Joseph Platia
Mike Russo
Don Hazlet
Gotham Core
6/27/2013
The Use of Public Space in New York City
The amount of public space that is being reserved in highly populated cities is now decreasing due to many factors. Most of which are driven due to the increase in popularity to reside in these crowded areas. New York City is the perfect example of an overcrowded enriched location that has more landmass property then it has free - public space, for the millions of residents who call the city their home. So what can be done to fix this issue or preserve the open space it holds, and is this issue important to address while moving forward with dissecting the urban realities that are placed on New York City? Legislators, activists, residents, and city enthusiasts seek solutions to help aid the creation of more public space within the city’s confines to preserve the beauty of its own complexity and to provide locations that can enhance the quality of life for the residents who call the city their home. It is important to help grow and sustain the amount of public space we offer to our city’s residents and it is crucial to promote the sustainability of these areas.
The developments of New York City’s first urban planning projects were formed after the mid-19th century. The projects were a reaction to the disorder that was caused by the enhancements of the industrial city at the time. Urban renewal is what individuals in the city promote when talking about initiative plans that will help sustain the complex society. There are a variety of plans and strategies that are suitable for different sectors of the city to help promote sustainable developments that will help eliminate the fear of urban decay.
Traveling the city during class each week has enlightened many of Molloy’s students to realize how vast and rapid the growth of New York really had become over the last century. Of course, with any social issue comes great debate from all different types of groups and organizations that have formed to have their voices and opinions heard. When we were covering the area of Greenwich Village, we visited The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space which was centered around many movements lead in the East Village over several decade long battles to preserve some urban space for the city dwellers to enjoy. This museum focused on the radical movements that were sparked due to the decrease in public areas for the tourists and residents of New York to enjoy.
“Strategy frames the contemporary epistemological space of urbanism: major cities across the globe such as New York, London and Sydney invest time, energy and resources to craft urban strategies. Extensive empirical research projects have proposed a shift towards a strategic framework to manage cities. This theoretical curiosity is reflected in the rising interest in urban strategy from practice.” (Kornberger) Some of New York’s greatest urban space preservation projects include the creation of Central Park and even the High Line Park. The strategy and creation of Central Park was crucial to the development and preservation of green space in the city. Not only is Central Park the most filmed location in the world, but it also is the largest open, public space in New York City.
We toured portions of Central Park in class, and even though the land was man made and not kept in its natural state, the park serves as a landmark, which includes green space for New Yorkers and tourists around the world to enjoy. Central Park was created on an 843 acre plot of land and now serves as one of the most visited park sites in the world. Our professor informed us of the parks history and explained the progression of it’s heavy crime rates during sporadic portions over the last few decades. Memorial areas such as Strawberry Fields are located within the park, which specifically commemorates the late John Lennon. Music performances and concert series are also held to help establish a monetary income for the park, which is reinvested in its own sustainable projects. Central Park is the perfect example of how and why the preservation of urban space is productive to have and protect, not only to preserve the city’s nostalgia but to also promote a location of green space for its residents.
The High Line Park is personally one of my favorite spots of New York City. The mile long aerial greenway serves as a location for the reuse of public open space. The High Line Park runs from Gansevoort Street up to 30th Street through the neighborhoods of Chelsea to the West Side Yard. “First opened to the public in 2009, and has been increasingly celebrated as a model public space, and as a democratic project directed by community. Artistic and amateur photographic practices have significantly informed the High Line’s design, landscaping, publicity, urban policy, use and constellations of community.” (Cataldi) The importance of the High Line Park cannot be understated. This rich enhanced environment promotes creativity and the public space is an entity to help further the beautification of New York City. The High Line Park has also helped increase the value of homes and business’ in the surrounding area due to its immense popularity.
The preservation of public space is seen as being a crucial part in sustaining the life and quality of New York City. Locations such as Central Park, the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, and the High Line Park are allocated as areas that serve as the city’s “green-space.” It is important moving forward that we enhance the way we look at sustaining our areas to help deflect the further cause of urban decay. If activists, organizations, and movements stopped pushing for the expansion and preservation of public space, the metropolis would not only lose its appeal but the standard of living for residents and tourists would severely suffer in more ways then one.
Work Cited
Kornberger, Martin,. Governing the City: From Planning to Urban Strategy. Theory, culture & society 29.2 01 Mar 2012: 84. Theory, Culture and Society. 22 Jun 2013.
Cataldi, Michael,. Residues of a Dream World: The High Line, 2011. Theory, culture & society 28.7-8 01 Dec 2011: 358. Theory, Culture and Society. 21 Jun 2013.
