'No' to a Permanent Fence for Washington Market Park
A more attractive permanent fence was proposed to replace this temporary one, which came down last month, that can be removed when the lawn does not need to be protected. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib
Friends of Washington Market Park are on the fence no longer.
The volunteers who oversee the maintenance of the park and run its events had been undecided last month over whether to enclose the popular park’s lawn with a permanent fence.
On Oct. 31, they announced their decision to scrap the idea, at least for now.
In an online survey, the Friends group sought the public’s opinion and 84 people responded: 37 said “absolutely not,” 29 voted “yes” and there were 18 “maybes.”
The group had supported the fence, 11-5, in a non-binding vote.
The fence would have been included in a major overhaul of the heavily used park lawn that is expected to take place from January to May. The Parks Department was awaiting a decision, due this month.
“Doing without the fence this next year may serve as a good indicator of the success/impact of the upcoming lawn overhaul project,” Friends co-president Erica Martini told the Trib in an email. “What will rich, rock-free soil, regrading, proper irrigation, and pruned trees do to enhance the growth of our busy little lawn? We shall see!”
The park’s small, oval-shaped lawn can quickly turn to dirt and mud beneath the feet of its many users, and preserving the lawn while keeping it open as much as possible has long been a challenge for the Friends group. A permanent fence was seen as a way to more effectively—and attractively—close off the lawn when it most needed protecting. But some parents also saw as it a way to more easily contain their kids. Some opponents said it would favor the lawn’s aesthetics over its availability as a much needed play space. Others said it would ruin the overall feeling of the space.
“One of the beauties of the park is its openness,” said one survey respondent. “And a fence, however attractive, provides an unwelcome feeling.”