The Master of "POPS" Speaks Out on Zuccotti Park

Thomas Balsley has designed more Privately-Owned Public Spaces (POPS) in New York than anyone. In this op-ed he expresses his support for continuing to encourage the creation of these spaces, regardless of the ownership issues.

1 minute read

December 21, 2011, 11:00 AM PST

By Tim Halbur

"Almost 90 acres of POPS have been installed throughout the densely developed island of Manhattan, without a cent of public financing. Imagine what the city would have had to pay to acquire the land to build and then maintain even half of these!", writes Balsley.

Balsley praises the design of Zuccotti Park, site of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and talks about the balance of security and cleanliness with accessibilty and comfort:

"Putting aside the legal and constitutional issues that have been the focus of the Zuccotti debate, design really can help balance the competing imperatives of openness and order. And in fact Zuccotti Park's particular design manages this relatively well-it certainly can't be faulted for having made the recent situation any worse. In theory, if Zuccotti had been designed more as a kind of sanctuary, as opposed to a single open space, it may have been less attractive for such a large gathering."

FULL STORY: What to Do With Zuccotti Park? The Designer Behind More POPS Than Anyone Has Some Ideas

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 in The New York Observer

Land Use New York POPS Privately-Owned Public Spaces Zuccotti Park

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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