Gothamist: History Might Save Washington Square Park

ralph

Wed, 03 Aug 2005 11:50:17 -0500

There's nothing wrong with the NYU students. They're not the problem and they mostly sit on the benches or tables reading and working. The problem is the sense of entitlement that NYU itself has about the park. It is a City park and should stay that way. The city should pay for maintenance. NYU gives money to maintain the grass, but they should, since their graduation ceremony puts folding chairs on every square inch of the grass and does a lot of damage to it. And their construction has pulled water from beneath the park killing the trees.

anon

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 11:28:35 -0500

Leave the park as it is. Give me a break.

Dude

Sun, 31 Jul 2005 12:04:11 -0500

NYU students are asses. They are always throwing themselves off buildings committing suicide and shit. Never looking at who they might crush below them. Talk about inconsiderate!

Dave H.

Sun, 31 Jul 2005 05:20:42 -0500

Well, since the park was a potter's field and site of a gallows long before anything was situated there, perhaps we should knock down the arch, rip out the fountain, dig up the dog park, raze the mounds, and otherwise make it completely unsuitable for public enjoyment. All in the name of preservation, of course.

bob denver

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 23:31:06 -0500

I like the NYU students. I think they should flush out the guys playing beatles songs on acoustic guitars though. I can't get too worked up about the renovations, but the park ain't broke. I like the pointless mounds and the fountain is fine where it is. Street performers use the empty fountain and when the water is on kids wade in it. It really is the most interactive fountain in town. Seems like a renovation is a waste of money. The proposal to place a large statue of Larry Tisch next to Washington on the arch is also scandalous.

fat stinking hog

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 18:24:03 -0500

Yeah. Not all NYU students are irritating. Only the Film School ones and the ones in the Gallatin division. Damn Hipsters! The nursing school students are alright.

dude

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 16:00:22 -0500

how are all of NYU's students branded as "irritating"? That's a valid point. I think the thought behind this idea is that the people you're aware of being students at NYU tend to be obnoxious, loud on cell-phones, have a sense of entitlement, etc. However, there are many people around NYU who don't act like this, and we assuming that they aren't students, even though they may be. So it would be better to qualify that many of the people around Washington Square are irritating, and as many of them are probably students, we project that all students at NYU are irritating, when in fact, maybe only 10% are, but those 10% brand everyone else.

sparks

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 15:54:58 -0500

Yes! thank god they won't do it. If they start renovating the park where will we get our crack from? the dealers will be forced to go to the west side highway. This way we can still conveniently get all our hard drugs in W Square.

adamks

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 14:02:06 -0500

how are all of NYU's students branded as "irritating"?

Jack

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:43:10 -0500

The burial ground aspect is cool and kind of shocking. Is there any acknowledgement anywhere in the park that dead are buried there? I think the most that the city and NYU can/should do is just smooth over what is there. Fix up things and clean them up a bit, but nothing so debilitating that the park has to be shut down.

dude

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:26:08 -0500

I actually think NYU has made the park better. Granted the students are irritating, but NYU has put ALOT of money into the park (helps recruit wealthy midwestern students and their parents), not to mention the fact that famous NYU donors pump lots of money into the park (i.e. Tisch). There are a fair number of cops there that NYU doesn't pay for, but NY Uis a huge employer in NYC, and a huge taxpayer. True, the students are irritating, but just as irritating are all of the small dog owners or mothers with their $900 bugaboo strollers. Those people "wreck" the park just as much

Kojak

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:19:59 -0500

NYU should pay to maintain the park, since they basically own the surrounding area, not to mention most of their yuppie students wreck the place.

dude

Sat, 30 Jul 2005 12:14:25 -0500

There are alot of things in the park that could be fixed, specifically the "mounds" (either fix them or get rid of them!) or the bathroom areas, but I feel most of the park looks much nicer than it did even 8 years ago. And, the moving of the fountain is such an absurd waste of money. I think it gives the park some unique character.