Letters

Letter from former City Council Member, Carol Greitzer
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Letter from Anne Emerman
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Letter from Jonathan Greenberg
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Letter from NYU Student, B. Han
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Letter from community resident, Sukey
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Letter from community resident, Anne Loretto
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Letter from community resident, Susan Kohn
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Letter from Secretary of the Society for the Architecture of the City, Christabel Gough
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Letter from community resident, Michele Stoddard
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Letter from Professor William Preston, Jr.

Letter from Former City Council Member Carol Greitzer

Memo to Hon. Christine Quinn and Hon. Alan Gerson

RE: Washington Square Park

In all the years that I have dealt with Parks Department officials,  both as an elected official and as  a founder of the Council for Parks & Playgrounds (now morphed into New Yorkers for Parks),  I have never seen worse relations between the Department and the public than what exists today.  Even when there is  an almost unanimous opposition on the part of  political, civic and community leaders,  the Department  refuses  to reconsider plans that have generated such intense disapproval.

This is not just a phenomenon happening here in the Village…but it is going on in other boroughs as well.  No wonder so many activists have joined 200+ Friends of NYC Parks.  They are people who want to see more responsiveness and more  transparency on the part of City officials.

As one of the many Villagers who participated in the last big re-do of Washington Square Park – at a time when community participation was a new idea – I am particularly appalled at what is going on today.  Back then, the Parks Commissioner  (Newbold Morris)  was willing to scrap his entire plan in favor of a community-generated proposal.  This is in sharp contrast to the situation today .  I do not believe that the Gerson-Quinn points  - minimal as they are – have been met by Parks. Accordingly,  I hope you will withhold funds until the conditions have been met.

The Department’s outrageous disdain for the community should not be  tolerated by the elected officials representing this area, and I strongly urge you to assert yourselves with the Commissioner, and perhaps more to the point, with the Mayor.  I believe we should all be pro-active in dealing with these situations.

* * *

333 East 30th Street
New York, NY 10016
August 3, 2007

Speaker Christine Quinn
City Council, City Hall
New York, NY 10007

Dear Speaker Quinn:

Washington Square Park, Phase I

This is a request that City Council withhold monies from WSP and all other DPR projects until it meets its obligations to comply with all applicable disability access laws.

In the Council Chamber on July 26th, the DPR presenter of the revised WSP Phase I Plan responded to several questions regarding the absence of ADA accessibility elements in the Plan to say, “ADA accessibility is not part of this Plan, I can’t discuss it”. The presentation, questions, and discussion were restricted to the Quinn/Gerson MOU. It too failed to include ADA accessibility requirements.

The disability community has known that DPR ignored ADA compliance. We were not surprised when the State Comptroller issued an Audit Report (12-28-05) finding that Parks has not met legal requirements of the Rehabilitation Act 1973, Section 504, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the U.S. Department of Justice Rule 28 CFR Part 35.

These laws require DPR to identify in all its existing facilities: accessibility barriers, needed modifications and a timetable for making the changes. Parks failed to meet these requirements fifteen years after the ADA was signed. The Report found that between 2000-2005, of fifty (50) new Parks construction and major alteration projects reviewed, twenty-nine (29) had no plans to address ADA accessibility requirements. Others had no accessibility elements for playgrounds, comfort stations, etc. The WSP proposed Phase I fails to provide ADA features or prioritize health/safety features over beautification.

In its 3-28-06 response to the Comptroller’s findings, Parks issued an “Audit Implementation Plan”. Its Corrective Action Plan/Date Implemented included the following:

          “In 2005, Capital Projects issued agency scope writing guidelines
          to ensure that accessible design features are considered and
          included in our scopes of work”. Status: completed

Parks continues to blatantly violate the law with impunity. The City Council must withhold its funding until DPR complies with all aspects of the law.

Yours truly,

Anne Emerman
Disabled in Action, Gray Panthers NYC Network Board Member

C: Hon. Alan Gerson
Hon. Tom Duane
Hon. Deborah Glick
Hon. Scott Stringer
 

* * *

Dear Speaker Quinn and Council Member Gerson,

I am writing to urge you to oppose the funding of the Parks Department’s enormously unpopular plan to radically redesign Washington Square Park.

The park is one of the most successful public gathering and performance spaces in the world. While I want to see it repaired as soon as possible, there is no reason to transform its uniquely appealing “Town Square” design.  I oppose the central elements of the park’s plan, which include: shrinking the central plaza and raising it to street level; changing the friendly low pipe rail perimeter fence; removing all six of the park’s quiet seating areas; narrowing the width of the walkways; moving the fountain and transforming it into an inaccessible ornamental fountain.

