Washington Square Park Loses Its Mounds

Courtesy Curbed

They finally did it; they finally killed those weird and almost iconic asphalt mounds in Washington Square Park, destroying them with the cool efficiency of a doctor lancing a boil. Which they most certainly were not—they were mysterious '70s-era tributes to the city's ever-imperiled idiosyncrasy. They'll be replaced with safety-first fake-turf clones, as part of the city's multi-million dollar renovation of the park. Curbed reports that the entire southwest quadrant is now "quiet as a crypt, the silence broken only by the scrounging of squirrels." Goodnight, sweet mounds, may flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

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By John Del Signore in News on November 12, 2009 5:40 PM

Comments [rss]

nyorker555

I never see kids playing on them nowadays. If kids liked them, they should stay but they dont seem to. And let's face it, they are large and ugly.

chelcc

I enjoyed them as a child. I know that alone doesn't entitle them to stay. But it's sad to see them go. If it aint broke, don't fix it right?

smokedgouda

So the mounds were good because they were different and non-suburban?

Sorry but that's insane.

They were UGLY ASPHALT PILES. Good riddance.

NYCSniper

This is too bad because I literally just walked by there the other day and smiled that, despite the renovation of the park, the mounds would stay.

Yes, they are weird. Yes, they may serve no real "purpose". But dammit, there's something about them, something unique.

But what really gets me is the fact that, according to this article, they will be "replaced with safety-first fake-turf clones"

WHY WHY WHY??? Why spend all the money to move the fountain 5 feet west? Why pay all the money to replace perfectly fine mounds with new ones? This "Cash 4 Clunkers" mentality (i.e.- destruction of wealth/assets in the name of spurring the economy) is ridiculous!

Colochita

Man... I used to love to run up and down these when I was a kid. It was so much fun.

woodendesigner

I know. I remember that they were covered with a kind of rubberized surface. I loved those things as a kid. It's sad to se them go.

starrygordon

It's part of the suburbanization and mallification of New York City which results from so many suburban squares moving into the city and expecting everything to be just like whatever dull little town they came from. A pile of dirt -- well, that's just too wild and dangerous.

Blond, bland, blind.

Chillinoncentral

Ugghhh! They could have waited a little longer, couldn't they? These mounds were great for sledding. Bring them back!

bowelmovment_man

Tee hee!!!!

robingee

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't.

thewildpansy

i hope anyone involved with allowing the destruction burns in a fiery hell for the rest of time. scum fucking losers, what a stupid and pointless thing to do. BURN AND ROT.