Union Square Playmarket- A Swappable Park

A while back  I was visiting Manhattan's Union Square Park , I talked to a youth there who told me, “there's benches for the seniors  and a playground for the little kids but nothing for us.”

Here's how to go from nothing for us to something for everyone...

Four  days a week   the Union Square Greenmarket takes place on Union Square Park's north mall.

the other 3 days the plaza is pretty much  unused

If you can swap  in a green market 4 days a week, how about swapping in active and activities recreation the other 3 days.

 

On these 3 days a staffed parkhouse can offer scores of active and activities recreation opportunities to area residents including youth, adults, seniors and special needs folks.

Half basketball courts can be created  here also,  all day  3 days a week, and they  can also be made available 7 evenings  a week  after the Greenmarket closes(6pm)   link

Excercise bikes that can be locked to the ground can be moved into the USP north



Imagination Playground HQ is in Union Square,  I suspect they would be inclined to help fund a "Showroom"  right outside their offices. 

 

Many types of play are needed

There are no libraries near Union Square Park . 3 days a week , a UNI Reading Room can be put out and offer reading material

 Additionally the Veterans area of south east Union Square Park, is used for naught but passive seating and could become an activates recreation area, perhaps on the 4 days a week Union Square Plaza north is unavailable for that function.

Also the Pavilion is empty  during winter months, perhaps recreation equipment and activities can be setup there that would be oriented towards cold weather. My friends at the Mc Arthur Library in Bittleford Maine lend out snowshoes, if people are interested, I'm sure there must be other  winter activities that  this space could be used for.


The Union Square Pavilion pays NYC $300,000-450,000 a year in rent.      The Urbanspace Holiday market  I would assume pays a good deal of rent too.Some  of the money for the use of the park for commercial enterprises  can go to fund equipment and a staffed parkhouse that can offer recreation equipment for all ages and abilities.

Below: Rockefeller Park Parkhouse, Battery Park City



see also: The Theory  of Loose Parks
     Flatiron Playspace