Tompkins Square Park
Tompkins Square Park | |
---|---|
Type | public |
Location | Alphabet City/East Village, Manhattan, New York City |
Coordinates | 40°43′35″N 73°58′54″W / 40.72639°N 73.98167°W |
Area | 10.5 acres (4.2 ha) |
Created | 1834 |
Operated by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
Open | 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. |
Status | Open all year |
Public transit access | Subway: to First Avenue station |
Tompkins Square Park is a 10.5-acre (4.2 ha) public
History
19th century
Tompkins Square Park is located on land near the East River, that originally consisted of salt marsh and open tidal meadows, "Stuyvesant meadows", the largest such ecosystem on Manhattan island,[1] but has since been filled in.[2] The unimproved site, lightly taxed by the city as most agricultural properties were, seemed scarcely worth the expense of improving to its owners, the Stuyvesants, who inherited it from the 17th-century grant awarded to Peter Stuyvesant, and their Pell and Fish relatives. The City aldermen, to raise the tax base of the city, accepted a gift of land in 1829 from Peter Gerard Stuyvesant (1778–1847) with the understanding that it would remain a public space,[3] and compensated other owners with $62,000 in city funds to set aside a residential square; transforming the muddy site took another $22,000 before Tompkins Square was opened in 1834.[4] Surrounded by a cast-iron fence the following year[5] and planted with trees, the square was expected to have a prosperous and genteel future,[6] which was undercut, however, by the Panic of 1837 that brought the city's expansion to a halt.[7]
Tompkins Square Park is named for Daniel D. Tompkins (1774–1825), Vice President of the United States under President James Monroe and the Governor of New York from 1807 until 1817. He had overseen some early drainage in the locality in connection with minor fortifications in the War of 1812. The park was opened in 1850.[8]
In 1857, immigrants protesting unemployment and food shortages were attacked by police. In 1863 the deadly
On January 13, 1874, the
In 1877, 5,000 people fought with the National Guard when a crowd gathered at the park to hear Communist revolutionary speeches.[8]
On April 7, 1897, a
20th century
In the middle 19th century the "Square" included a large parade ground for drilling the
By the 1980s, the park had become for many New Yorkers synonymous with the city's increased social problems. The park at that time was a high-crime area that contained encampments of homeless people, and it was a center for illegal drug dealing and heroin use.
In August 1988, a
The park had become a symbol of the problems in the city, including homelessness—which had prompted the 1988 riot.
Further clashes occurred during May Day festivities of 1990, the culmination of a "Resist 2 Exist" Festival, which featured notable local acts and artists.[20] 29 protesters were arrested and 25 charged with felony charges.[21]
From June 3, 1991 to July 25, 1992, the park was closed to the public for restoration, but also to keep out the homeless and in attempt to calm tensions.[22] The Tompkins Square Park Bandshell, a key feature of the park, was one of the first targets of these renovations.[23]
21st century
Increasing gentrification in the East Village during the 1990s and 2000s, and enforcement of a park curfew and the eviction of homeless people have changed the character of Tompkins Square Park.[24] As noted above, the park was closed and refurbished in 1991 and reopened in 1992.[24] Today, with its playgrounds and basketball courts, dog run, ping pong table, handball courts, and built-in outdoor chess tables, the park attracts young families, students and seniors and tourists from all over the globe.[25] Since the 1980s, the asphalt that covers the multi-purpose courts at Tompkins Square Park has served as a skatepark and training grounds for multiple generations of skateboarders.[26]
Events
The outdoor
There is also an annual event in early August commemorating the 1988 Police Riot that features neighborhood bands.[28]
The Food Not Bombs Manhattan chapter serves every Sunday in the park, rain or shine.[29]
Fauna and flora
The park contains a number of elm trees. One of these, known as the Hare Krishna Tree, for its association with the 1966 founding of the Krishna movement in the United States.[33]
