Long Island City windy Wednesday afternoon linkage

I wish the playground area wasn’t so big. The large open grass space was terrific!

This is a disgrace. Why didn’t the rip up the strip park on 48th and put this there? the open lawn was beautiful and now it full of swings and crap.

Goodbye peace and quiet while sitting or laying out while taking in our amazing view. Hello countless screaming kids ruining it.

6, it’s not only single people. I’ve got kids myself and hate the new plans. There are enough places for children to run around and play. It’s much rarer in NYC to reserve open space for quiet, passive use. What a travesty.

The beautiful open grass area was great but LIC does not have enough playgrounds. We live in a dense city where we need to make room for everybody. Those who are against sharing a park with a group that has no rights (children) are being selfish.

Also, there are definitely not “enough places for children to run around and play” (number 6) unless you like to have your children run in the street. Creative communal play areas for children are important and taken for granted in the suburbs and “good” neighborhoods in NYC. The rest of the state park, while it isn’t green, still is available for passive use.

Another suggestion for a great open space is Socrates Sculpture Park.

Wait, a have a better one: the Falafel King! Wouldn’t that be fabulous?

9, what’s wrong with playing in the street? Generations of NY’ers have played in the streets and have grown up to be clever, resourceful independent people — unlike the clingy kids with ADHD and peanut allergies you see so much today.

The city has lost something in the process: its guts and sense of uniqueness from the ‘burbs, where so many of the newer residents have come from. Our neighborhood used to be alive with kids’ playing stickball, skoonie, bottlecaps, red rover and all other kinds of games away from their parents’ constant surveillance. We’re raising a generation of privileged, pampered little wimps.

LIC already has tons of playgrounds – there are three within two blocks of the waterfront. Where is this shortage of parks coming from? What there is a shortage of is open space. This is a travesty.

They already have a playground a block away. Not sure why they need two.

I have kids and hate taking away the open space for a playground here. Adults appreciated it so much more than kids, who, if you have kids will know, are happy to play in a cardboard box. Not that I’m saying that’s the option–just, kids don’t really care. Us adults, the ones paying the bills and killing ourselves at work need things too–like that peaceful and tranquil open space. I have kids but hate the attitude of \my little precious deserves only the best\. Give me back my park.

#20 what about the strip park on 48th, or the shady park on 47th. Don’t those count? Sitting on a pier is nice, but that like saying you can replace lounging central park by setting up a few lounge chairs in times square. And kids don’t know how to play in an open field? You have to have swings and slides to play?

#21. The strip park is only for basketball or handball. Unfortunately, it is a terrible place and not a community amenity. Shady Park has been in LIC forever.

The open green space is not being eliminated. So, yes, kids would be able to play in an open field. And, as I said, most of the park is already open. All of the piers are open space.

Your question “you have to have swings and slides to play” would be like my asking “you have to have grass to sit on the ground”. There is enough space here for everybody and children have always been ignored in LIC. Giving them a safe and fun place that is integrated into the larger park will only add to our community.

Wow. This is crazy how everybody is reacting. Please keep in mind that this playground will only be a small fraction of the whole state park. The “Blue Park” is only a temporary playground that will be taken down once they start expanding to the south. If you look at all the pans for Hunters Point South you will see that there will be plenty of open space for everyone and if you look at what is being planned for the north you will find the same. Maybe right now the playground might not seem like a good idea but in a few years I am sure many will think differently.

#13-#16 I am sure that your mother did not let you play in the street unsupervised when you were 3, 4, 5 or 6 years old. So let’s cut the “pampered kid” accusations, it is only common sense that children need safe places to play. Why shouldn’t we be able to have a nice playground in the waterfront? I am sure we will have a dog run in the waterfront sooner rather than later.

26 is right. Don’t break up the great expanse of lawn. You can stick ugly kiddie parks in less prominent parts of the park where they would spoil the effect of having a large, uninterrupted open space.

25, actually, I was left unsupervised at the ages you mention. All of us were. By today’s standards, I think my mother and the other women of LIC would be thrown in jail or had their children taken from them. I never felt in danger and I think a lot of the perceived dangers parents agonize over are in their own heads.

Let’s not be extreme. I think what people are saying is that there are four parks within blocks of this new park. As a result you are not being forced to make a decision to play in the streets. Why ruin the only open space in LIC with another kiddie park? Especially when that area was suitable for adult or child use. It’s a very bad idea.

“(brick-oven pizza comes to mind, we don’t have any here)” LOL. Or maybe Asian-Latin fusion.

I’m tired too. I can’t remember when I’ve done so much commuting (nearest translation-HB).
I want to apologize for Gordo’s tactlessness-after all there was a time when there was no grass at all along the river and we all had to hang around Gracie Mansion. Now we are grateful to have these new rest areas, especially since something so awful moved into Gracie Mansion.
But we must look at the bright side. We will have a smaller bathroom, but perhaps the human children will stop chasing us around.
And I will ask everybody not to poop on the humans. You get so cruel and nasty. It’s sad.
(trans. by Honky Boy)

I mean if we were eagles you would make a big fuss over us. Fall all over each other to feed us your goldfish or whatever you raise in your water-prisons, and get your picture taken like we’re friends. We know all about the bald eagles and how pathetic they are, but they’re your little bush-soul. That’s what you think anyway. If only you knew how they despise you. They don’t like being your symbol because your country sucks. That’s why you hunt us, by the way, because we’re Canadian. Well, screw you, too.
(translated by Honky Boy)
PS. We were trying to get out of the way of that stupid airplane. We lost Timoa. No miracle landing for him, just an ugly surprise.
We almost lost Aplis, our elder.

Gordo, wouldn’t you have to be a falcon to have any real fuss made over you here in LIC? Just judging from past posts.

Love your post #13! Ah, the fond memories of playing in front of the open fire hydrants in the summertime. You used to be able to get a special attachment for the water to spray like a sprinkler, and waste less water.

Oh, and back in the day, it was actually safer to play in the street near one’s building rather than the local playground. That’s where the pervs and addicts hung out.

Just to clear up any confusion, Gordo doesn’t dislike eagles, he dislikes the USA, which you all stole from the Indians, or Native Americans, whatever. Then you killed most of them and adopted the bald eagle as your mascot. Of course the eagle was revered by all native Americans as well. So Gordo thinks you double-suck as miserable hypocrites. Sorry, that’s the unvarnished translation. I’m just telling you what they mean. If it hurts a little, I apologize, but perhaps somehow it will prove therapeutic.
If it makes you feel any better, the geese don’t care for what the Kings and Quacks did to Canada either, okay?