Letter to Councilmember Christine Quinn Regarding Abingdon Square Park

March 1, 2002
Dear Councilmember Quinn,

After much discussion, the Greenwich Village Block Associations would like express its reservations concerning proposed plans to reconfigure Abingdon Square Park. As we understand the sequence of events, the proposal was brought before the Parks Committee of Community Board 2 and approved by the Full Board. We believe that the appropriate initial venue for discussion of the renovation for this venerable park space should have been the Landmarks Committee of CB2. One of the foremost considerations for any alteration of Abingdon Square must be its appropriateness in our historic community.

We are also disturbed, because there has been a failure to properly publicize the two public hearings concerning this re-design, and these hearings were held in locations inconvenient for residents of the surrounding blocks. Although we accuse the Board of no intentional omissions, we believe that a correction is essential. Interested residents have not truly had an opportunity to become informed on the issue and to voice objections or suggestions. If it is inconvenient for CB2 to hold the appropriate public meeting, the GVBA believes that the matter warrants the consideration of doing so under our own aegis.

The "fait accompli" nature of the proposed design is also troubling. When a change of this magnitude is proposed, public opinion should be ascertained before any plan is drawn. The rendering of several plans, not just one, should proceed after the public has endorsed a need for alteration and after it is clear what those changes should be. The public must then be given an opportunity to comment. Proceeding in any other fashion is unacceptable to this community. It was evident by the sophistication of the solitary presented plan that these changes were contemplated some time ago out of the public view.

We understand that residents of nearby apartment buildings are proposing the creation of a group to be responsible for the maintenance of the park, thus creating a "conservancy" for this treasured public green space. This is a serious issue and must be subject to public comment. It seems that our public parks are increasingly becoming the objects of privatization, both temporary and permanent, which is a disturbing trend to many Villagers. Although the residents proposing this "conservancy" may have the best intentions, possible undesirable repercussions must be explored before its birth.

Additionally, the present climate of fiscal concern makes it ironic that we are talking about the closing of senior centers in one breath and discussing an expensive re-design of a beloved park in the next. Our present priorities must combine compassion, common sense, and financial acuity. The GVBA has not yet taken a position on the proposed alteration of Abingdon Square Park. It is likely that we will do so only after we inform ourselves of the desires and opinions of our West Village neighbors. Since we understand that the funding for this project must come through your office, we urge you to proceed slowly on this matter with responsible caution. And we would also urge any other public official or body to treat this matter with more deliberation than we have seen thus far.

We believe that more careful deliberation is essential. Please be assured that we will cooperate in any way to ensure that whatever decisions are reached will be in the community's best interests.