Some Uncommon flora found in the park include the palms Sabal Minor and Sabal Louisiana, and Yuccas.[citation needed]
Recreational facilities
Playgrounds
The main playground, closest to Avenue A, features jungle gyms, rock climbing features, and a water fountain flush with the ground. There is a large sandbox, swing sets, and benches. There are two smaller playgrounds in the section of the park near 7th Street and Avenue B. The main playground reopened in August 2009 after a year-long renovation.[34]
Multi-purpose courts
Skateboarding training facility
Since the 1980s, the
Turfing controversy
In 2019, the Parks Department announced plans to cover over the asphalt lot in the park's northwest corner with synthetic turf by 2020.[38] Skateboarders have protested this plan, with TF local Adam Zhu starting an online petition that garnered over 30,000 signatures.[38] Zhu and others in the TF community planned a rally to support saving the historic skating grounds.[41] Zhu worked with Steve Rodriguez, Carlina Rivera, Mitchell Silver, Supreme, and others to bring awareness to the turfing controversy.[42] On Friday September 6, 2019, one day before the rally was set to take place, the Parks Department announced that they intend to keep the asphalt, scrapping plans to put down synthetic turf.[43] As a result of the skateboarding community organizing, the asphalt in the multi-purpose courts will not be disturbed.[43][44]
Tompkins Square Dog Run
The Tompkins Square Dog Run
For 32 years, the run hosted the annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade to raise money for its own maintenance. The event claimed to be the biggest dog Halloween party in the United States, boasting an annual attendance of more than 400 dogs in costume and 2,000 spectators.[48] The parade was canceled indefinitely in 2023 because of logistical issues and permitting costs.[49]
Monuments
The park contains three monuments. There is a monument in the north side of the park to the
Indian
The southeast corner of the park contains a statue of
The
Transportation
The First Avenue station is located around four blocks (0.4 miles) away from Tompkins Square Park.
See also
References
Notes
- ^ Eric W. Sanderson, Mannahatta: A Natural History of New York City, 2009: map p. 127.
- ^ Hassell, Malve Von Hassell (1996). Homesteading in New York City, 1978–1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida. Bergin & Garvey. p. 39.
- ^ "History of Tompkins Square". CurbsideMedia.org. Archived from the original on May 23, 2020.
Two years later another gift of Stuyvesant created Stuyvesant Square.
- ^ "Tompkins Square, opening—$2264.60" still appears in The New-York Annual Register 1837:340.
- ^ "Tompkins Square—opening (balance)—$36,718.35, Tompkins Square—filling and fencing—$3575" appear in The New-York Annual Register 1835:308.
- ^ Edwin G. Burrows and Mike Wallace, Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898, 1999:579
- ^ Carolyn Ratcliffe (Lower East Side Preservation Institute) "The thin green line: a timeline of the Lower East Side—Tompkins Square area"
- ^ a b c Strausbaugh, John (September 14, 2007). "Paths of Resistance in the East Village". The New York Times. Retrieved August 25, 2008.
- ^ Gordon, Michael Allen (1993). The Orange Riots: Irish Political Violence in New York City, 1870–1871. Cornell University Press. p. 203.
- ^ Johnson, Marilynn S. (2003). Street Justice: A History of Political Violence in New York City. Beacon Press. pp. 30–31.
- ^ Gutman, Herbert G. "The Tompkins square 'Riot' in New York City on January 13, 1874: A re-examination of its causes and its aftermath". Labor History6:1 (1965) p. 44
- ^ Wallace, Michael; Burrows, Edwin G., Gotham: A History of New York City to 1898 (Oxford University Press USA, 1998) p.1024
- ^ "Hebrew Festival Marred". The New York Times. April 8, 1897. Retrieved March 5, 2010.
- ^ McFadden, Robert (August 7, 1988). "Park Curfew Protest Erupts Into a Battle And 38 Are Injured". The New York Times. Sec. B, p. 3, Col. 6; Metropolitan Desk.
- ^ Perez-Rivas, Manuel (August 8, 1988). "Koch Suspends Park Curfew Following bloody clash in Tompkins Square". Newsday. p. 5.
- ^ Smith, RJ (August 23, 1988). "Message in a Bottle: Homesteaders Rock the Lower East Side". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 4, 2007.
- ^ a b Purdum, Todd (August 14, 1988). "Melee in Tompkins Sq. Park: Violence and Its Provocation". The New York Times. p. A1.
