Restroom facilities at Thomas Jefferson Park with directions in English and Spanish on 3/29/2017 at 4PM. (Credit: Demi Moore)
Though a decently short train ride away from what I have grown to call home, East Harlem sits just outside my vision of the geospatial landscape that is Manhattan. I have been able to realize, that there is so much left to learn when it comes to observing the limited amount of green spaces in New York City. It was at the George Washington Carver NYCHA Houses and Thomas Jefferson Park that I came to terms with what it means to be more spatially aware and cognizant of how greatly levels of interaction amongst individuals and the environment can differ.
Signage posted on both the fence and lawn of the George Washington Carver Houses distinguishing the grounds as New York City Housing Authority property. (Credit: Demi Moore)
On the Sunday afternoon of March 19th at 3PM, I took the streets that mirror the border of what I know to be the area termed the “Upper East Side” and East Harlem. Although the George Washington Carver houses unfold over the course of three short blocks, I chose to hone in on on 99th St. and Madison Ave. to be more detail-oriented. The grounds had still been recovering from snow that had fallen a week prior, but I managed to make out some key features such as its park benches, minor shrubbery, and newspaper/magazine bins highlighting content in both English and Spanish. NYCHA campuses are usually scarcely decorated, and the Carver Houses are no different. This development is situated between an array of Mt. Sinai buildings and a branch of the Metro North railroad.
The entryway to the housing unit as part of the Carver Houses with four benches and fenced off shrubbery. (Credit: Demi Moore)
For the thirty minutes I spent observing, I witnessed a handful of adult-aged people board express service buses and frequent the surrounding the Mt. Sinai complex. Aside from the sound of Madison Ave. traffic, there was little to do when it came to the sidewalks and areas that encompass the areas in close proximity to the Carver Houses. Most of the NYCHA developments I’ve seen in passing look relatively the same—lacking elaborate details such as window treatments and aesthetics that truly beautify the space. It is possible that the lull of the campus could have been attributed to the cold weather, but I suspect that the design of what is supposed to be a space for relaxation in front of the houses is largely to blame. The four benches that are intended to act as complements to the “greenery” face the street and a blocky edifice belonging to Mt. Sinai. In theory, the benches act as a place of rest and relaxation, but in practice, they rarely serve their purpose. If they had been built to overlook the lawn of the NYCHA campus, people would probably be more inclined to stop there instead of just making their way into and out of their apartments. Not a single person was using the bench to talk to neighbors, enjoy the weather, or observe the outdoors. Everyone around the apartment looked as if they were destined to go somewhere else.
Bins featuring FREE magazines and newspapers in both English and Spanish on the corner of 99th Street and Madison Ave. (Credit: Demi Moore)
Signage displayed on a Thomas Jefferson Park fence on 3/29/2017 at 4PM. (Credit: Demi Moore)
My trip to Thomas Jefferson Park proved to be quite different. On Wednesday, March 29th at 4PM, I witnessed a range of children and adults at play, thrilled to be enjoying relatively warm weather. An array of athletes ran up and down the expanse of the recreational fields that the park has to offer while others relished in the shade of a path that fed into the playground and other places to rest. Restroom facilities with both English and Spanish directions and a facilities building sat adjacent to the main path next to the runner’s track. Thomas Jefferson park welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds to take a break, walk their dogs, and exercise in groups. There is room for individuals to act as a community and participate in recreational activities that benefit a healthy lifestyle.
Park bench facing the runner’s track and soccer field in Thomas Jefferson Park. (Credit: Demi Moore)
Thomas Jefferson Park has an abundance of benches that face the playground, track, baseball field, and walkways alongside the Harlem River. It seems as though the park serves to reorient East Harlem residents who may grow accustomed to the city life that does not always allow for people to get involved with the outdoors. It brings life to the urban ecosystem. On the other hand, the George Washington Carver houses place park benches right outside the apartment entrance and face streets with traffic. There is no real sense of community that can be felt by parking oneself on the cusp of a street riddled with car traffic. The opportunity to engage with the environment is not entirely present at this specific NYCHA campus. Though I recognize that I observed a park and a housing unit, I believe that having features that highlight access to green space is a critical element that is necessary to establish community.
Children enjoying an afternoon of play in the playground jungle gym area of Thomas Jefferson Park on 3/29/2017 at 4PM. (Credit: Demi Moore)
I would like to imagine that this fieldwork inspired me think more critically about my surroundings. For the first time in about two years, I sat on a park bench and pondered. The city is more than a grid of interworking systems, it is a place that brings and gives life to places in many different forms and many different ways. To at least acknowledge them is to learn something about myself and others.
