Last week, the New York City Council Parks Committee held a public hearing to discuss the Parks Department budget. The Parks Department is woefully underfunded and has been for at least twenty years, if not more. It has gotten worse under the Bloomberg Administration — the lack of funds is used as an incentive to [...]
All posts in category Privatization
The City Council Member Vs. The Parks Commissioner
Posted by cathryn on March 28, 2012
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2012/03/28/the-city-council-member-vs-the-parks-commissioner/
On Public Space: The Privatized Union Square Holiday Market and the Performance Crackdown at Washington Square
As word of the performance crackdown at Washington Square Park spread in October, Parks Department spokesperson Phil Abramson told the Villager: “At Washington Square Park the existing regulations are intended to keep paths clear and allow all park users to move about freely and see monuments and views,” said Philip Abramson. He confirmed that performers [...]
Posted by cathryn on December 15, 2011
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2011/12/15/union-square-holiday-market-blocking-views-and-pathways-encroachment-of-public-space/
NYC Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe To Talk Privatization of City Parks Tuesday, August 9th at Museum of the City of New York
New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe will be a featured speaker next Tuesday, August 9th at 6:30 p.m. at a discussion “Whose Park is It? Financing and Administering New York’s New Parks” at the Museum of the City of New York. Instead of spending city money wisely on maintenance and staff at parks, Commissioner [...]
Posted by cathryn on August 3, 2011
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2011/08/03/nyc-parks-commissioner-adrian-benepe-to-talk-privatization-of-city-parks-tuesday-august-9th-at-museum-of-the-city-of-new-york/
Central Park Bethesda Fountain Off Limits Now to Performance; Designated “Quiet Zone” Where Musicians are Issued Summonses and Risk Arrest
The New York Post reported May 29th on the decision to designate Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain a “Quiet Zone,” putting an end to music performances there and issuing summons to those who defy this. The organization pulling the strings behind this decision is the Central Park Conservancy, the private entity entrusted with the care of [...]
Posted by cathryn on May 31, 2011
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2011/05/31/central-park-bethesda-fountain-off-limits-to-performance-now-quiet-zone-where-musicians-issued-summonses-and-risk-arrest/
WSP Phase II Construction Still At least 2 Weeks Away from Opening Yet Fences Come Down Along Washington Square North. More to this than meets the eye?
After more than 19 months guarding construction along the Eastern end of Washington Square Park, the fences are down along Washington Square North! Don’t get too excited — it ends there for now. Phase II’s Eastern end construction is still at least two weeks away from its public unveiling. The decision to begin taking the [...]
Posted by cathryn on May 2, 2011
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2011/05/02/phase-ii-construction-still-2-weeks-away-from-opening-yet-fences-come-down-along-northern-end-of-the-park/
High Line Phase 2 to Open Late Spring; Restaurant in 2013; NYC Privatized Park Keeps Getting Grander – And More Expensive to Maintain
-Updated 4/20- The High Line, a grand span which currently runs from Gansevoort Street to 20th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, just keeps getting grander. Next up: after food carts and a beer and wine “porch” appear in soon-to-open Phase 2, a restaurant/cafe is scheduled for 2013. This, according to executive director Robert Hammond, [...]
Posted by cathryn on April 19, 2011
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2011/04/19/high-line-phase-2-to-debut-soon-restaurant-in-2013-nyc-park-privatized-expensive/
In the News: NYC’s Plans for Private Restaurant in Union Square and Public-Private Partnership Conflict Continues at Prospect Park
* From Washington Square News: City looks to build restaurant in Union Square – Previously on WSP Blog: The Union Square Pavilion & Privatization of Public Space * Should someone be a City Parks Dept official and head of a private conservancy? That’s how it goes at Prospect Park (via The Brooklyn Paper). – Previously [...]
Posted by cathryn on December 13, 2010
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2010/12/13/in-the-news-nycs-plans-for-private-restaurant-in-union-square-and-public-private-partnership-conflict-continues-at-prospect-park/
Prospect Park and the “sad legacy” of public-private “partnerships:” The Brooklyn Paper; Plus Washington Square
Tupper Thomas is the Park administrator at Brooklyn’s beautiful 585 acre Prospect Park but she’s really – at this point- considered the grand dame of the park and credited as being the person who “turned the park around.” She also ushered in, as The Brooklyn Paper points out in an editorial this week, the age [...]
Posted by cathryn on April 15, 2010
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2010/04/15/the-brooklyn-paper-on-the-sad-legacy-of-public-private-partnerships-and-tupper-thomass-reign-ending-at-prospect-park/
Washington Square Park Task Force Meets Tonite; Also, CB2 Parks Committee addresses Friends of the High Line Proposal and Public Hearing on “expressive matter” i.e., art in NYC Parks
The Washington Square Park Task Force and Community Board 2 Parks Committee meet tonite Wednesday, April 7th at 7:15 p.m. to discuss Phase III Washington Square Park redesign. The New York City Parks Department will be presenting a proposed design for the restrooms and Parks’ maintenance building — public comment is welcome. Prior to that, [...]
Posted by cathryn on April 7, 2010
http://washingtonsquareparkblog.com/2010/04/07/washington-square-park-task-force-meets-tonite-also-cb2-parks-committee-addresses-friends-of-the-high-line-proposal-and-public-hearing-on-expressive-matter-i-e-art-in-nyc-parks/
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