Pond: Parks for People, Union Square

Rev. Billy & The Church of Life After Shopping with Pond present:

CALENDAR: Parks for People 24/7

"I’m all in favor of a free speech zone. I think it should be called the United States of America. This notion that there should be places where you can engage in free speech and places where you can’t is totally antithetical to the Constitution.” — Congressman Barney Frank, May 2003 Artists: Savitri D. Ian Hart Marisa Jahn Steve Lambert Joan Linder Alan Smart Union Square Community Coalition with NYC Park Advocates preface: Rev. Billy, Savitri D., Marisa Jahn additional contributions by Ryder Cooley, Jesse Golstein, Chris Rubino The Pavilion at Union Square Park’s North End was built in 1931 to replace a reviewing stand that had been there since the Civil War. It functioned as a speaker’s stage, a parade stand, a natural gathering area, and a recreational shelter for women and children. A site of spontaneous rallies and organized protests for more than a century, the Pavilion has played a central role in Progressive history. It is a vital public space and one of the last remaining assembly areas in lower Manhattan. It is our town square, our speaker’s corner.		above: art by Pond
In 2003, The Union Square Business Improvement District (BID), a quasi-public agency, merged with the local development corporation (a for-profit enterprise) to form The Union Square Partnership (USP), and shortly thereafter put forth an elaborate renovation plan for the park. Despite a $2 million dollar allocation secured for playground renovations by then Council Member Margarita Lopez, the USP held up the building of the much needed playground to hatch their restaurant plan. The USP solicited a $5 million dollar anonymous donation (later increased to $7 million dollars) which was contingent upon the building of a restaurant. Given that Union Square has the highest density of restaurants — over 100 restaurants within two blocks of the pavilion — and the lowest amount of playground space in any community board, why should this incredible crucible of American history be turned into a restaurant? We — park lovers, artists, workers, activists, bikers, parents, citizens — believe that our precious public resources should stay in the hands of the people and that the pavilion should be committed to public use. This calendar — ’Parks for People 24/7’ — presents the work of artists and organizers who imagine alternate, public, year-round use for the pavilion. As a reminder of the promise that a new year offers, this calendar will be hand-delivered to all the so-called Stake Holders who seek to privatize the Pavilion: The Union Square Partnership and its executive board including Danny Meyer, Eric Seiler, and Jennifer Falk; Adrian Benepe, Commissioner of NYC’s Parks Department; and elected officials Mayor Bloomberg, Christine Quinn and Rosie Mendez who are shepherding this sad and shameful act. The real Stakeholders in this case are the people of New York City, YOU! The calendar is available for a small donation at revbilly.com. All proceeds go toward the ongoing fight for Union Square’s future and free speech and assembly everywhere.		above: art by Steve Lambert above: art by Ian Hart above: art by Savitri D.