The people behind a plan to turn 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues into a public plaza are holding a special event on Saturday to build support and let people see what it would be like to turn the vast sidewalk into a more active space. Their release is below:
Friends of Stryker Park, an Upper West Side organization, is pleased to announce their first annual “One Day Plaza” event on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2015.
The One Day Plaza, runs 10:00 am to 3:00 pm along the north sidewalk on West 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues. The group is planning a full day of activities – music, food samples much more. The event is co-sponsored with the New York City Dept. of Transportation.
“Our goal for this event is to create interest and excitement for a potential public amenity and gauge input from members of the community”, said Bob Leonard, a co-founder of Friends of Stryker Park.
Friends of Stryker Park has announced plans to transform a strip of concrete into a neighborhood public plaza. The location is the north side of West 97th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, currently a 40,000 square foot barren expanse of concrete.
Stryker Park is the brainchild of Jim Henderson and Bob Leonard, who are friends and neighbors. The team also includes and Nina Cooke-John, Tim Dewald and Anne-Marie Singer.
“We’re not quite sure why it happened, but the sidewalk is unusually wide, about 50 feet,” said Jim Henderson, co-founder and a long-time Upper West Side resident. “It’s mostly concrete and pretty bleak. We’d like to change that.”
Foot traffic on West 97th Street has increased dramatically since the opening the Columbus Square shopping district anchored by Whole Foods Market.
The group intends to apply to the DOT Plaza program and petition the Parks Department to return the space just west of P.S. 163 back to its intended use as a community playground (it’s currently used to store a few vehicles and supplies). They also plan to run a design workshop to garner feedback from members of the community and other stakeholders.
“This is a daunting project but the payoff could be sweet. We need a few more people to pitch in, said Leonard. “We need help with social media, community outreach and fundraising.”
Really cool — I’ve been looking forward to seeing this set up for a bit. Glad to see it’s finally happening. I hope the rain holds off!
Thanks, Steve. Hope to see you there.
What a great idea! It sounds like it would really benefit the community, especially the elementary school. Can’t wait!
where will the construction of the nursing home fit into all this
This will be great to have! The block does come alive on Fridays when the Farmers Market is there, but that life could be there every day. Great!
Why is the sidewalk so wide there? Anyone know?
https://michaelminn.net/newyork/urban_renewal/west_side_urban_renewal/1959-west-side-urban-renewal-area.pdf
This dates back to the redesign that came with the urban renewal plan. I believe the sidewalk was originally identical to the one a block east on 97th but that it was extended due to the dangerous highway-like conditions created by such wide lanes and streets. That’s why there are extra-wide driveways that were once normal.
The blunt spot lol, good luck with that
What is wrong with the sidewalk? It is one of the few wide sidewalks on the UWS. Kids play on it all the time. There is no congestion. The school is located on that street, why would you want to give less space to children and more space for congestion. Do you even live in the area? How come this particular organization never wants to speak with the residents who live near street. Meetings cancelled by them.
The group is trying to transform the sidewalk into a public plaza like those in Time Square or Tribeca or Herald Square. Why on earth would we want that in a residential neighborhood. Why does every open space has to developed? The open space currently is great for commuters walking to the trains, there is no need to be bumped by opened umbrellas, kids walk to school safely, strollers aren’t bumping into people. Kids can actually toss a ball without getting hurt. There is enough room currently for all as it stands. The sidewalk is clean and well lit. It is used by many at all times. Many prefer to walk on open side of the street than the narrows on the opposite side of the street. Why ruin the UWS for more of this development mess for outsiders who don’t even live on the street?
Because it wouldn’t be for outsiders it would be for the community. I see the plaza as a few tables and chairs to sit down after you pick up a coffee or pastry from one of the local shops and chill on a nice day. Nothing more nothing less.
BTW what outsiders are you speaking off, could it be east siders? Because in that case let’s put up a wall and watch towers, I wouldn’t want any of those people here in MY neighborhood! (Sarcasm)
He probably means the unwelcome homeless people who sleep on the benches and their droppings that have been installed on the same block. And the rats that come after people leave their whole food garbage.. And the late night people who drink and smoke stuff with suspicious oders near the public elementary school and don’t clean up their mess. More table and chairs means people who don’t really care about the street and just want a come to eat their Danish and drink their coffee , etc. and then move on to their next destination.
Have you actually seen any homeless people sleeping on the cold metal benches?
Yes, I have seen the homeless people sleep there too. I guess it is only cold when it gets cold outside but since the benches have been put there, there have been homeless people in the summer, spring and fall. Don’t forget the nuisance pigeon feeders who sit on the benches so that they can feed the filthy pigeons, and the rats come afterwards.
Yes, unfortunately. I have seen the homeless people sleep there too. I guess it is only cold when it gets cold outside but since the benches have been put there, there have been homeless people in the summer, spring and fall. Don’t forget the nuisance pigeon feeders who sit on the benches so that they can feed the filthy pigeons, and the rats come afterwards.
And, pretty soon, unfortunately, loud performers would appear and maybe even desnudas.
This grim block needs to be spruced up. A great idea!
Isn’t the little yard an eyesore and a nuisance, with noisy comings and goings?
School, residential buildings are affected
by the traffic and “back up” sirens…
If only this is not part of a ploy for
some unwelcome change!
Unwelcome Change? And what would that be?
Kill off all the rats first, because there are lots of them there. And then please, someone get DOT to put up some barricades at the northwest corner of Columbus and 97th before a car goes up on the sidewalk there and kills people.