A rendering of the redesign for Playground 89. More renderings here.
At a meeting on Thursday night, a Community Board 7 committee will revisit its controversial decision to recommend that Crafts on Columbus be shut down, and plans will be revealed to restructure three playgrounds.
The parks committee meeting is being held at Goddard Riverside Community Center, which is located at 593 Columbus Avenue around 88th Street. It starts at 6:30 p.m. and the crafts fair discussion is expected to start around 8 p.m.
The crafts fair on Columbus Avenue has been held from 77th to 81st street for 34 years, but the committee asked the city to shut it down after this year. A recent uproar has forced the committee to reconsider that vote.
In addition, parents have been agitating for changes to Playground 89 adjacent to PS 166 on West 89th street, but preservationists have argued that it should be maintained as is. Children have been injured on the playground’s cobblestones, and the parks department had pledged to smooth the playground out, but those changes have been delayed several times. The new plans for a redesign will also be discussed at the meeting.
The Central Park Conservancy will also be presenting plans for redesigns to the Adventure Playground on 67th street just North of Tavern on the Green and a playground on the East side at 72nd. The conservancy’s redesign to the toddler playground just to the East of this one got mixed reviews, so it might be worth showing up to this meeting if your children use the Adventure Playground.
The full agenda is here, and posted below:
Parks & Environment Committee, Klari Neuwelt, Chairperson
Joint with the Youth, Education & Libraries Committee
Eric Shuffler and Blanche Lawton, Co-Chairpersons
THURSDAY, MAY 22, 6:30PM
At Goddard Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus Avenue at 88th Street
1. Playground 89. Presentation by the Department of Parks & Recreation on the rehabilitation of Playground 89, West 89th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues, adjacent to PS 166. Joint with the Youth, Education & Libraries Committee, Eric Shuffler and Blanche Lawton, Co-Chairpersons.
2. Central Park. Presentation by the Central Park Conservancy on the proposed rehabilitation of the East 72nd Street Adventure Playground.
3. Central Park. Update by the Central Park Conservancy proposal to rehabilitate the West 67th Street Adventure Playground.
Approximately 8:00 PM
4. Crafts Fair on Columbus Avenue. Discussion of a request for proposals by the Department of Parks & Recreation for a crafts fair on Columbus Avenue between West 77th and 81st Streets.
5. Update on committee discussions.
I will be at that meeting on Thursday. This “committee” is going to get an earful with regards to the Crafts on Columbus. If they were setting up in the front of people’s properties, I could understand the concern. As long as the AMNH doesn’t have a problem with it, I don’t see the need to close it down.
A little one fell and got a boo-boo on the wittle cobblestones? Perish the thought! Humanity should conquer and pave the entirety of nature (not that cobblestones necessarily connote nature, but you get the point)!
Here’s an earth-shattering thought: how about, instead of having all playgrounds consist of a bunch of concrete, we have our children play on GRASS? You know, so that they’re not entirely befuddled if they do end up coming across a single blade of grass or a single leaf at some point in their lives…
Agree with B.W. This is how some people earn a living! I used to show at this fair in the late 80’s early 90’s. It’s a wonderful fair with excellent crafters and why do people want to stop it? Do the rich in the neighborhood feel it devalues their property?
Go BW ! Also please report back.. The craft fair deserves to stay – and less tube sock fairs should be addressed.
Curious to know who is behind the move to renege license.
That said, Diane please lets not do the typical blame the Rich. without proof. Could easily be members of the CB or other old timers.. you don’t know.
Just tonight Webot was walking down First Avenue at 5th Street and in front of a outdoor cafe was two women (one with lying down giant dog) and other woman with a cane. blocking the rest of the sidewalk talking. everyone had to walk around them in the street. When I commented that they could easily move a few feet on the side of the cafe, they ignored me and continued to block all traffic.
So, its really individuals, not money who make this city what it is for better or worse.
Too many common people visiting outside their windows, oh no, this will no longer do, now that most anybody can afford jewelry and the best smart phones too.
This is the quality fair on the upper west side. I don’t consider a Street Fair a quality fair! Let it be!
The problem with the Crafts Fair is that it displaces the green market and the farmers lose a lot of money. We need to figure out a way to hold both the green market and the crafts fair.
Eat the crafts
Even better … Eat the Craftspeople !
Just imagine the menu:
Potted Potter !
Sauteed Sculptor !!
Jewelery-maker Jerky !!!
(with everlasting appreciation to the INCREDIBLY GREAT Stephen Sondheim, whose wonderful “A Little Priest” (Sweeney Todd) inspired this much poorer imitation.
The Farmer’s Market is moved one block to the school yard flea market. Wow, such an inconvenience for someone to walk a whole block south.
The CB should cut back on the generic street fairs that offer nothing new to the community and make traffic a nightmare on the whole UWS. There are too many of those fairs and they are full of the same flea market crap.
Flea markets are fun and have a real feeling of community. Instead get rid of the cars that pollute our air and honk their horns aggressively. Much more sensible!