Life at Union Square

PuBlic Parks

Research &

SqUare.

Conducted AALIA Annabelle Merha Walsh

By: Andrea Charis Schnarr Tang

Development

New York City into Union

GENE RAL/ OVER VIEW

Research regarding Union Square Park was conducted with the following inquiry in mind: How can the park be made more accessible during the winter months?

Union Square — just one of New York City’s 1,700 parks — is incredibly multifaceted in the context of how it can be used. The park features a children's playground, dog park, outdoor greenmarket, and countless benches on which people can sit and observe. These services are monitored by New York City Park workers, and are open at sunrise and closed at sunset. Portions of the park are blocked off during certain months to preserve green spaces, and to minimize loitering. The Union Square MTA train station has several entrances surrounding the park, too, which makes it an immensely popular spot for commuters; in fact, it is the fourth busiest MTA station among the city‘s 472 stations. Despite the park’s myriad amenities, evidence extracted from behavioral mapping underscores the lack of use to which the park provides to visitors during the winter months.

Research was conducted in Union Square through the use of participant observation, fly-on-the-wall observation and behavioral mapping. Research was also conducted by way of verbal interviews, timelapse video footage, audio recording, analog drawings, and traditional note taking.

People encountered during the inquiry process included tourists, green market vendors, dog walkers, and general commuters in the park. A broad overview of the park’s demographics made it easy to identify patterns and themes in each interview, all of which provided a unique perspective and insights into the various ways in which the park is used/perceived.

PRIMA RY/ OB SERVA TIONS

P r e s u m e d N e w Yo r k C i t y r e s i d e n t s t e n d t o u s e Union Square merely as a means by which to access their intended destinations; the park itself is seldom the destination — during the w i n t e r, a t l e a s t . T h i s n o t i o n i s m a d e e v i d e n t i n the pace at which people walk through the park; most saunter through at the ubiquitous New Yo r k e r p a c e . Ve r y f e w l a n g u i d l y t r a i p s e t h e p a r k .

The observed foot paths of pedestrians is yet another attestation that the park is hardly a destination. Rather than circumambulating the park, individuals cut through the park by way of the pedestrian path that spans from the East side t o t h e We s t .

Studying pedestrian foot paths also revealed, to no surprise, that a large volume of people enter and exit the three accessability points that permit entry to the expansive Union Square subway station. The interaction between the park and subway users is certainly ephemeral; s u b w a y r i d e r s d o n o t l i n g e r. T h e y t e n d t o h e a d immediately to their next destination.

During the winter months, two observed demographics utilize the park space for its more inherent purpose(s):

DOG OWNERS & &

T O U R I S T S. I n s p i t e o f t h e c o l d w e a t h e r, c a n i n e o w n e r s invariably congregate at the Union Square Dog Run, a small, designated gated space for dogs/dog owners in the southwest corner of Union Square. For many owners, frequenting the dog park is an integral component of their daily routine. Their dogs require t h e p h y s i c a l a c t i v i t y, r a i n o r s h i n e .

TOURISTS , too, do not allow the unfavorable weather conditions to deter them from the

park, which to them bears a considerable degree of historical significance, as well as convenience. The North and South parameters of the park are flanked by bronze monuments of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington, both of which are attributed to 19th-century sculptor Henry Kirke Brown. Countless tourists stopped to marvel at (or, in some cases, photograph) the impressive sculptures — a facet of the park that locals tend to take for granted. A german tourist revealed in an interview that, for her, the convenience of Union Square sets it apart from other urban parks (e.g. Central Park); it is conveniently located within walking distance of myriad restaurants and prominent companies like Whole Foods, Starbucks and Barnes & Noble.

P PA AR R TT II C C II P PA AN N TT // P PR RO O FF II LL EE S S

GERMAN TOURIST WHAT BROUGHT YOU TO UNION SQUARE? I love Union Square, because times before when I was in New York and I was just walking around, and this was always like this special oasis that kind of opens up to something green and where people can have food and relax and maybe do something and have a moment of quiet and peace.

DO YOU THINK THAT THERE’S ANYTHING ABOUT THE PARK, COMING HERE IN THE WINTER, THAT YOU FIND DECEIVING ABOUT THE SPACE? Absolutely, because what I see in the park is what is in my imagination and not necessarily what the park gives you. I think that they should clean it up a little and make it a more welcoming place for everybody.

DEE & KENNEDY DO YOU COME TO UNION SQUARE OFTEN? Every so often; our offices are actually pretty close to here. It’s a nice spot to just hang out in and it’s got nice little markets that you can check out.

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT UNION SQUARE PARK DOESN’ T CURRENTLY OFFER THAT YOU WISH IT MIGHT HAVE IN THE FUTURE, LIKE ACTIVITIES OR OTHER EVENTS? Free events like communal yoga would be cool; maybe hot yoga with heaters!

PROSP ECTIV E/SOL UTION

BASED ON the observed habits and behaviors of park users, as well as verbal

interactions with those who frequent Union Square, the consensus is that the park is not being used to its full potential by all demographics during the cold, winter months.

In addition to the tumultuous weather conditions, which already deter myriad users, access to green space is strictly prohibited, which further hinders one’s ability to interact with the park for prolonged periods of time.

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SUBWAY ENTRY

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OPEN DAILY DOG PARK GREEN SPACE NEVER ACCESSIBLE

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GREEN SPACE ClOSED DURING WINTER MONTHS

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Insights engendered the possibility to visualize the potential execution of projects that would improve accessability to and use of the park during the winter months. Based on interview, it is evident that the park (during the winter months) not only lacks a strong sense of community, but also the ability to comfortably spend extended periods of time within the park. Based on tourists’ interest in spending more time galavanting in the park, a pavillion or heated igloos in which one could sit and relax would make allow for visitors to enjoy and interact with the currently blocked-off green spaces in Union Square.

Additionally, based on feedback from greenmarket farmers and regular park visitors, it would be of great benefit to implement a shielded walkway under which vendors could effectively sell their product during the winter months and consumers could participate in the greenmarket without worrying about unfavorable weather conditons such as snow or rain. A shielded walkway would also aid commuters as they traverse the park and perhaps encourage people to slow the pace at which they walk through the park, taking time to enjoy and marvel at its various amenities.

Research & Development