From Brooklyn News
“Landmarks Preservation Commission voted on Tuesday to approve a controversial redesign of one entrance to the neighborhood’s eponymous park, arguing the plan barely changed after landmarks honchos criticized its disregard for the meadow’s creators’ vision and told Department of Parks and Recreation officials to take it back to the drawing board months ago…
“… history buffs contended that planner Frederick Law Olmsted would prefer the grassy knolls over a paved walkway because park-goers can hang out on them.
“[The hills] seem to be a very large gathering place, versus more of a passageway,” said commissioner Wellington Chen. “If you’re saying I can perform many programs on a passageway, that’s true. However, that’s not what Olmsted intended, which is a public gathering place.”
..The landmarks agency’s vote followed that of Community Board 2, which approved the redesign in September after months of debate over whether it catered more to gentrifiers than to longtime locals who often visit the meadow.
The Park’s Department’s amended makeover of a corner of Fort Greene Park
Residents fumed at the new agency head for the majority of the earlier meeting.
Residents from nearby Walt Whitman and Ingersoll Houses wanted:
– a people’s playground .
– perks for the people who live in the public housing complexes surrounding it.
– “We want more grass, more intimate spaces.”
– “We want more recreational opportunities for our kids and seniors.”
– “This is everyone’s backyard.”
– Understand how popular urban meadow
– outreach.
NOT
– a fancy facade to make the meadow look good for gentrifiers,
“We don’t want a vanity project.”
– “We don’t want a promenade.”
“Don’t want more pavement.”
– taking out a stone wall and granite platforms.
– chopping down rows of trees to create the path up to the memorial.