Washington Square Park Renovation

When Rebecca Furgeson came to our class, she spoke about the renovation that is going on right now in Washington Square Park. Because that interested me a did some research on this subject and i am relating below a few details regarding this renovation:

New Park Redesign Plans "Revealed" at City Hall

On July 26, 2007, the Parks Department revealed a new set of plans for Phase 1 of the Washington Square Park redesign to be evaluated in terms of the Gerson-Quinn agreement. Some changes were made that are a bit better than the previous, with the inner fountain circle being 88.2 percent of the original size rather than the 70% size they presented first. And the fences are shorter than last time by about 10 inches. But in the new plans, the fountain is still being moved, and there are still 16 jets in the fountain as well as a 45-foot high plume. They always make the comment that it is adjustable. They just don't say who will be adjusting it. Will this be a full time position where whenever anyone wants it lowered, the request will be honored? At least one of the inner circle pathsto bypass the fountain will be removed, forcing more people through the smaller center and making it even more crowded. Once again, the Parks Department showed their contempt for Community Board 2 and the Washington Square Park Task Force. They presented a plan with what looked like about seventy-five very large pages, showing perhaps five pages. Although they knew that there was going to be a follow-up meeting with the entire task force present, they are not making the plans available to this influential group so they could be inspected and studied. A barrage of Park higher-ups were on the bench, primarily to make sure that the presenter didn't give any information beyond what was on the paper. Questions were very intense, in particular regarding ADA compliance, but the usual stonewalling was in effect. The plans will be available for viewing at a Parks Department office all next week. They are located at 24 West 61st Street, and you need to call to make an appointment to reserve time to see them. The number to call is 212-408-0201. They werent clear whether only one person or group could look at them at the same time.