Mike Russo
Don Hazlet
Gotham Core
6/27/2013
The Use of Public Space in New York City
The amount of public space that is being reserved in highly populated cities is now decreasing due to many factors. Most of which are driven due to the increase in popularity to reside in these crowded areas. New York City is the perfect example of an overcrowded enriched location that has more landmass property then it has free - public space, for the millions of residents who call the city their home. So what can be done to fix this issue or preserve the open space it holds, and is this issue important to address while moving forward with dissecting the urban realities that are placed on New York City? Legislators, activists, residents, and city enthusiasts seek solutions to help aid the creation of more public space within the city’s confines to preserve the beauty of its own complexity and to provide locations that can enhance the quality of life for the residents who call the city their home. It is important to help grow and sustain the amount of public space we offer to our city’s residents and it is crucial to promote the sustainability of these areas.
The developments of New York City’s first urban planning projects were formed after the mid-19th century. The projects were a reaction to the disorder that was caused by the enhancements of the industrial city at the time. Urban renewal is what individuals in the city promote when talking about initiative plans that will help sustain the complex society. There are a variety of plans and strategies that are suitable for different sectors of the city to help promote sustainable developments that will help eliminate the fear of urban decay.
Traveling the city during class each week has enlightened many of Molloy’s students to realize how vast and rapid the growth of New York really had become over the last century. Of course, with any social issue comes great debate from all different types of groups and organizations that have formed to have their voices and opinions heard. When we were covering the area of Greenwich Village, we visited The Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space which was centered around many movements lead in the East Village over several decade long battles to preserve some urban space for the city dwellers to enjoy. This museum focused on the radical movements that were sparked due to the decrease in public areas for the tourists and residents of New York to enjoy.
“Strategy frames the contemporary epistemological space of urbanism: major cities across the globe such as New York, London and Sydney invest time, energy and resources to craft urban strategies. Extensive empirical research projects have proposed a shift towards a strategic framework to manage cities. This theoretical curiosity is reflected in the rising interest in urban strategy from practice.” (Kornberger) Some of New York’s greatest urban space preservation projects include the creation of Central Park and even the High Line Park. The strategy and creation of Central Park was crucial to the development and preservation of green space in the city. Not only is Central Park the most filmed location in the world, but it also is the largest open, public space in New York City.
We toured portions of Central Park in class, and even though the land was man made and not kept in its natural state, the park serves as a landmark, which includes green space for New Yorkers and tourists around the world to enjoy. Central Park was created on an 843 acre plot of land and now serves as one of the most visited park sites in the world. Our professor informed us of the parks history and explained the progression of it’s heavy crime rates during sporadic portions over the last few decades. Memorial areas such as Strawberry Fields are located within the park, which specifically commemorates the late John Lennon. Music performances and concert series are also held to help establish a monetary income for the park, which is reinvested in its own sustainable projects. Central Park is the perfect example of how and why the preservation of urban space is productive to have and protect, not only to preserve the city’s nostalgia but to also promote a location of green space for its residents.
The High Line Park is personally one of my favorite spots of New York City. The mile long aerial greenway serves as a location for the reuse of public open space. The High Line Park runs from Gansevoort Street up to 30th Street through the neighborhoods of Chelsea to the West Side Yard. “First opened to the public in 2009, and has been increasingly celebrated as a model public space, and as a democratic project directed by community. Artistic and amateur photographic practices have significantly informed the High Line’s design, landscaping, publicity, urban policy, use and constellations of community.” (Cataldi) The importance of the High Line Park cannot be understated. This rich enhanced environment promotes creativity and the public space is an entity to help further the beautification of New York City. The High Line Park has also helped increase the value of homes and business’ in the surrounding area due to its immense popularity.
The preservation of public space is seen as being a crucial part in sustaining the life and quality of New York City. Locations such as Central Park, the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, and the High Line Park are allocated as areas that serve as the city’s “green-space.” It is important moving forward that we enhance the way we look at sustaining our areas to help deflect the further cause of urban decay. If activists, organizations, and movements stopped pushing for the expansion and preservation of public space, the metropolis would not only lose its appeal but the standard of living for residents and tourists would severely suffer in more ways then one.
Work Cited
Kornberger, Martin,. Governing the City: From Planning to Urban Strategy. Theory, culture & society 29.2 01 Mar 2012: 84. Theory, Culture and Society. 22 Jun 2013.
Cataldi, Michael,. Residues of a Dream World: The High Line, 2011. Theory, culture & society 28.7-8 01 Dec 2011: 358. Theory, Culture and Society. 21 Jun 2013.