NYU gives $1 mil. to Parks Dept.

NYU is donating $1 million to the renovation of Washington Square Park as a "gesture of goodwill" to the community, university officials said.

Alicia Hurley, vice president for government and community affairs, said that despite the donation, any suggestions made by NYU regarding the renovations are not guaranteed. Hurley said NYU has chosen to stay largely out of the debate, only asking that a dog run not be put in front of Bobst Library for noise reasons and that NYU still be able to hold commencement in the park after construction is completed.

While the renovation talks have remained below the radar in recent months, negotiations are still underway with no set date for the beginning of construction. Current renovation plans include fountain restoration, disability access in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, more greenery, enlarged play areas, a new 'comfort station' and park house, improved paths and more benches.

Anthony Hogrebe, spokesman for City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, said the repairs and alterations to Washington Square Park are not purely cosmetic.

"The park is currently in a fair amount of disrepair, and there are safety concerns, as well as other issues such as lack of ADA compliance in the center fountain area," Hogrebe said. "The renovations are an attempt to address many of these issues."

Many people in the Greenwich Village community, however, believe the park is fine just the way it is, and a number of community groups have formed to protest the proposed renovations. An organization called Preserve Washington Square Park argues on its website that the plans for renovation are too drastic and wholly unnecessary, calling the renovation an instance of "invasive redesign and reconstruction."

Plans to renovate the park have caused discord between the community and the city Parks Department for years. In 2005, Community Board 2 rescinded its approval of renovations, and the Open Washington Square Park coalition filed a lawsuit charging the Parks department with failing to disclose significant details regarding the renovations to the public and community boards. It was ultimately ruled that all necessary information had been disclosed by the Parks Department to the community board, allowing the Parks Department to continue the renovation process. Plans proposed this summer were investigated by a task force formed by City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and Councilman Alan Gerson to check for compliance with the American Disabilities Act. The investigation also looked into the price of moving the park's fountain to align with the Washington Square Arch, a measure proposed by the Parks Department.

According to an article in the Village Voice, the main point of contention among community members is the fear of privatization of the public park. Carol Massa, president of the MacDougal North Block Association, said her biggest concern was "how they are sanitizing our park. They're taking away the freedom, the charm, the uniqueness."

Maggie Suozzi is a contributing writer.

E-mail her at news@nyunews.com.