Gothamist: Playground Vs. Restaurant in Union Square

Riche

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 10:26:38 -0500

I would definitely advocate for a playground versus a restaurant. If people working on the playground are looking for grants or resources to help with the build, KaBOOM! is a nonprofit that i would recommend looking into (www.kaboom.org).

edumacation

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:38:59 -0500

anomalous - You too must have gone to Columbia, for you have also used a false dichotomy. How do you know that I haven't commented on the issue *AND* commented on the grammar? sheeesh, some people.

Bofug

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:31:46 -0500

To those transplanted posters above: NYC in it's later config was laid out in a grid system, with very few non-vehicle open spaces other than the city parks. The city is also very vehicle-intensive, so creating such a space now would wreak havoc on an already overstressed street system (I don't have a car/SUV, do have a dog & kids, was born/raised/live here, so before the flames start let me say I TOTALLY advocate congestion pricing, improved mass transit, bike lanes (just keep the damned delivery guys from running everyone down), bike racks, dog runs, Crit Mass, improved safety for peds & bikers, etc.) Interesting that the variances granted to builders when they provide "public space" (see what we get from Ratner) generally just create fenced uninviting crap (except for that unusual space/restaurant on 1st Ave) I would love to have a Piazza Navonna (Tre Scalini is far overrated) or Montmartre available. Guess we have to make do with the Shake Shack (never eaten there, just like the concept.) Union Square area has already been overdone with the surrounding major chains. But the park (for those of you from here, compare it to the 1960s, 70s) truly has become a multiiple use area. Nice dog run,Greenmarket, open lawn, good space at the SOUTH end for art, expression, gatherings, etc and has historically been such (I suggest the great the great tomes "Gotham" or "The Encyclopedia of New York City") The North Pavillion area with it's grade and seldom used (restaurant) area flanked by small playgrounds is a waste and could be (hopefully) re-engineered to a better quality space for all, with adaptable space use for multiple purposes. Hope it's a cool design and pleasing to the senses and adaptable to uses. I would suggest to those who don't approve of children that I agree the the yuppie/hipster set are frigging annoying. Just like we say, "It's the owners, not the dog", it's the damned parents. I raised my kids to BEHAVE, and be polite and considerate, and always just locked my stroller outside. My kids have accompanied me just about anywhere I've gone since they were babies, and all I've received is compliments. Please feel free to express yourself to the parents and/or management if others are detracting from the experince that YOU are paying for. I always have. Have enjoyed having my kids hanging with me all around (Chelsea Brewing Company, Palm, City Crab, MJ Armstrong, Pete's Tavern, Tracy J's Watering Hole, all the South Street joints, Bamiyan, Union Square Cafe, Coney Island, "Crab" in Rome, Piazza Navonna, and multiple places in Rome, Paris, Naples, Ancona, Milan, Mexico,DR, Croatia, etc). Please place some constructive ideas for the improvement of our (my) neighborhood and the improvement of NYC life in general.

anomalous

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:13:41 -0500

Instead of attacking Gothamist for confused writing, why not discuss the actual issue of park renovation and use priorities? Could it be the former is easy to do and makes an anonymous commenter feel smug, and the latter involves actual thinking on behalf of commenters?

Miquel

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:13:06 -0500

Ah, yes...the Madisonsquareparkification of Union Square Park...those lucky little bastards, I mean kids, er uh, squirrels. Yuppies? Well, somebody's gotta be benefiting from this, and my bet is it's Starbucks.

edumicated

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 16:09:07 -0500

Don't worry your pretty little heads about the false dichotomy. It's written by a Columbia grad.

parkie

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:45:19 -0500

am i missing smthg? it sounds like there will be a restaurant in an existing structure AND a playground that is triple in size. why is the gothamist article written as if these features are mutually exclusive?

l

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:24:16 -0500

"Hmm, what would you choose? A playground or a restaurant" Why make the choice between restaurant and playground? The plan is for both of them at once. It's not like they're getting rid of the playground, come on, they're tripling the size.

lame

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:59:41 -0500

Since New Yorkers love to point to progessive Europe as the beacon of everything smart in government, why can't we have a few outdoor restaurants that aren't crammed onto our pitifully tiny sidewalks? I loved dining outdoors in Roman piazzas. And while I think kids need playgrounds, I'm getting tired of the pushy yuppie parent set. You bring your kids to bars, you run over people with your strollers made by Jeep, etc.

mr gigglesworth

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:55:19 -0500

sticky yard monkeys....hee hee made my day tim rules

anomalous

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:48:17 -0500

What is the issue? According to Benepe the Parks Dept. will re-configure the north pavillion so that playground space will triple and there will still be a restaurant. Is the problem that the larger playground will still not be large enough? Wasn't there a similar communications breakdown a few years ago when the south side of the park was renovated?

Dave

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:39:41 -0500

Not that the city doesn't need more trees - but Union Square should always be regarded as a spot for free speech and public gatherings. If you want trees, go to Madison Square Park.

kevin bracken

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:38:40 -0500

borrowing our philosophy here at Newmindspace, public spaces are playgrounds! ;-)

Tim

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:37:53 -0500

We DO NOT need another playground....take your sticky yard monkeys to the burbs!!

Bob A Booey

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:36:43 -0500

Let me get this straight. This guy and "the community" don't want the north end beautified and doesn't want the city to generate money by leasing out the restaurant???? Do people really need to complain about everything? They all ready f'ed up the renovations the city wanted to do in Washington Sq, now they want to f with Union Sq too???

Mark

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:33:04 -0500

I would never eat at a restaurant in Union Square. I once saw a rat the size of a large cat crawling along the wall that borders the place that's there now (it is called the Luna Lounge? I can't recall).

gangsta

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 14:19:15 -0500

oh hell no!!! how the hell is we gonna have knife fights there anymore?