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
go check out McCarren Park, they redid the dust bowl soccer field the same way and it is wonderful. They are obviously changing over areas of heavy use in the city. Just look at FG park, they reseeded and gated off the area for part of the summer and it’s once again a mess. Soccer fields = astroturf.
There’s fake grass in the little park on south oxford/cumberland in FG that is surprisingly soft — great to sit on from a comfort and dirt point of view. And that splash of even, well-kept green is really a mood lifter, esp. on grey days. In short, I thought I would hate it but i don’t.
It’s important to point out, though, that this park is locked every night and no dogs are allowed. And locals tend to it, picking up trash etc, probably making the “lawn” a little, or a lot, cleaner than average. And there’s basically zero through-foot-traffic.
Please make it stop……..
All u people do is complain. How many of u a##holes ever set foot in that park, how many of you have kids?
I’ve played soccer, football, baseball in that park. My kids learned how to ride a bike there. I can’t wait for the turfgrass fields to open!!
it’s not just St. Ann’s kids.. it’s also immigrants from South America, Columbia and Europe who like to play pick-up soccer games. Basically, it’s people who wants to play sports vs. people who like the idea of grass for environmental or esthetic reasons.
I witnessed a protest at which demonstrators chanted “No Fake Grassky, David Yassky!”. The whole project is being driven by a desire to create gym and soccer space for students at Saint Ann’s School at taxpayer expense.
“If a horse won’t eat it, I don’t want to play on it.†-Dick (Richie)Allen
Part of the problem is that there was more open space which was used by several of the schools years ago that was closed, demolished and then sold to developers. The site of the Brooklyn Marriott used to be used as play space for private school children during the day and after school, and as a de-facto waiting area for family court when the weather was nice. You can argue about whether that was the best use for this land, but it was part of a long-standing (gentleman’s?)agreement with these schools. When the decision was made to create developer space, those users were moved to this other location and the current dustbowl was created.
The fact is that while these schools have the bulk of the Mon-Fri daytime use of that area, it is not limited to those groups and plenty of neighborhood residents use the space as well. I don’t think that encouraging private financing of space which would then only be used by this very narrow segment of the constituency is the best use either. At least this way, everyone has a shot at using this park. Not to mention that many schools (public and private)utilize public park space around the city including Randall’s Island, the Parade Grounds, Central Park, etc. This is nothing new.
Kids are kids, no matter where they go to school, and they need outdoor space.
There was a lot going on with this project that wasn’t 100% out in the open especially how it is used by the private schools nearby as their playground. In other words, it does get a lot of use but by a couple of private institutions. Now, why the city needs to create what is basically a playground for these kids is not clear. Seemed like a good time for a public/private initiative instead of a closeted process with public money.