I did a little bit of reflection on parks earlier in the month, both about Commissioner Benepe's apparent moves against artists in parks, and on his interview regarding noise. The question that the parks really is facing, which they also faced during the planning for the Washington Square Park "renovations", a problem which we face in the theater too: the question of audience.
Would parks be better served by not trying to make each park all things for all people? What if the local community boards would sit, look at the history and use of each park, and decide, "Okay, Washington Square Park is a park for artists and public congregation. East River Park is a serene and quiet sanctuary." Mark them as such, make the difference in rules clear, and allow people who have different expectations of parks find the parks that they want.
