Believe It: Fake Grass For Cadman Plaza
When we first posted last April about the plan to put astroturf down in Cadman Plaza, most commenters weren’t too happy about the idea. Now that the turf is being rolled out, it seems like a good time to revisit the topic. What it really comes down to is what the alternatives are: Defenders of…
When we first posted last April about the plan to put astroturf down in Cadman Plaza, most commenters weren’t too happy about the idea. Now that the turf is being rolled out, it seems like a good time to revisit the topic. What it really comes down to is what the alternatives are: Defenders of the plan say its fake grass or a dust bowl while critics argue that it would just take a litte time and money to have a real lawn. Obviously we’d rather see real grass there but we don’t have any particular insight into the debate. But how hard can it really be to grow grass if there is sufficient resources and will?
Cadman Plaza Astroturf [Brooklyn Heights Blog]
Fake Plastic Grass: It Wears the CPCC Out [Brownstoner]
Photo by Two Tones
There is a popular spot for dogs on the other side of the monument from the fake grass. I would hope signs would go up to keep the dogs off and the dog owners will respect that.
Don’t want anon 3:14 to be uncomfortable. Lets have another protest.
I don’t feel comfortable on fake grass, suppose bums urinate on it, or people drop cigarettes on it. I thought this area had more class.
I also went to St. Ann’s. To suggest that I was using the park, from ages 9-13, “to the exclusion of others” is ludicrous. For one thing, the school applies for and receives permits from the Parks Dept. to use the park for recess and phys. ed. every year. Presumably, fees are involved. Public schools, after school programs, and many, many other members of the community use this park.
The park also DOES get a lot of through foot traffic. It is the most direct route between the courts and the Heights. That, combined with its use by Jehovah’s Witnesses playing soccer and football at lunch, soccer games on weekends, dogs, after school programs, etc., means that trying to maintain an impeccable lawn there would be both impractical and an irresponsible waste of tax dollars.
The fake grass actually looks pretty good (I walk by every day). And no one has mentioned that the renovation of the rest of the park — jogging paths, sitting areas, paving — were sorely needed and look beautiful.
If you live in the city, you should be greatful to see any greenspace being given the repairs and renovations that are so clearly needed. The Parks Dept. is not able to fund projects like this everywhere they are needed. If they were to spend all of their maintenance budget preserving a manicured lawn for septugenarian sourpusses to stare at, the city as a whole would suffer.
it hasn’t been a dust bowl for 25 years. I have no real opinion on the whole thing, but there was grass there 15 years ago. Nice grass
i just want to know whether dogs will be permitted on this fake grass? yikes, if they are!
I went to st anns–we used to use it for recess, but it was by no means exclusive; I think ps 8 also used it at the same time. I _still_ use it for pickup soccer games, running, frisbee throwing etc.
It has been a dust bowl for 25+ years — I applaud what they are doing.
“Oh Lord,” I remember the park at the western end of Myrtle Avenue, between Jay and Adams streets, as full of drunks and nodding junkies. That’s not to say the school kids didn’t play there, but I can’t picture it.
those pick-up games are weekends mornings. the schools use it (to the exclusion of others) M-F 10-2pm. they should have ponied up.