Is anyone else opposed to the rally on the Great Lawn?

[djg21]

As you all know, a lawsuit was brought challenging the denial for an anti-Puke rally on Central Park's Great Lawn.

While I obviously sympathize with the protesters and believe they should be permitted to protest at a central location, I don't want to see the protest on the Great Lawn of Central Park.

I relocated to upstate NY after spending over a decade in Manhattan. During my time in NYC, Central Park was my back yard -- as it is every New Yorker's back yard! It is the single thing I miss most about the city.

When I intially moved the the City in the late 80s, the Great Lawn was a mess. By the time I left,the Parks Dept had spent a ton of time, money and effort restoring and repairing the Great Lawn to a pristine condition.

I can't imagine the damage that a huge rally would cause to the Great Lawn, or the cost of repair that such a large gathering would necessitate. I can't imagine that those sponsoring the protest would be able to afford the bond to pay for the repairs.

For this reason, I have to say I'd rather see the rally take place elsewhere, somewhere where it will have less of an ebvironmental impact!

While some say that the West Side Highway is a little off the beaten path, I disagree. It's actually a main arterial in the City , and it can make for stunning aerial images given the size of the crowd that's expected and it's proximity to the flight corridors over the Hudson. Moreover, it's not any more remote from MSG than the Great Lawn would be.

Just my 2 cents!

[annabanana]

1. How big was the Pope's crowd?

Huge, I'll bet... What, did they levitate or something? The grass grows back.

[djg21]

3. Check your dates!

The last two mass events on the Great Lawn – the premiere of the Disney movie Pocahontas and Pope John Paul 11’s visit – took place in 1995. Shortly after the pope’s visit, the Parks Dept began its major restoration of the area.

BTW, here's the 1995 Giuliani press release on the restoration project's completion!

http://www.nyc.gov/html/om/html/97/sp604-97.html

[TahitiNut]

2. Just Bring Grass Seed.

:shrug: B.F.D. If commercial events can use it, then democratic events have an even greater legitimacy.

[djg21]

5. I don't think they do any longer

at least not events that draw crowds the size of those expected at the anti-Puke demonstration.

BTW, I agree with you that the protest is necessary. I just don't know where.

Moreover, since yearly upkeep of the lawn, according to the 1997 Giuliani press release, costs approximately $650,000, I'd think that the costs of restoring the lawn to it's pre-protest condition will be very large, and I can assure you that Parks would be within its rights to deny a permit in the absence of the payment by the protest organizers of an undertaking or bond reflecting that cost. I just don't see this as likely!

[Junkdrawer]

4. Central Park screams "SETUP"...

I'll bet Republican speech writers have been working for weeks on this:

"What we have seen from our opponents is encouragement of this kind of over-the-top hatred of our President and everything America stands for"....

I can just smell it coming. Keeping protesters out of Central Park is like saying: "You can fly all you want, you just can't use the airports".

[djg21]

6. I hope you're not insinuating that. . . .

I'm a Repuke, or that I'm somehow reading from their talking points!

I'll also point out, from my extensive experience litigating constitutional issues, that a state can reasonably regulate time, place and manner of speech, so long as it doesn't regulate content. Keep that in the back of your head before you start asserting all sorts of First Amendment issues!

[Junkdrawer]

8. How do you get that out of my post?

:shrug:

If it's a setup, it's a setup from Bloomberg and the RNC.

If anything, my post would encourage protesters to stay out of Central Park.

[djg21]

10. Sorry! Just checking!

:)

[DoYouEverWonder]

7. The horticulturists that designed the new lawns

used very sturdy grass that was meant to withstand some punishment. Also a number of large events have taken place there since the restoration.

The concern about the precious grass is a crock. The health and safety of possibly a million peaceful protesters is much more important.

[djg21]

9. I'm not professing to be an expert!

Can you provide me some sources? What is the basis for your assertion? I know that sturdy grass was used, but can erosion be a problem? Damage to topsoil? Damage to the ponds and surrounding vegetation?

I'd be curious to see what the basis for your statements are, and then to see what those with expertise in the field (no pun intended) have to say!

[annabanana]

12. I fear that a crowd that size

Would cause more (accidental) damage to the streets and each other by being squished into a space too small to hold them. (The 250K number that keeps coming up is a significant underestimate.. that's just one group)

[DoYouEverWonder]

13. I don't post facts, unless I can back them up

Here's the information you requested:


The Great Lawn restoration is the largest public works project in Central Park since its construction in the mid 19th century. The Great Lawn has become a very widely used area within Central Park. It is the site of important and well attended New York events, such as the annual summer performances of the Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Also, there are 12,100 softball games played on the Great Lawn's ballfields each year. Prior to reconstruction, the Great Lawn'ss soil had become extremely compacted, allowing little drainage and only supporting a minimal turf cover.

Putting greens and professional football fields were used as models for the root zone mix and drainage system. The root zone mix for the Great Lawn was developed by the Central Park Conservancy and Dr. Norman Hummel of Hummel and Co., Inc. This mix needed to drain properly, resist compaction and support lush turf growth under high traffic conditions. A root zone mix was developed using a sifted even aggregate sand, topsoil and over 6,000 cubic yards of Agresoil compost . Agresoil was chosen for this mix due to its consistency, nutrient value and high organic matter content.

A 20-inch root zone mix was placed above an extensive drainage system. After placement of the root zone mix, the 15-acre lawn was completely sodded. The Great Lawn will remain closed for one year to allow establishment of the turfgrass before hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers begin to enjoy one of New York City's largest open spaces once again.

http://www.agresourceinc.com/great_lawn.html



The Great Lawn, stretching from 79th to 85th street in the middle of Central Park, is the largest open space in the Park and the site of numerous New York City events, especially in the summer.

The New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera each present two free performances on the newly-restored Great Lawn in the summer. Visitors enjoy music performances surrounded by fresh green grass and outlines of city skyscrapers.

During the day, people play or watch a game of softball, soccer, basketball, or volleyball.


http://www.vacationidea.com/new_york_city/great_lawn_central_park_nyc.html

[Cronus Protagonist]

14. Did you bring up the same concerns when the Pope came?

Just wondering if you were always concerened about the poor grass or if this is just a new thing for you. Personally, I love grass, but not the kind you can walk on.

SHOVE IT! - Drop Bush Not Bombs! - Hero Kerry AWOL Bush
http://brainbuttons.com/home.asp?stashid=13

[KoKo]

16. It's a City Park, fgs! You don't want the "unwashed masses trompling on

your fresh new grass? NYC has always been open to new voices, protesting or arriving on ships looking at the statue of Liberty as a Beacon of hope.

I lived there in the 60's and no one was complaining about "grass abuse."

I think your comments are really missing the mark, here. Sort of like a person who says "Stay off my lawn I just watered it...and keep your damn little kids and dogs off it too!" That's fine for you...but NYC's Parks are paid for with tax dollars. They are for "public use." The grass will grow back but our freedoms wont. Shame on You!

[WilliamPitt]

11. Were you against the Simon & Garfunkel concert, too?

I was inside the protest cage in Boston. For me, this is an incredibly important issue. Central Park is a people's park, not just for people in Manhattan. It is the perfect place to hold the most important protest of the last thirty years.

[randr]

15. I think the best thing would be for no one to show up.

Totally ignore the repugs in NYC with all their obscene security surrounding them.
Leave the city silently and move the protests to Washington where they belong!