More on the Labyrinth at Bryant Park

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Guest Blogger:
Tracy Rosof-Petersen

I have done quite a bit of research on the subject of successful public spaces.

The most successful public spaces include public input in the planning process with all of the stakeholders, which in our case would include the city public works department, the Planning & Zoning Board, the end users (the public) and the gift givers of this labyrinth. When I listened from home on the issue, I thought everyone was in fair agreement....... They love the gift, but the time frame and appropriate placement still needed to be decided and go through the proper channels. What happened? I'm still not sure!

My preference and many of the park users I talk to is: more trees, more nature, less concrete!! But just as food for thought, I've included my Top Ten list that was written during the last Bryant Park Fiasco a few years ago, when Joe Kroll moved ahead on very costly decisions about Bryant Park that were not approved by the commission or wanted by the general public at the time. These decisions cost the city and us tax payers a lot of money.

Top Ten Ways to Screw Up A Public Waterway Park

10. Start without an overall design or plan.

9. Never ask for community input and don't research the needs of the end users.

8. Put Cars before People

7. Remove or move historic trees.

6. Do not create pedestrian and bicycle friendly entry points.

5. Do not create any water access points.

4. Keep the budget costs in flux.

3. Do not look towards future use of the park.

2. Support the myth that economic prosperity depends on parking so local governments will continue to waste public money and distort the public planning process.

1. Put a blacktop parking lot in the middle.

Tracy Rosof-Petersen
EarthArtists Clay Studio, LLC

Power Prevails - We will get a Labyrinth whether we want it or not

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Even though it was agreed, even by the presenter, Nadine Burns, that public input was very valuable before any change to our Bryant Park was made and she was willing to get an extension from those she represented who were giving us this "valuable asset," Scott Maxwell did not agree.

At the end of the discussion, he disagreed that the labyrinth needed to go through proper channels, go before the Planning & Zoning Board and involve the neighborhoods, especially Bryant Park that it would affect the most. Public input had no importance with him, afterall, if you didn't agree with him, you were "playing politics." And because he disagreed that the "gift" should go back to the Recreation Department to ensure that it went through the proper process, the "visionaries" went along with him. We get the labyrinth. I suppose .0001 of 1% of our population might ever use it to meditate. Church would be much more inspirational. Maybe we'll get that next as a "gift" to be erected on Bryant Park.

Everyone on the dais "supported" the "gift" with Commissioner Mulvehill suggesting that another location might be more appropriate--this "gift" was going to be installed right next to the playground equipment. Can you even imagine a place for meditation being right next to screaming kids? My impression was that everyone on the dais was tip toeing around this labyrinth because it was proposed by former Commissioner Nadine Burns, the artist community that supports any form of art, and a few non-profits who will give work to some former felons or something.

The only person who made complete sense last night, and who was from the public, was no nonsense Loretta Sharpe. She was the only one who didn't dance around the politics of this supposed asset by stating the obvious: it should most definitely go before our Planning and Zoning board. Her argument was valid. We have a process for reasons and if we bypass the process, then we will have more and more of these types of "gifts" erected on city property anywhere the recipient chooses.

How dare any group or any citizen go to a department director to put something such as this on the Consent Agenda. We already went through a costly act when the Public Works Director, Joe Kroll, changed parking lots at Bryant Park with NO ONE'S PERMISSION or any input from Bryant Park neighborhood or anyone in the community. How dare a commission agree that this is proper? Perhaps they should go to The First Baptist Church on S. M Street where it was reported that they have a labyrinth.

We keep repeating the same egregious acts but this time it wasn't one lone rouge acting on his own but staff that was complicit. The only politics involved here was Maxwell's followed by the rest of the trio. Pretty sad commentary for a commission that says it values public input.

A Labyrinth Proposed for Bryant Park

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Labyrinth

This is on Tuesday, February 21 Consent Agenda--a labyrinth to be erected at Bryant Park at no cost to us. Because it is "no cost" we are supposed to be thrilled and just agree to it with NO discussion. I don't really know who proposed this "gift" but it was put on the agenda by Jamie Brown, interim Public Services Director (Joe Kroll's old job). Can anyone from the public ask to have something be placed on the agenda?

TOFA LLC (Token OF Appreciation) has committed to what they say is creating something of value for the community. As part of the Legacy Project, they are proposing to donate a 25’ diameter brick paver labyrinth to be installed in a public park for the publics' benefit.

These labyrinths are typically used for meditation purposes, but this will also serve as another addition to the what they say is "continued beautification of Bryant Park."

Personally, I don't believe that a 25 foot square paved over portion of our major city park is 1) beautiful and 2) serving any purpose for the benefit of anyone other than a few who believe it is art or those wanting to chant, meditate or for those who believe that labyrinths are traps for malevolent spirits or a hard path to God.

Can't someone just meditate at home?

Can we just please keep our park a park.