Quote:
Originally Posted by Keith P.
I seem to recall that there were several ambitious plans to re-do various things in Point Pleasant that were unveiled a couple of years after Juan. I also seem to recall that the (wait for it) Friends of Point Pleasant Park fiercely opposed them. I do not believe anything at all has been done.
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There was actually an international design competition and there were multiple proposals created by firms specializing in revitalizing outdoor public space like Point Pleasant. Predictably, a conservative plan was chosen and then watered down (the Friends know better than to follow the advice of professional landscape architects and the like). Supposedly the park was to "naturally regenerate" itself, i.e. remain as a Nagasaki-style moonscape for a decade or more. I tend to think that one of the unspoken features of the "plan" was that it would not attract people and traffic from other parts of the city -- Point Pleasant, as ugly as most of it was, could at least still mostly remain a playground for South Enders.
There was a nice plan for the North Common too but not much seems to have been done about that and the oval was not part of it. There was yet another nice plan for the Grade Parade but the best features have not been implemented. The recent addition of the arch again was not planned for and goes against the earlier goal of having an open event space.
On top of this there are all the DOA streetscape plans.
The one bright spot I think is the Public Gardens and, before that, the Victoria Park (Robbie Burns) square. That square is much nicer than what was there before.
Maybe the public space in front of the library will also be decent. Or maybe the "Friends of the Library Shrubs and Grass Berm" will make sure that the new $60M building remains hidden behind some bushes, recycling bins, and a gravel path.