I see no reason why our park needs to become a half-closed construction zone for three years to accommodate an enormously unpopular redesign. Further, by spending $16-30 million, the park will become reliant on private funding for the first time in its 180-year history. Surveys that our organization conducted with 500 park users show that more than 98% of park users want to see it repaired and improved (like installing better lighting), not redesigned. Virtually every community group and newspaper in the city opposes this unneeded, unwanted and transformative redesign scheme.

I ask that you, as our elected representatives, express the outrage that we in the community feel about the arrogance of the Parks Department’s attempt to bulldoze this plan through our community without even providing the public, our Community Board, Task Force or City Council office with copies of the plan. The plans do not even include disabilities upgrades for the rest rooms, despite promises by Parks to bring our public spaces into compliance with disabilities law.

What’s more, the plans have never been reviewed by independent experts to determine how the proposed changes would impact the usage, or even public safety of the park. The only independent report done, by the Project for Public Spaces in 2005, found that park users love Washington Square Park just the way it is and that changing the central plaza through redesign would threaten its world-renowned theater-in-the-round popularity.

I recognize that the City Council has limited oversight of the Parks Department, but it does have control over the budget. The only rhetoric that will matter in the face of the arrogant, undemocratic behavior of the Parks Dept during the past two years is if you remove funding for this plan from the city’s capital budget. The Gerson-Quinn agreement has clearly not been adhered to on at least four points (size of central plaza, accessibility for walkways, provision of fountain engineering documents and consideration to Task Force input). You have all the authority you need, under the terms of the Gerson-Quinn agreement, to refuse to fund the destruction of our park.

At the same time, I urge you to fund a professional independent survey of park users and community members about what WE, THE PEOPLE would like to see happen with the park. And to hire an expert to do what none of our political representatives or community board bodies have been able to do to date: provide an independent analysis about how the intended plan would change the park’s plaza and walkways, and how this would impact the usage and safety of this park.

Meanwhile, I find it disgraceful that the park has been allowed to deteriorate during the past few years.  Walkways need repaving, the bathroom is an embarrassment and not disabled accessible and grass has not been replanted. One would think that the city was broke, though we had a $4 billion surplus last year. If you believe that New York can no longer afford to maintain our park, please express that to your constituents. If you believe that we deserve that our parks be maintained, please see to it that sufficient funds are made available to do so.

Preserving the open spirit of Washington Square Park is among the most important city-related issues of recent times. I will be watching how you vote on this matter. Should you, or any member of the Council vote to fund the destruction of this park, please be advised that I will remember this on Election Days to come, and advise my friends and neighbors to do the same. Please: Don’t sell out our community: don’t fund the destruction of Washington Square Park!

Sincerely,

Jonathan Greenberg
Coordinator, the Open Washington Square Park Coalition, and West Village parent.

* * *

Dear Speaker Quinn and Council Member Gerson:
 
As a highly concerned constituent, I write to you today urging you to user your budgetary power as city council member leaders to block capital funding of the Parks Department's highly unpopular plan to redesign Washington Square Park.
 
Along with hundreds of other NYU students (most of us young votes eager to vote in local elections), I have joined the Open Washington Square Park Facebook group, and I am astonished that the Parks Department would create a plan to redesign this incredibly successful public place.
 
Also a street musician, I can't stand the thought of the park losing its statue as a showcase for the historical recent revival of folk music, especially through the village bands like Roots N Ruckus (http://www.myspace.com/rootsnruckus) and Square Struts(http://www.myspace.com/hubbyjessy), whose music was inspired by the park as it is now and continue to play at the park. WSP's redesign will seriously disrupt the revival.
 
How much people love the park as it is now could be seen during one cold night this January, as I was jamming with Square Struts, a gentleman
proposed to a lady by the arch, and we serenaded them with "Kiss Me"; should this kind of magic be disturbed by the redesign?
 
Another memorable moment for me was during an anti-war rally held at the park this March, towards the end of the rally almost a hundred people gathered at the fountain and I started playing a remix of "Hey Jude" called "Hey Peace" and we all sang along, at the exact same spot where Bob Dylan used to play; should this kind of legacy be disturbed by the redesign?
 
Surveys by Open WSP with 500 park users shows that more than 98% of the park users oppose redesign. Virtually every community group and newspaper in the city opposes the redesign as well.
 
