Following the splashy announcement of media mogul Barry Diller's plans to finance a $170 million park at Manhattan's Pier 54, a New York Times column renews the call for more equity in open space around New York City.
A column by David Callahan examines a recent trend in American cities, most notably, perhaps, in New York City, of ultra-wealthy philanthropists developing parks in neighborhoods frequented by the ultra-wealthy. Callahan writes: "While it’s hard to argue with more parks, or the generosity of donors like Mr. Diller, this isn’t just about new patches of green. It’s more evidence of how a hollowed-out public sector is losing its critical role, and how private wealth is taking the wheel and having a growing say over basic parts of American life."
The column goes on to detail some of the effects of New York's stark divide between the haves and the have-nots when it comes to neighborhood access to parks around New York City. The column also concludes by calling for private parks conservancies to contribute funds for the rehabilitation of parks in low-income parts of the city.
FULL STORY: The Billionaires’ Park
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