If you build it, what will they do with it?

I have been noticing the great lawn at City Park. They built this enormous meadow with little gazebos around it that have wooden swings for people to hang out in. After it was installed, a group of handsome, young black men began meeting on the lawn on the weekends to play touch football. On weekday mornings women in their 30s and 40s began meeting there for a boot camp class.

And then came the sign. City Park put up a sign that said no one was to do any group activities on the lawn.

Today there is an enormous tent erected on the lawn for a function that for some reason has doves and the number 30 in lights suspended from a nearby oak. A celebration obviously and one that probably paid dearly to be able to plant itself on that precious lawn.

I wondered if the reason groups were not allowed was because of the havoc they might wreak on the lawn, but what about a bunch of dressed up high-heeled celebrators?

When you build a public space, do you also get to dictate how it will be used?

2 Responses to “If you build it, what will they do with it?”

  1. Ricardo Says:

    One has to wonder about CP’s priorities some times. We are being told that there is “no money” to make a curb cut at DeSaix Boulevard to access the path around the new Festival Grounds. By their thinking bicyclists will have to ride an additional 2 blocks on busy Wisner Blvd. to Friedrichs to get on and off the paths. It’s all about control.

  2. Ricardo Says:

    The next CP BOC monthly meeting is on Tuesday, March 27. Please show up and express your displeasure. Or e-mail bbecke@nocp.org with your thoughts.
    Board of Commissioners Meeting
    4:00 p.m.
    Park Administration Building
    The City Park Board of Commissioners generally meets the fourth Tuesday of each month except August. Meetings begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Room of the City Park Administration building unless otherwise noted. Please call (504) 482-4888 to verify specific meeting dates.

    Past minutes (504) 482-4888 info@nocp.org

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