So, please vote "no" to the funding of the redesign and encourage your fellow council members to do the same; my friends, neighbors, and I will
remember your vote on Election Days to come.
 
Thank you.
 
B. Han, a concerned constituent

* * *

Dear Speaker Quinn and Council Member Gerson,
 
Please pay attention to the strong community consensus and withdraw funding for the proposed radical redesign of Washington Square Park, which I strongly believe is a first step towards turning this park into another Gramercy Park.  (Which NYU has been known to say it wants to do.)
 
You represent us, and I don't know who wants this done, but why is the Parks Department fighting so hard to spend money that it doesn't have, to force changes to a park that the community does not support?  
 
Yes, we want maintenance done.  Maintenance that has been lacking for years.  But repairing and repaving walkways is a minor job that could have, and should have, been done all along.  
 
This plan will not only make the park less user-friendly to the community.  It will also leave large parts of the park unusable for long periods of time. There are no other parks in the neighborhood. What are we supposed to use for the next 5 or 10 years?  Not all of us can easily get to Union Square Park.  Which does not have the character of Washington Square Park, even if we wanted to go there.
 
The worst part of the plan is the redesign of the fountain, the moving!! of the fountain, and the shrinking of the plaza area by about 33% (yes, I know, there are wildly varying estimates.  If the Parks department would let the community have access to their plans, that would be helpful.  What nerve of them to refuse that to us!). 
 
Does this park belong to the community or NYU?  We know that NYU thinks it is theirs.  We hope that you agree that it belongs to the community and do what represents us best, by refusing to give any money to this ill-conceived plan. 

Sincerely,

Sukey, a constituent and avid park-user

* * *

I'm writing to express my dismay at the plans to change the layout of Washington Square Park. I've spent years of my life in that neighborhood and currently stay there part-time. When in the city, I walk my dog every day, and the park is really the only place for us to go, so I certainly spend a lot of time there, thinking about the park. Why on earth move the fountain from its historically established -- and historically significant -- current spot? Why change it from fresh water to inevitably noisome (and probably chemical-laden) recycled water? Ripping up and moving the fountain will be horribly disruptive and will destroy enjoyment of the park for who knows how long, to no worthwhile end. Why on earth, also, contemplate changing the layout of the pathways? That is lovely as it is. And please do NOT put in high fences! I like being able to see in and out, and do not want to feel as though I am walking into a cage. There is plenty that could be done for a lot less money and a lot less trouble to make the park more attractive, without disrupting the park's function as a place to meet and greet, or just sit quietly and watch the world go by. I'm a totally bourgeois middle-aged woman who thinks it's essential for the neighborhood to have a big, open, democratic space for kids, dogs, artists, musicians, chess players, old people, students, and yes the occasional nut, to gather and spend time out of doors. Drastic -- and I might say pretentious -- changes to the park look all too symptomatic of today's America: too much money to spend, and not nearly enough respect for the past, or for the public's simple need for open space.

Yours truly,

Anne Loretto

* * *

Dear Alan (Gerson),

Please withdraw your support of the horribly misguided proposal to redesign Washington Square Park. I have been a neighborhood resident for over 20 years and am a frequent user of the park. Over the years, I have used it in many capacities; as a Scrabble player, a student who enjoyed studying outdoors, as a walkthrough going from uptown to my apartment and the reverse, as a fan of the impromptu music gatherings, and in many other ways. The rebuilding plan does nothing for the community (except the NYU community). Of course there are many long overdue repairs needed. I welcome money finally being spent to start doing the maintenance that has not been done in years. And it is time that the bathrooms were made ADA-compliant. I would also welcome having another ramp into the fountain area that has a navigable grade. Even as a pedestrian, most of the ramps are ridiculously steep. I remember when they were originally converted from steps to ramps; I believe that was done in a day. There's no reason that converting them to more gradually sloped ramps needs to be a major production. The fountain area and the surrounding plaza are very utilized and their current design, and size, is important to keep the music the way it is. As currently set up, it allows for multiple groups to be playing simultaneously without interfering with each other. And frequently, there are 6 or more different groups performing their different music, respecting each other. Shrinking the space will make that impossible. As it is, the spray from the fountain sometimes blows well out of the fountain. An increased force in the fountain will add noise, and eliminate usable space and create a larger area that is unusable for people who don't want to get wet. At the same time, people who DO want to get wet will be unable to use it either. This is a people's park; not a viewing garden. Please help us keep it that way. Those of use who use it on a regular basis do not have homes in the Hamptons to escape to on hot summer days, or fall evenings. The park IS our escape. There is nothing in the proposed plan that justifies closing (or half-closing) the park for the proposed 3 or more years the repairs are scheduled to take. And as we all know, from watching the renovation of the arch, these repairs always take much longer than projected. Please do not give any money or support to this ill-conceived idea. Yes, maybe it will happen, but that would be against the community's desires. I elected you to support our community and I hope you continue to do so.

