Comments on: Long Island City windy Wednesday afternoon linkage

By: Honky Boy

Honky Boy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:12:00 +0000

Sorry, that’s Queens, not Quacks.

By: Honky Boy

Honky Boy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:10:58 +0000

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?

By: NYC Native

NYC Native — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:25:14 +0000

Forgot to give a shout out to Gordo and Rosie. Funniest postings in a long time. Thanks for the much needed humor to give readers a bit of perspective.

Good luck with those damned eagles! Nasty birds.

By: NYC Native

NYC Native — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 19:19:57 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:19:41 +0000

“48th ave. is awful and not at all for the children.”

Huh? Even the playground section of it?

By: Gordo the Goose

Gordo the Goose — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 03:20:14 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 00:28:35 +0000

It’s about time the kids got a nice park.

Shady park is nice but too small for the population of children in the area.

48th ave. is awful and not at all for the children.

The ball field is nice, but it’s for sports.

I only wish they would put lots of trees.

By: Rosie the Goose

Rosie the Goose — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:33:46 +0000

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)

By: Gordo the Goose

Gordo the Goose — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:17:34 +0000

We have a different perspective because we get around by flying. We have never used the bathrooms at the south end. Sometimes we don’t even land first. But flying is hard, let me tell you. You try it, okay? I mean, gravity’s a bitch.
So, when my homeys and I are traversing the continent, we like to make a few stops along the way, and this is one of them.
We know why they are doing this. It’s not because they love children. It’s because they hate nature.
You can all start using parasols because we’ll be back next year.
(thanks to Honky Boy for translation)

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:45:18 +0000

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

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 20:32:10 +0000

I hate the new kids playground too. I was a huge fan of that beautiful open green lawn. Of which we have nothing like it anywhere in LIC. Why is it they build something beautiful and just ruin it with bad planning? I have no faith in anything that Rockrose is a part of. They have no great minds there… just mediocre and reactionary planning. I’m still irritated that they’re putting a brokerage there instead of another nice restaurant. (brick-oven pizza comes to mind, we don’t have any here) And now they ruined the park. And expect the concession stand to be mediocre food for exorbitant prices.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:35:05 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:19:39 +0000

#27 great idea let 4 & 5 year olds play in the street. I am sure a lot more kids were killed by cars back in the day, but that is okay because nothing toughens up a kid like being hit by a car. Ridiculous.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 19:14:00 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:42:01 +0000

We had a beautiful open space and now we don’t. The worst is that this kiddie park is smack in the middle of the open space. Central Park, which I think most will say was brilliantly designed, has lots of kiddie play areas–off to the sides and mostly out of sight of the rest of the park.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 18:05:59 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 17:02:31 +0000

Ok I guess we can set up blankets and have a picnic on the concrete walkways. No point in debating it. What’s done it done, I just think its a stupid idea to convert space that was usable by kids and adults alike into a playground for kids only. In a city where there is no open space, open space is much more valuable. This was our equivalent of the great lawn. Now we will have some schoolyard which within 2 years will look like hell. I also forgot about Old Hickory Park.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:49:32 +0000

#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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:43:09 +0000

21, don’t you know about the hazards of grass and the dangerous bacteria harbored in it? And what about the dangers of latex in rubber kick balls to immune systems of our kids? And what happens if those poor defenseless children don’t wear their head gear and get hit with that ball? No, sir — grass fields are a peril to our children and must be banned.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 16:30:03 +0000

#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?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:32:55 +0000

I also grew up in NYC and took the public bus at age 10. I also played in the local schoolyard (ringolivo, stickball, basketball) starting around 8 without supervision. But prior to age 8, kids need supervision and a playground, not a street.

Also, there is plenty of open space. All of the piers are open space. The playgrounds for kids are not big enough for the hundreds of families that have moved into the neighborhood. I have been here for 20 years and we only one new playground (the very small one at the southern edge of the park).

Unfortunately, this is typically American. We look for our own self-interest even if others are suffering. The sense of community and the greater good has little meaning to those who believe that they are suffering. I would have hoped for greater understanding and sensitivity from my neighbors who live in LIC.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:24:52 +0000

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.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:24:04 +0000

It has become an article of faith among urban planners to include ticky-tacky, post stamp-sized “play areas” with surfaces designed to make it impossible to abrade your knee, less some hysterical parent will sue, call the local news network, rail at a community board meeting about alleged public health hazards, or clog up 911 on their energency calls. It sucks.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:15:58 +0000

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

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 15:12:39 +0000

14, just the fact that you come back with that reply shows how out of touch we’ve become. I’m not talking about anything extraordinary here, for crying out loud.

Trust me, kids played in the street and parents left them alone. I’m here as living proof that it’s possible, and I didn’t get flashed, abducted, poisoned, run over by a speeding truck, or get lured into a life of crime in the process.

To answer your question, I walked –alone, SHOCK! –three blocks to school at St. Mary’s.