| |
To The Editor:
A comment regarding the Tribeca Trib that Washington Market Park approved
the painting of a Mural on Chambers Street near the tennis court.
The young Stuyvesant student that may see this area as her "Turf"
has a right to request for this Mural to be created. Tribeca is indeed
her "Turf" too.
And yes, it would indeed be most appropriate if the President of Washington
Market Park consult the people that use the court and the residents of
this community.
I think that a mural on that wall, created by a "student of the community"
and implemented through the "City's community art program,"
would be wonderful. I see it as a welcomed artistic expression from a
vibrant young student of our community.
It would acknowledge the fact that this community is shared by an assortment
of diverse individuals, families, businesses, and insitiutions. I feel
strongly that it would be a significant enhancement to the look of our
neighborhood. This work of art would play a role in the reflection our
community's diversity. It would provide yet another layer of the colorful
fabric of the City that we all love.
There is room for us all.
Steve Albert
RESPOND
TO STEVE ALBERT'S LETTER
Say "no" to Alice on Chambers
St. wall
To the Editor:
A proposal by Stuyvesant High School students to paint a mural on the
sitting wall on Chambers Street just outside the tennis court was given
the green light by the Washington Market Park Board. It is now being discussed
by Parks and Recreation and Cityarts. On the surface the mural idea seems
cute, nice and innocent. After all, who would object to a mural of "Alice
in Wonderland"? If this were the sole reason for the mural, no one
would.
However, the students have made it very clear over the years that they
want to designate this area as their official hangout. This area is a
constant problem that is well known by Stuyvesant staff, the Police Dept.
and the Washington Market Park Board. Why not work to correct this problem
instead of trying to cover the problem with a mural?
This area was designed by the park architect as a sitting area. It was
designed around the community basketball and tennis courts mainly as a
waiting area for the players. Are they proposing a mural of basketball
or tennis figures? No. In this day and time, Alice in Wonderland may no
longer portray to people what it did when we were kids.
I personally have two major concerns about this project:
1. The board of directors of Washington Market Park acted without involving
the users of the courts or the community residents.
2. The approval of the mural would be equal to saying to the students:
It’s okay to hang out here to smoke, drink, set fires, cut class
and harass and abuse tennis players.
We don’t think the community is making a compelling cry for Alice
in Wonderland murals on Chambers Street or anywhere else in the neighborhood.
The Parks Dept. and the Washington Market Park board have done a disservice
to the community by not making this a community-wide decision.
John Jones
President, Chambers Street
Tennis Association, Inc.
RESPOND TO JOHN JONES' LETTER
|
