From: sod@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Sean M O Donnell)
Subject: Re: planning for people
Originator: sod@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Reply-To: sod@csd4.csd.uwm.edu
Organization: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Distribution: usa
Date: Thu, 3 Sep 1992 04:03:40 GMT

From article <1992Sep3.021125.25449@athena.mit.edu>, by sramming@athena.mit.edu (Scott '~ibo' Ramming):
>>suggest an appropriate model of large scale planning working closely with the
>>community.  The project is the Battery Park City ... 
> 
> 
> Sorry, gotta ask this, thanks to a book I just read. Were there any 
> homeless people there? political fringe groups protesting or soliciting 
> signatures for their petitions? The book is called ``Variations on a 
> Theme Park'' and is edited by Michael Sorkin. It's a collection of
> essays describing how most current urban developments (shopping malls, 
> enclosed skyways, etc) are essentially privatizing urban space, 
> sectioning off cities by economic and social group, and sacrificing
> freedom of speach and assembly for things like ``security.'' Doesn't
> offer any solutions, but it starts you thinking about issues you might
> take for granted.

Honestly, I'm not sure.  There were so many people about and I was
largely paying attention to the layout of the spaces and the materials
that were selected that I didn't really notice individuals -- just larger
groups like children romping, old men playing chess...  Sometimes the 
details can obscure the larger picture, unfortunately, and I accept the
criticism.  The park is, however, a link in the proposed greenway along
Manhattan's Hudson River shoreline, which will connect Battery Park
(at the tip of the island) to at least Riverside Park (roughly 70 blocks 
up-town).  A diversity of people of differing viewpoints, economic status,
and situation are all represented in the Battery and Riverside parks and
I assume that all will have equal access to Hudson River Park.

As you may be aware of, NYC has recently renovated two somewhat notorious
parks, Bryant Park and Tompkins Square Park.  These are both more representative
of NYC's population as a whole, I believe.  Bryant, which is right behind the
Public Library at 42nd & 5th, is in constant use by business people, elderly
people and homeless people.  It provides a dearly needed respite from
the madness of Mid-town and it is constantly patrolled to prevent drug dealers
from moving in, as had happened before the renovation.  Opinions and lifestyles
are not regulated though.

Tompkins is a troubled place.  It has been the sight of several riots and the
cause of much debate about the role of an urban park.  This is because the park
became something of a Hooverville, with dozens of homeless people constructing
shelters there.  Now, after the renovation, there is a midnight curfew in affect
within the park and every night the police have to be there to enforce it. 
Some of the homeless people have moved literally across the street and the 
community is divided over allowing the homeless to build shelters and permitting
only recreational usage, which is sorely needed in the East Village.

So, yes, I share your concerns.  These parks are truly public places and they
display the tensions that are often underlying life in NYC.  Hopefully, through
the discourse in them though some positive solutions can be found to resolve
our shameful problems of homelessness, poor housing, drug addition...

Sean
> 
Newsgroups: alt.planning.urban