Sincerely,

Susan Kohn

* * *

The Washington Square Park reconstruction should not receive City Council funding. It does not meet the standards set out in the Gerson/Quinn letter: the fence height is greater than requested (when the posts and base are figured in) and the size of the rebuilt central plaza is less than requested. However, this is only one reason to reject the reconstruction. The phasing is arranged to postpone or avoid the construction of handicapped access to the restrooms. This is unacceptable, and may violate federal law. That in itself should be a deal breaker, superseding the terms of the Gerson/Quinn negotiation. Further there is huge community opposition to changing the design of the park, and to closing it for a protracted construction period. The cost of the proposed redesign and reconstruction is exorbitant and unnecessary. Further, the redesign is totally destructive. One of the great New York parks will lose its history, its beauty and its capacity to serve as a gathering place.

Christabel Gough

* * *

Dear Councilman Gerson,

I am writing as a longstanding Village resident who has lived for nearly half a century within two blocks of Washington Square Park. My name is Michele Stoddard. My grandfather, George Stoddard, was once chancellor of New York University and was very involved in local issues. He was instrumental in saving the Washington Square Village apartments from demolition and converting them for faculty use. Were he alive today, I believe he would be, as I am, a strong critic of both the Department of Parks and Recreation and New York University for what they are currently planning to do to the park and for the way in which they have proceeded over the past three years.

My grandfather never agreed with the notion that Washington Square Park was to be a mini-campus for the university. Even during the tumults of the 1960's and the lean and ugly times of the 1970's, he felt that a Greenwich Village park was in principle an open space, fostering interaction and unfettered, constitutionally-protected, public expression and a site that by its very design should enhance social tolerance and the everyday exercise of citizenship.

At this late date, and after the representative bodies and the Greenwich Village community at large have been both left in the dark and systematically excluded from decisions of great consequence for our neighborhood, I urge that the City Council send a clear and unambiguous signal to the Parks Department, without waiting for the outcome of current litigation, and deny the Department the $6 million earmarked for construction. The record of Parks right up through the City Hall hearing where the Department continued to brazenly conceal the real character, intent, and details of its plan, is not just dismal. It displays an ongoing pattern of illegality and utter defiance of established procedures not to mention open contempt for democratic principles. The park must be restored, not replaced. Thank you for your attention on this urgent matter.
Respectfully,

Michele Stoddard

* * *

Honorable Alan Gerson of the New York City Council:

I am writing as a life-long resident of Greenwich Village and formerly the Chair of the History Department of John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Now retired at age 83, I live in Massachusetts but my long memories of the vibrant, free-spirited community I was a part of for so long are encapsulated by Washington Square Park as I have known it.

I have followed in detail, both in The Villager and in court documents supplied to me by friends, the Park Department’s plans for what is essentially its destruction as the kind of social space it is now. I am absolutely aghast at the way a purportedly public agency has comported itself, in secrecy and insulated from the varied communities and constituencies the park now serves.

I urgently request that you and the City Council as a whole deny the funds earmarked for this project and undertake a public review of Department of Parks and Recreation plans, policies and activities not just with respect to this debacle but also in all five boroughs. I must add that I have many colleagues at CUNY who feel just as I do on this issue. Releasing the funds at this juncture, as the contractor bids are being solicited, would send a clear signal that our elected officials have tacitly approved or accepted the project. That would in turn mean that all local community efforts of the past three years to evaluate, alter or deter the park plan in order to develop another plan to repair it were futile exercises in the context of the entirely un-democratic and patently illegal actions of an agency apparently fully in the grip of the moneyed few. To my mind, the plan for the tall, spiked fence as opposed to the current double rail says it all, as does the fact that the park has not been well-maintained by the very people that now use its current run-down physical state as a rationale to transform it. It is indeed a tragic state of affairs that I hope can be remedied by your deliberate action.

Thank you for all your efforts thus far.

Sincerely,

Professor William Preston Jr.