- ^ Lee, Tien-Shun (June 23–29, 2004). "Psychiatrist: Rakowitz 'excited' recalling grisly stew". The Villager. Vol. 74, no. 8. Archived from the original on September 28, 2004.
- ^ Lee, Tien-Shun (June 16–22, 2004). "Butcher of Tompkins Sq.' hopes to gain his release". The Villager. Vol. 73, no. 7. Archived from the original on November 5, 2004.
- ^ Weinberg, Bill (2004). Tompkins Square Park: Legacy of Rebellion. A Century and a Half of Protest & Resistance on New York’s Lower East Side. Ithaca, NY: Autumn Leaves. pp. 30–1.
- ^ PEOPLE v. TOLIA. 214 A.D.2d 57 (1995) Accessed online: https://www.leagle.com/decision/1995271214ad2d571262
- ^ Hassell, Malve Von Hassell (1996). Homesteading in New York City, 1978–1993: The Divided Heart of Loisaida. Bergin & Garvey. p. 44.
- ^ Weinberg, Bill (2008). Tompkins Square Park: Legacy of Rebellion. A Century and a Half of Protest & Resistance on New York’s Lower East Side. Ithaca, NY: Autumn Leaves. p. 32.
- ^ a b Park History
- ^ a b "Films on the Green: Claire's Knee". New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ a b "Save The Tompkins Square Park Asphalt". Quartersnacks.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "New Village Music Festival". Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ "Memo From Manhattan: The Tompkins Square Park Riot | OUPblog". Blog.oup.com. August 6, 1988. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Foods Not Bombs website
- ^ "Films on the Green". Cultural Services of the French Embassy. New York, New York. Retrieved July 12, 2009.
- ^ New York City Parks Department, plaque
- ^ "Hare Krishna Tree". on WikiMapia
- ^ "Tompkins Square Park Highlights - Hare Krishna Tree : NYC Parks". www.nycgovparks.org. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
- ^ Bartle, Harry (September 1, 2009). "New Tompkins Square playground is an overdue hit". The Villager. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ jasonoliva (September 27, 2007). "237: Jeremy Henderson The Godfather of NYC skatebarding 1989 Thompkins square park contest, photos by I Ching. Shut Skates NYC Rodney Smith fills us in". The House of Steam. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ "Away Days Team Tour NYC". TransWorld SKATEboarding. September 24, 2016. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ a b c Manskar, Noah (July 2, 2019). "Tompkins Square Park Turf War Pits Skateboarders Against City". East Village, NY Patch. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ Skateboarding, N. Y. (September 10, 2017). "Alien Workshop – Yaje Popson Tompkins Deck (2017)". NYSkateboarding.com. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ^ Manning, Emily (April 3, 2017). "big dreams, bigger talent: meet skateboarder tyshawn jones". I-D. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ^ "#TFREPORT: Tompkins Square Park Is Saved". Quartersnacks.com. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
- ^ a b Pereira, Sydney (September 6, 2019). "Tompkins Square Park Skate Spot Saved, Officials Say". East Village, NY Patch. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ^ "Save the pavement! Tompkins skaters fight turf plan". The Villager. July 12, 2019. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ^ "Tompkins Square Dog Run". Tompkins Square Dog Run. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ McKinley, Jesse (October 15, 1995) "Dog Run Culture" The New York Times; accessed August 15, 2008.
- ^ a b Dog run history
- ^ "Halloween Parade — Tompkins Square Dog Run". Tompkinssquaredogrun.com. Retrieved June 9, 2014.
- ^ Gonella, Catalina (September 28, 2023). "Parade on paws: Permitting snafu sinks beloved Tompkins Square Halloween dog festival". Gothamist. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ New York City Department of Parks & Recreation. Slocum memorial.
- ^ "Tompkins Square Park Hare Krishna Tree". New York City Department of Parks & Recreation.
- ^ "Samuel Sullivan Cox". Biographical Directory of the US Congress.
Further reading
- Paul DeRienzo (August 6, 1988). "Tompkins Square Park, the 'Police Riot' Tape Timeline". An archive of the radio station WBAI.
- "Stranger to the System: Life Portraits of a New York City Homeless Community". Curbside Media. A documentary chronicling the lives of twenty people living in Tompkins Square.