $6 million to over $13 million. The “renovation’s” TOTAL costs — in two Phases — were stated to … Read more…
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Jane Jacobs
Washington Arch, 1955 In 1961, Jane Jacobs released The Death and Life of Great American Cities. Jane Jacobs had already made a name for herself as a community activist in the West Village. At one … Read more…
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Look who didn't sign off on Parks Department plans
When the City puts together a plan to, say, redesign a park, they put out something called a Bid Document. This is the actual plan and is signed off on by numerous parties within the … Read more…
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More trees hit chopping block.
11 trees have been cut down thus far — the two most recent were chopped down on Monday, February 25th, 2008 after a brief hiatus. Spread the love
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