From the "Huh?!" file

Huh?

I work from home at my computer every day except (most of the time) weekends. While I work, I stream one of the New York radio news stations and was incensed to hear about the success of another project on Kickstarter. $20,000 was pledged for this book about the smells of New York City. It’s a scratch and sniff book about good smells such as pizza, shish-kabobs and bagels, but it also include the bad smells all New Yorkers contend with such as sewer steam and garbage.

I ask you. Which book would be more helpful and worthwhile to fund - a book on smells or a book about where to find the best pocket parks and their histories?


This sounds like spilled milk, I know, but it isn’t. I’m simply baffled, once again, by the tastes of the American public. Perhaps it is because she works right in the city and I do not. Perhaps she begged more, which I do not, or has more connections being out in the world rather than working virtually. I don’t know. I am still going and ready to hit the city again in September. Wish me luck as I wish the Scratch and Sniff author luck.

Park Day 2011 in West Virginia

If you live in Parkersburg, WV, you have the opportunity to create your own pocket park on September 17^th, 2011! That’s the idea behind Parkday 2011. According to contest rules:

Contest participants will be required to construct their Pocket Park within the dimensions of their assigned 8’ width x 20’ length parking spot.

This is apparently a contest to promote healthy living. Though I’m not sure how that translates into decorating  a parking space, it still looks like fun.  Go to http://bit.ly/oYK1XC and learn about this contest.

Aerial view of Parkersburg, WV circa 1952

As for me, I'm recovering from foot surgery and off my feet for three weeks. I'm going to spend that time researching with the hope of hitting the ground running in September. Enjoy August in NYC or wherever you happen to be, and remember to send me the location of your favorite pocket park or any you may come across in NYC.

Pocket parks often mis-labelled

Rev. Linnette C. Williamson Memorial Park

While doing my research about pocket parks, I’ve realized many people confused small parks with pocket parks. A pocket park, by most definitions, is:

• located in the middle of a city
• often between two buildings or at the end of a street
• visible from the street
• often filled with trees and greenery
• set up with chairs, tables and/or benches to sit on
• reclaimed or private space set aside for public use

The original “vest pocket park” and the very first pocket park was the Rev. Linnette C. Williamson Memorial Park created in 1965 between two buildings on 128th St. It was developed as a way to add green open space to an area in the city that was in most need of public space. According to their website, two others were created on the same block later in the year. In 1967, Paley Park on 53rd St. and 5th Ave. in Midtown Manhattan was created to honor William S. Paley’s father, Samuel Paley.  It’s sister park, Greenacre Park located on 51st St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave., came along in 1971. This privately-owned public space was set aside for the enjoyment of the public.

These, my friends, are pocket parks, not the little bit of land next to a building on the outskirts of town. The others are still parks, but I don’t consider them vest pocket parks or pocket parks. If you disagree, I would love to hear your thoughts. Most of all, if you find any, please send me their locations. I am concentrating on New York City right now, but I plan on expanding once I write the most excellent and authoritative guide on pocket parks in New York City.

Kickstarter Promotion Ending Soon

This is to let you know I am still taking donations for my Pocket Parks of NYC project, even if it does not get funded through Kickstarter.com this time. To donate to this most excellent project, please hit the PayPal  button to the right. Your donation will go to train fare, copy fees, postage, researchers - all of the costs necessary in the writing stage of this innovative guide to free resting spaces in NYC (and later, the world!). If you have not seen the video on the Kickstarter.com site, please view it at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/writerobrien/pocket-parks-of-nyc before August 1st, 2011.

Thank you again to all of my supporters. 

Update #5: Deadline approacheth. Tell thy friends!

I just tweeted that 66 pledges of $15 each would get me to my goal in time. Can you blast and retweet this to everyone you know? I am exploring having NYC school children making my project THEIR project by giving them community service hours, speaking to their school, even teaching them about writing.

I've approached the school district and they haven't laughed ... yet. No response, but I don't hear any laughter.

I am also planning on making this an app for smartphones and perhaps moving the entire book to Kindles and Nooks to start. An ebook is less expensive and can then be published in print later on.

Regardless, I need your pledges and your friends' pledges and your great Uncle Henry's pledges to continue, so spread the word. Help me locate and write about every pocket park, every urban plaza and every community garden in New York City. After NYC, who knows? These babies are EVERYWHERE!

Thank you for your support.

Pocket Parks of NYC: http://kck.st/lpf5OY

Rosemary

Where did they come from?

In 1965, Mayoral candidate, John Lindsay saw a need to spruce up the city a bit. He suggested that New York City create “vest pocket parks” or “adventure playgrounds.” Later, when he was elected Mayor of New York City, he implemented his ideas and helped created the first vest pocket parks in the city. According to an essay on the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Park Commissioner, Thomas P.F. Hoving encouragee their use for public events aided him by bring various events to the parks. He even banned cars in Central Park on Sundays. In 1967, the city completed 10 vest pocket parks in vacant city lots equal to or smaller than one-quarter acre.

The very first pocket park was created at 65 W. 128th by Reverend Linnette C. Williamson of  Christ Community Church of Harlem. She was instrumental in developing this pocket park and it was later dedicated in her honor.

Here is one I discovered near 6th Ave. It is right outside an apartment building on 29th St.

Update #2: Public Plaza at 6th and 29th

Posted 1 day ago

This weekend, I went into Manhattan to find pocket parks. What I came away with is even better. I discovered public plazas that are technically pocket parks in that they sit between buildings, but they have no name. The one at 6th and 29th even has a movie screen. During the summer, they have screenings for the general public.

The second photo is of the public plaza on 26th by 6th Ave. It has much more seating than you can see here as well as a little cafe. When I called the management company to find out its name, they answered me as if I had two heads (until I got someone without an attitude). :) Gotta love New York!

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If you have any leads, please let me know. I have until August 1st to fund this project or it's dead, at least on Kickstarter. And if you visit a pocket park in NYC, a public plaza or even a city park, I would love it if you sent me pictures and your impressions of the space.

Thank you in advance for taking an interest. Go to http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/writerobrien/pocket-parks-of-nyc/posts to help me fund my project. It has to be fully-funded by August 1st or it will get cancelled. If you hate parks, tell your friends, but really, who hates a good park in the middle of the city?

Thank you.