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Building a new park on an old one in Jamaica Plain
By adamg on Wed, 09/29/2010 - 8:51pm
The JPVoice takes us on a tour of the newly renovated and re-opened South Street Mall.
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Comments
I'm relatively new to JP --
I'm relatively new to JP -- can anyone tell me why this matters at all? It's a tennis court that we can use maybe 1.5 seasons of the year. Was it really so bad before? I just don't get it.
south street mall
It is not a huge story, but it is nice to have a comfortable space to relax. That area was dimly lit and a gathering spot for homeless and I believe, persons with mental illness and addictions. It became a mildly uncomfortable place to wait for the 39 bus at night. There was a rancorous debate about this on the neighbors for neighbors website. The story said it was a three year project, I think the physical work on the courts/mall began last summer. Probably it was a few years in the planning.
I still don't get it. I LOVE
I still don't get it. I LOVE Centre Street, but why would anyone wanna hang out here ever? A place to wait for the bus is one thing -- couldn't this money have been better spent elsewhere?
I think the curved fence
I think the curved fence looks terrible.
to each his own, its one of
to each his own, its one of the things I like best about this park.... alot of it is kinda hokey, as i would expect of a boston public park, but the fence is kinda neat. I think its better in person than these photos can show
Sigh
Already two articles on this blog dedicated to a small patch of space... and still more bitching because the fence wasn't built in a straight line. So provincial...
Yes, it's just my opinion,
Yes, it's just my opinion, and others are certainly entitled to theirs.
To me, it looks like a temporary fence that's about to fall down. Then again, I've been walking past it as the park has progressed, so maybe I'm having a hard time looking at it without still seeing the construction equipment next to it. It's strikes me as the chain-link version of a jersey barrier.
What passes itself off as art
What passes itself off as art these days is depressing. Who picks these things?
The 'park.' It's an old gas
The 'park.' It's an old gas station lot. It looks about the same as before, except now there's a funny fence.
I hope that chain like fence is made of free trade steel.
JP was in an uproar over the fence
Tempers were calmed when they were assured that it is, in fact, gluten-free.
I believe you've captured JP
I believe you've captured JP in a nut (free) shell.
How is this park an
How is this park an improvement? They cut down mature trees and put in a few spindly sticks and expanded the sidewalk. And lord knows the white folks don't like to see anyone who isn't exactly like them sitting around anywhere for too long, so they made sure this new one has nowhere for anyone to sit. Those ugly people were bringing down the property values! I guess curvy chain link fencing is an improvement over regular chain link, though I can't say why myself.
Whit
I really like the new park
A lot of people I know are upset that the old park was demolished. What was to like about the old park? Dark and ugly. Creepy benches. Graffiti. I actually USE the new park, and so do lots of people. I hardly ever saw anyone use the old park.
Rhea
Something could have been
Something could have been done to keep those trees. The notion that trees can look "ratty" or that they only last thirty years (they were not bradford pears, trees that barely meet the requirements of tree-ness and do not live more than thirty years)or that they make things "dark" is non-sensical. The new park is hot and bright and covered in concrete, which to me makes it a sidewalk and not a park. I suppose a hobo could shamble through it, but I can't think what good it would do him or anyone else for that matter to do so. But I have to say that if Rhea thinks it's OK, I am seriously willing to try to like it. Hi, Rhea!
Whit
Brighter = Better mindset
At some point in recent years it was decided that shade is an abhorrent thing that has no value at all. I mean, I didn't get the memo, but it's hard to avoid the effects of such a change in thinking.
It's on full display in the vast expanses of concrete and grass on the Greenway. Most of the trees are positioned so they'll eventually offer shade to the speeding traffic on either side. The idea is that every inch of space should be filled with as much sunlight as possible at all times. Trees should not offer shade, buildings should never block the sun on an inch of ground for so much as a moment on any day, in any month, in any season.
To the smarty pants who know so much
How many of the critics actually live near the spot? The only thing the original park had going for it were the trees. Supposedly the trees were not to stand much longer. The mature trees were looking ratty though whether they were nearing the end of the lives is another question.
But the remaining block of space was an area which was gritty and dirty and boring as pocket parks are concerned. (To call this a mall is puffery but this is Boston.)
Now at least it is clean, open, has interesting lighting with in-ground lights. The purple curvy fence looks silly but at least it's not a blockade style of fence which it replaced.
The park can still be used by any active alcoholics or homeless folks who meander through. But at least it gives them a nicer space.
Don't know whether rebuilding the tennis-basketball courts was structurely needed or whether this was an aesthetic issue.
This little pocket park is pleasant, clean, and supports the feeling of a village that makes JP a good neighborhood.
Hello
Hello MovingforwardorBackward, whoever you are. Smarty pants? If you were standing in front of me right now I would respond by sticking my tongue out at you and pulling your pigtails. Why don't you go suck on your juice box back in the playground and stop calling people mean names. Again, "smarty pants". Like, really? Smarty pants? Of all the taunts to chose! Anyhoo, thanks for the larf.
Whit