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The Battle for Washington Square Park: We Lose
By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 14, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Garth Johnston
Published Jan 14, 2006
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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Well, despite overwhelming public opinion against it, and numerous setbacks, the Arts Commission has spoken: The fountain in Washington Square Park, and the two statues that abut it, will move twenty-two-odd feet to the east. The vote, in case you are curious, was 10 for and 1 against the changes.
The Villager (we love them) does an excellent job covering the issues at hand. From how one joins the Arts Commission to the curious connection between the renovations and the Tisch family (about $2.5 million), they are there. They describe the scene of the last chapter in this prolonged renovation as such:
Folk singers strummed and warbled ballads against it. Local politicians - not one but four - testified against it. The Fine Arts Federation of New York stated it was opposed to the idea. Disabled advocates in wheelchairs angrily said they were being used as “pawns” - and not to do it in their name. And most of the people offering testimony during four hours of hearings on Monday said they didn't want the Washington Square Park fountain moved 22 feet to the east. But that didn't matter to the Art Commission, which voted to approve the shifting of the fountain, as well as the park's two statues, as part of the Parks Department's $16 million renovation project.
Sigh. Fine. Whatever. We give up.
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Art Commission
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Garth Johnston
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