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Washington Square Park Renovation Still on Hold
By
Jill Priluck
Published Jul 27, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jill Priluck
Published Jul 27, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The NY Sun is reporting that the Parks Department received a lackluster response from community members and government representatives last night after agency officials released yet another design for a renovated Washington Square Park.
The presentation was an effort by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn to move forward the public approval process. In 2005, a lawsuit was filed, alleging that the initial design to trim the fountain plaza area, among other plans, were not disclosed to the community board, the Landmarks Commission or the Arts Commission. In March, an appellate court ruled that the Parks Department had sufficiently disclosed its plans, paving the way for the renovation. Jonathan Greenberg, one of the plaintiffs in the case, at the time called the ruling a “political fix.”
It’s not clear whether the new sketches presented last night will change the initial renovation plan, which included, according to the Sun, “aligning the park's fountain with the Washington Arch, leveling the fountain plaza, constructing a 4-foot fence around the perimeter, and changing the pattern of several walkways.” The Community Board approved the first-phase design, but later rescinded.
Community members say they want the $6.8 million renovation to improve public restrooms, repair the paths and the central fountain, enlarge the northeast playground, rebuild the large dog run and expand the small one and restore the mounds as a play area for older kids.
Photograph by Jake Dobkin
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In March
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