Works in Progress Are Rarely Pretty

The effect of a well-trafficked park under renovation really doesn't come into full relief until the spring, when the absence of greenery and flowers seems less like a normal part of urban living and more of a desecration of greenspace. The renovation of Washington Square Park continues at full tilt, however, as the fountain is reoriented centrally and the rest of the park is reordered to be greener and less anarchical. The Square used to be a potter's graveyard before it became a fashionable address. New York City's inexorable desire for change marches on.

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By Dave Hogarty in News on April 14, 2008 5:07 PM

Comments [rss]

Wolfman

What a shame. I use to go over there back in the fiftys when all the village beatnicks went to hang out and play free music. Peter, Paul, and Mary, Bob Dylan, Pete Seager and a host of other performers and if you were 18 or over you could have beer on a hot summer day.

The Wolfman

citylion

Gasp...

my jaw dropped looking at that first shot. I knew they were working on it. I tried biking through the park the other day and couldn't go through my usual shortcut and little slope into and out of the fountain circle.

:(

Nunyah Bidnit

Ooops, sorry - was trying to create a link to "Greenwich Village Sunday" a little video from early 60's that features WSP and the Village to teh sound of beatnik flute music.

Go here:

http://www.archive.org/details/Greenwic1960

Nunyah Bidnit

They have regularly cordoned off areas of Central Park for years to do various things like dredging and reshaping ponds, etc. Remember, most of CP's landscaping was not natural to the site, anyway.

Whenever I am near WSP, I'm struck by how barren it seems - making it more green seems a good move to me. BTW, although a road did run through it, I don't think 5th Ave. was ever actually extended into the park. I believe Moses wanted to do that but his proposal was shot down by activists, which then led to closing down the existing road to cars permanently.

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Reality Czech

Yeah! More green areas cordoned off by fences!

Amanda Harletsch

where is the squirrel? relocated?

slappy

Next they can straighten out all those pesky west village streets that don't fit into the grid.

moocowtoo

I think tishman (NYU) payed for the fountain move; which likely will involve it being named after them. I could be wrong about this, things kept changing rapidly regarding the renovation.

kritond

how much of our tax money is being spent on moving a fountain over 10 feet? god damn

Dave Hogarty

Also, 5th Ave. ran straight through the park at one time--underneath the arch--thanks to Robert Moses. It wasn't completely closed to traffic until 1959.

moocowtoo

The fountain was centered -- in the middle of the park; it was 5th ave and the arch that were built afterwards.

kcin122

why was it off center to begin with?

Kingpin

Agreed, Murph. I can appreciate sentimentism, but that concrete fountain just pales in comparison to some of the more wonderful specimen the city has, such as the one in City Hall Park, or the Pulitzer in front of the Plaza.

Nick S

how dare they desecrate my fake nature!

aksia

i can't believe they killed all those trees. this project sounds ridiculous

MurphGuide

"they're ruining my park"

they are not, relax.

Jerky

Good riddance to that asphalt monstrosity rat farm! I don't know what people are thinking, but really, could WSP get any worse from the construction?? I highly doubt it....