BY TEQUILA MINSKY | The consensus is: “I’m glad there is a park here.”
After all the anguish over the closing of St. Vincent’s — which is being replaced by luxury condos — an open space now finally replaces part of the triangular block that was partly occupied by a clunky building that received supplies for the hospital.
Without any fanfare, and as workmen continued making minor adjustments to park bench arm rests and the like, the new $10 million, 16,000-square-foot park, bounded by Seventh and Greenwich Aves. and W. 12th St., opened to the public on Fri., Aug. 21.
The park was built by Rudin Management — which, in partnership with Eyal Ofer’s Global Holdings, is also building the condos across the street — and will be maintained by Rudin in perpetuity. The designer was Rick Parisi of M. Paul Friedberg and Partners, who calls the park’s curvilinear design “fluid and organic.”
At midday in the new park, there is little shelter from the baking late-August sun, and at this point, the many young trees provide little shade. That didn’t seem to bother those who took in some rays or stopped for a quick rest on opening day, though. It’s expected that when the trees fill out, this problem will be lessened.
Two local men, walking their dogs on the grass in the park’s center, were promptly reprimanded by another Village resident, who informed them that it was a sitting lawn and not a dog run. A sign is obviously needed.
Thaddeus Castanis, a longtime Village resident, was pretty happy with the park.
“Something is better than nothing,” said Castanis, who remembers the Loews that was at the site.
The movie theater opened in 1921, was taken over by Loews in 1926, was shuttered in 1969, and then purchased by St. Vincent’s Hospital, which demolished it soon afterward.
“I think the fountain is nice with its colored LED lights,” he added.
During the day, water jets gush in intervals from stainless steel basins at ground level, creating a pleasant water-play environment for children and water therapy for sore adult feet.
Five 30-inch granite stones mark the park’s entrances, commemorating the work of the Sisters of Charity and St. Vincent’s Hospital.
One mom, watching her 2-year-old son, said, “I thought there would be more to the water park and that the park, in general, would have more embellishment.”
On first glance, some might say the park looks rather generic, but it’s perfectly functional.
The new greensward has curved benches providing plenty of seating that snake alongside the walkways that border the thick carpet of sod. Moveable tables are an added amenity.
Emeka Oglonna had left his workout at the nearby Equinox gym (the site of another former movie theater) to check out the new park, and commented on the hours, which are posted at the entrance.
“I think it should be a 24-hour park,” he said.
Its seasonal hours are 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. from April through October and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. from November through March.
The well-lit green space, cooled by evening breezes, was particularly inviting once the sun was down. People lay on the carpet of grass. Local resident Jim Fouratt and Councilmember Corey Johnson were spotted seated across from each other having an animated conversation.
One Village resident walked over from Sheridan Square to look for the AIDS memorial, which is part of the project, only to discover it has yet to be built. A green plywood wall now hides the memorial’s future site at the park’s western corner. The New York City AIDS Memorial is optimistically expected to be finished, according to reports, by as soon as the end of the year, but could take longer.
The memorial, which is currently being fabricated, will occupy a 1,600-square-foot area. It will sport a painted steel canopy sculpture, central granite water feature and benches designed by Brooklyn-based Studio a+i. The memorial’s granite paving will have an engraved installation designed by internationally renowned artist Jenny Holzer and containing portions of Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.”
“Our goal was to provide a serene green space for the entire community,” said Eric Rudin and William Rudin, managing partners of Rudin Development, in a statement. “Having worked with all of the stakeholders including the community, New York City Parks, the City Planning Commission and the Landmarks Preservation Commission, we believe all the families and visitors in the neighborhood will enjoy this park, and we are especially delighted to be opening it in the summer when the children can enjoy the interactive fountain.”
Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver added, “This park creates a space that connects Greenwich Village’s rich history with its flourishing present. The Village gains a beautifully landscaped community gathering place that will also offer a striking memorial to the lives lost in the AIDS epidemic.”
As of yet, the park remains unnamed, but a formal opening ceremony is planned at a later date, perhaps at which time the name will be revealed. The sign at the park’s Seventh Ave. entrance currently lists the park’s name as 76 Greenwich Ave. and says it is owned by West Village Residences LLC.
Rich Caccappolo, chairperson of Community Board 2’s Parks and Waterfront Committee, told The Villager that there would be “two openings” for the park, one after it goes through the city’s ULURP review process, which is required for the former hospital property to be converted into use as a park. Last week’s low-key opening was apparently the first of the two.
