hawk, squirrel & tree-Wash Sq Pk Baseball season starts today! (Or, so I’ve been told.) I thought I’d take a look at Yankee Stadium and what happened there when New York City’s government paved the way (literally) for 400 40 year-old trees to be cut down and sliced away TWO parks in the Bronx to [...]
All posts for the month March, 2008
Play Ball: How New York City destroyed two Bronx parks
Posted by cathryn on March 31, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/31/play-ball-how-new-york-city-destroyed-2-bronx-parks/
Turfs Almost Up for Parks Department
It’s a start. The New York City Council is at last showing some oversight of the Parks Department — around artificial turf. This substance has been placed by NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe in over 130 natural soil and grass fields across the five boroughs. (Thankfully, not at Washington Square Park – thus far.) People [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 27, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/27/turfs-almost-up-for-parks-department/
Connect the Dots: A guide to the NYC Parks Department –Washington Sq Park and Union Sq Park “Redesigns”
Washington Square Park “Renovation” Washington Square Park and Union Square Park are both in the midst of redesigns by New York City. There are some striking similarities in how these controversial plans of two historic parks initially got pushed through despite community disapproval and widespread negative public opinion. A Primer on how the New York [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 25, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/25/connect-the-dots-what-happened-at-washington-sq-park-now-happening-at-union-sq-park/
“Crimes Against Nature:” The NYC Parks Department
Another story appeared over the weekend in the New York Times(3/22) “In a City Park, a Crime Against Nature” about the killing of 35 cedar trees in Inwood Hill Park. I’m amazed at the ability of the Parks Department to spin things. Forestry worker Katerli Bounds, who discovered the “ruined cedars,” told the Times, “It’s [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 24, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/24/crimes-against-nature-the-nyc-parks-department/
Who determines who is a tree killing “madman?”
New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe is responsible for the felling of eleven 50-to-100 year old trees at Washington Square Park thus far. (The prominent tree in the center of this picture was axed by the Parks Department, as were all the wonderful trees that lined the fountain area.) 300-400 trees were destroyed from [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 21, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/21/who-determines-who-is-a-tree-killing-madman/
To the New York City Council on NYC Parks Department
It’s All a Chess Game The New York City Council Parks Committee held Preliminary hearings on the Parks Department budget yesterday, March 19th. My testimony follows. We would have liked to have heard some hard hitting questions from the City Council members to Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe but that did not occur. Perhaps we can [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 20, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/20/to-the-new-york-city-council-on-nyc-parks-department/
Where in the world is Alan Gerson?
Alan Gerson — the NY City Council representative for District 1 in Manhattan, which covers Washington Square Park — was missing in action Wednesday March 19th at the City Council hearing on the Parks Department and its Preliminary Budget. Alan Gerson is on the Parks & Recreation Committee of the City Council and all of [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 20, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/20/where-in-the-world-is-alan-gerson/
Stay tuned…
We’re amazed at all the layers that exist when one starts looking closely at the Washington Square Park issue. We have many ideas and information to share, some of which necessitates more research before reporting back on –which means a little less active blogging for just a few days. But keep checking back. And don’t [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 18, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/18/stay-tuned/
“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 check the figures: * The EXISTING entire plaza is currently 51,223 square feet. * The PROPOSED plaza area will be [...]
Posted by cathryn on March 17, 2008
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2008/03/17/honey-i-shrunk-the-park/
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