This report on the Greenway Conservancy community meeting is contributed by Diane Valle. The meeting took place at the Aquarium Learning Lab at the Harbor Garage on September 29, 2010.
Nancy Brennan, RFKGC Executive Director introduced a three month feasibility study to site a proposed, new, custom-designed carousel on The Greenway. The existing carousel is a pilot, rental, to see how popular it would be. It has been a success:
2009 77,000 rode the carousel (x $3.00 = $231,000)
2010 Attendance on track
The Boston Foundation has presented to The RFKGC a “remarkable donor” who lives in the Metro Boston area, with the “simple desire to make children happy,” reported Nancy Brennan. “She provided the money to finish a feasibility study. If the feasibility study is positive, she will step up to $1M contribution.”
Issues for the feasibility study include
- Site location/ design
- Budget
- Fundraising/capital cost
Money is needed for the construction and installation of the carousel, as well as site modification, landscaping which is symbiotic, winterizing, etc. The expectation is $1.5M+ for the project.
The current carousel was described as “generic.” Nancy Brennan described the opportunity to have a “Boston only carousel, to make children happy in one of America’s foremost urban parks.”
In October, Ms. Brennan plans to go to “our customers and clients: “four elementary schools”, to ask elementary school children “What would you like?” “What will you imagine?” It will take one year for design and installation; two years in total with permitting.
Linda Jonash, RFKGC, was introduced, and presented the carousel team:
- Architecture/ Deign : Utile, Inc.
http://www.utiledesign.com/projects-featured
(Sample work: Broad Street Crossroads Initiative)
- Landscape Design: Reed Hilderbrand
http://www.reedhilderbrand.com/
(Sample Work: Central Wharf Plaza)
- Engineering: SGH VHB
- Carousel Design: Jeffrey Briggs, designer/carver
http://www.briggssculpture.com/detroitcarousel.html
(Sample Work: Detroit River Conservancy carousel designed with river theme)
Gary Hilderbrand described various carousel settings:
- The National Mall, Washington, DC
- Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
- Bryant Park, NYC
- Florence, Italy
- Paris, France
He further discussed the effects on The Greenway: “The meander,” The promenade”, the views and family-friendly zones.
Linda Jonash reviewed site location, with description by Utile, Inc including the criteria: physical space, circulation, views and scale. Parcel 14 and 16 were presented as the most desirable sites, with Parcel 14 as the most desirable.
The carousel design includes a 17’ radius/ 34’ diameter, with a 4’ buffer zone circle, plus a 10’ viewing zone circle for a total of a 72’ diameter circle.
Ms. Brennan invited public feedback at carousel@rosekennedygreenway.org.
Questions from those present included requests for:
- a natural shade area for the viewing zone
- free carousel ride
- landscaping around the carousel rather than the existing police barricades
- restrooms needed in the vicinity
- signage to direct the public to restrooms
- the desire to maintain greenspace
- not “overpaving” The Greenway
- keeping the carousel in the zone where there is food, cold drink, other kid-friendly activities
- the need for quiet greenspace.
There was a request to consider moving the carousel to another location such as Central Wharf Park by the Aquarium or Christopher Columbus Park.
A discussion followed about winterizing strategies, dates of operation and use, as well as permanence and cost. The carousel use is a six month proposal because there will be no heat. The Conservancy staff plans to research heavy use times, claiming the first year was the “first year” and this year is impacted by a construction site adjacent.
Funny how things change. Back when the Greenway parcels were first being discussed, everyone in the NE Waterfront area opposed haviing a carousel in the Greenway. Are they planning it for the same parcel? If the answer is a different location, please don't say Parcel X, since that means nothing to me or anyone who has not been intimately involved with the Greenway.
Where are they going to get the extra million from for this project? Where are they getting the $ to pay for a high priced Director of Development that they are looking to hire?
The $1M+ donation is from an anonymous donor, directed from The Boston Foundation, according to Nancy Brennan, RFKGC.
Personally, I think it is absurb. At present there is a carousel that makes The Greenway money annually, and is maintained and removed in the winter by the company that owns it. Adding a custom-designed, Boston-themed carousel owned and operated by the RFGC is a boondoggle.
How about investing part of the $5.4M budget into horticulture?
The Greenway is underwhelming, and a disappointment.
For a $1M+ investment in plants, planters, and four-season horticultural color, people would come from near and far to enjoy the beautiful Greenway. At present, it is a parking lot for The Conservancy's money-wasting operations, to benefit themselves.
There is no community involvement: is it exclusion? apathy? disgust?
Whatever it is, it reflects on the failure of The Conservancy.
Boston deserves so much more.
IfiF THIS CAROSEL DEAL CONTINUES , WHICH DOES NOT FILL ME WITH EXCITEMENT, WHY NOT AT LEAST HAVE SOME ONE LOOKNG AROUND FOR A ACTUAL PERIOD MERRY GO ROUND, HOBBY HORSES ETC, REMEMBER ( WHITE CITY ) IN WORCESTER . THOSE WERE HORSES. .SOME WHERE THER IS A SAD CAROSEL LOOKING TO BE SPIFFED UP AND RIDE AGAIN
A donor wants to donate for a carousel…
How much will it cost to maintain annually? How much will an employee(s) with benefits cost to run it? How much is insurance? What happens to it in the winter? How much will The Conservancy charge children?
Are there any donors for flowers? plants?
I have visited many parks through out the US where they had custom made carousel and it seemed to have a positive impact. If there were 77,000 riders in 2009, it tells me that this is a good value added to the greenway. Keep up the good work and don't get discouraged by these negative comments. These people just see the world from one lens.