Lessons from NYC's Bryant Park must guide JWJ Park redesign

[thelakelander]

Lessons from NYC’s Bryant Park must guide James Weldon Johnson Park’s redesign.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/lessons-from-bryant-park-must-guide-jwj-park-redesign/

[LadyBugJax]

The same author wrote a similar article in 2014: 
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/mobile/article/2014-oct-hemming-plaza-vs-nycs-bryant-park-a-tale-of-two-parks

For anyone interested in learning more, there is a very good book, "Lessons from Bryant Park; Revitalizing Cities, Towns and Public Spaces" by Andrew Manshel, who worked at Bryant Park and Prospect Park in Brooklyn. 

Project in Public Spaces, 2008. 
https://www.pps.org/article/mgmtbryantpark

[jaxlongtimer]

Ken Bowen makes great points.  Not only are his ideas worthwhile, but likely less expensive to implement and maintain.  Jax is always looking for that "statement" project, overlooking that sometimes the simpler things work best.  A soothing or oasis space should not be overly complex, forcing the senses to take in too much.  Not mentioned, reducing intrusive noise should also be part of a park plan.  In the heart of Downtown, this is what is needed as a respite from the bustle (well, maybe, one day  ) of the surrounding areas.

I might add that Ken's advocacy for a multipurpose lawn needs to be repeated on a much larger scale along the riverfront.  Jax needs a high profile spot with a scenic backdrop that can accommodate events for tens of thousands of people like we did for the 2005 Super Bowl here.  All such spaces from that time (the old JEA power plant site on the Southbank and the Shipyards on the Northbank) are designated for development today and/or are planned to be scaled down substantially.

FYI, also not mentioned in the article is that there is a restaurant and outdoor eating plaza abutting Bryant park and the merry-go-round.