Monday, April 19, 2021

Concern for the main lawn in Tompkins Square Park

The large lawn space in the middle of Tompkins Square Park is attracting attention for its barren look this spring... prompting concern from some Park regulars ... 
Per one TSP regular: "The main field is in terrible condition. It needs to be reseeded soon to be in good shape for summer."
As noted before (here and here), budget cuts have prompted volunteer groups to pick up trash, weed and rake parts of the Park's gardens.

The most recent inspection report (from August 2020) posted to the NYC Parks website found the overall condition and cleanliness of Tompkins to be "unacceptable."

Thanks to Steven for the photos!

26 comments:

anonymous said...

Even if it’s reseeded now, they’ll have to close it off till at least mid June! Good luck keeping people off of it!!

Anonymous said...

This morning I was disappointed to see how much garbage had been left behind where the skateboarding takes place. What does it take to get people to respect their environment?

Anonymous said...

Whatever you do please do NOT blame the government or park staff for the filth and destroyed turf you see. These are your fellow citizens who are taking the Soviet view of “it belongs to the state and not my problem”. It’s easy enough to not litter or keep off the grass but too many folks who use the park simply couldn’t care less about others

F-ing Scott said...

They should take the $1.5 billion they're planning to waste on that absurd East River Park project and invest it in fixing up other parks that need help, like TSP.

Anonymous said...

Losing green space to replenish grass at Tompkins Square Park with plans for demolition of East River Park is tragic.
Alicia Boyd was present at East River Park Protest yesterday
https://twitter.com/tfine/status/1383955742022017030

anonymous said...

Agreed!!

LPIFLY said...

Omg. Haven't been by in months and thisnis insane. I agree reseeding now is a little difficult because it will take time.
Can we get some nice fluffy SOD instead?

noble neolani said...

I know this is not a popular opinion but let's face it each fenced in area of the park which people can easily access has become someone's personal dog run. I see one to three dog owners playing with their pups inside these green spaces every day. They refuse to use the dog run for various selfish reasons ie: "my dog doesn't like it there" "it smells" or my favorite "there is pandemic". What the park really needs is someone to fine these people for destroying public property park space.

Bracing for the insults from these people.

Anonymous said...

We can't have nice things b/c *so* many people are careless, heedless, selfish slobs.

Gojira said...

The perimeter look equally barren and desolate. So we're supposed to believe that the city will have the ability to bring the massive East River Park project to successful completion when they have left the keepers of the much smaller TSP - who do yeoman work with the limited resources left to them - to their own devices for the past several years?

Anonymous said...

I would not sit on that lawn if you paid me. I've lived in this hood for over eleven years, That space is over crowded, dirty and littered. I've also seen rats and mice scurry around many times. Why on earth would anyone place their towel on that area and sunbathe like they're at the beach? Not sanitary at all. And yes, it should be reseeded. But given how our city moves at a glacial pace with things of this nature, I would not hold my breath.

Anonymous said...

Any updates on the plan to tear down the bathrooms and park office building? It was supposed to happen a year ago, but covid threw everything for a loop and the work was delayed. Now that the staff has been cut, I wonder if that work will happen at all. The state of the bathrooms is horrific and, as I have heard, the roof of that building is in danger of collapse.

Anonymous said...

This morning I was disappointed to see how much garbage had been left behind where the skateboarding takes place. What does it take to get people to respect their environment?

Anonymous said...

I agree @noble neolani, those people are obnoxious and entitled. It's one thing to give your dog a quick run while being aware of other people or dogs and then moving on, especially if your dog isn't cool with other dogs, but it's another when they're just chillin drinking their coffees and acting like it's their own personal run with multiple dogs romping with each other for 30 minutes. Mad annoying and tears shit up.

Anonymous said...

I agree was 7 46, I saw the poor man cleaning up after the skateboarders this morning... What a huge mess!!. Also, I don't think it is right that people have taken over the park fence between 9th and 10th streets along A and made it their own personal flee market on Sundays . If you what to sell your junk, go online, not a free selling space on the taxpayers' money! The park has really become lawless in some regards

Anonymous said...

It's not just people with dogs, it's everyone who just do not care plus the lack of services for upkeep and maintenance. Some people and their agendas.

LPIFLY said...

100%. When I see people sun bathing I shudder with fear

LPIFLY said...

Agree. All of that is a factor but ultimately these parks have been maintained regardless... and thisnisnwhat happens with cuts

Jose Garcia said...

The return of people selling stuff along the fence on Avenue A and on "Upper Avenue B" is one of the few benefits of the pandemic-related changes the nabe has seen. It reminds one of the good old(en) days.

AnonymousApril 19, 2021 at 11:32 AM

Anonymous said...

The dust bowl 2021

Anonymous said...

Are there any Native Americans that can bless it?
Definitely, a blessing performed by a Native American is soooo the way to go.

Anonymous said...

No garbage cans in the vicinity of "skateboard park"/baseball dugouts without baseball diamond or turf/ basketball hoops at far end multiuse concrete area.

Anonymous said...

That's not how it works. That money has been allocated for a specific purpose. It can be touched by local politicians for pet projects. There are good reasons for the restrictions in money for big projects that are funded by the city state and feds

Jill W said...

I don't really see the sanitation factor with sitting on the lawn, such as it is. I mean, don't lick the dirt. But hey, want to avoid it, that's awesome. Seems like we need more ppl avoiding it anyway.

Anonymous said...

Hey they managed to tear it up a month sooner than I thought!

Anonymous said...

How about a "volunteer for play" scenario where someone in your party has to volunteer in the park for an hour, then gets a pass to use the lawn? Might encourage a sense of responsibility in these millennials.