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Letter
to Councilmember Christine Quinn Regarding Abingdon Square Park October
6, 2002
Dear Councilmember Quinn,
After much discussion and consideration of the proposed plan to renovate
Abingdon Square Park, the Greenwich Village Block Associations has reached
several conclusions.
We greatly appreciate the interest shown by your office and the financial
resources, which you have made available for this project. As one of the
oldest parks
in the city, Abingdon Square Park deserves special care. We recognize that
the park needs attention so that it will be more attractive to neighborhood
residents. We hope that all of the present troubling concerns and trepidation
will be amicably resolved.
The following points are of primary importance to the Greenwich Village Block Associations:
That
in accordance with the decision made by the New York Landmarks Commission,
the present cast iron fence be repaired and maintained in its present configuration.
That the Doughboy statue should remain within the
confines of the park and not moved to what may
be a hazardous location close to the intersection of Hudson and
Bleecker Streets.
That the trees in the park be cared for and that
no healthy trees should be removed.
We
understand that a local group of avid gardeners has formed and has made an
extensive long-term commitment of energy and funding to help maintain
the park. We commend them for their interest and trust that Abingdon Square
Park
will be more beautiful for their involvement and more inviting to both residents
and visitors. We believe that as time passes and their efforts to beautify
the park become evident, any residual community disharmony will dissipate.
Although there is understandable apprehension that "too beautiful" a
park may eventually lead to a proposal to curtail public access, we trust
that this prospect will never be considered.
We look forward to reviewing a new more acceptable park design for community comment and support, and we hope that this project will move forward without unnecessary additional distress to all concerned. Please be assured that the GVBA will cooperate in any way to achieve community consensus on this important proposal. We anticipate with pleasure the gracious restoration of our venerable oasis.
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