Rebecca Furgeson, Judson Church

Well, here's a real contrast. When Rebecca Furgeson came to speak to our class, I thought to myself, "well, this renovation won't be too bad. Not too many changes." She spoke about the good things happening, the new restrooms, the trees, the flowers. She did not speak of the issue of gathering. There will be no more space to hold large amounts of people. At the Judson church, I craved to be here in the parkjust 7 months earlier where I could have been warm, in a grungy, populated place and I would feel right at home. Gentrification! Well, it's a part of life, we can only have so many come to one new, cool, hip area, and then have it turn into a safe-zone with million dollar establishments surrounding it. It is natural. There will be the new village, possible in Brooklyn or some other place for the up and coming talent to prosper. It is sad, realizing that this step in changing the park, is the ultimate step towards drawing people away. Not the kids, but the artists, musicians, poets, the people who felt a connection to the park, to the open space not reserved for anyone.