GARDENS, WATERFRONT, CROWD FLOWS

On certain days large flows of people coalesce around certain geographies.  Today, July 18, it was strange to traverse entire streches of green space dense with pedestrian and kinetic activity.  Governors Island was packed with boat after aboat  of crowds milling onto the island on bikes, skates, walking, running, kayaking.  The Hudson River Park Greenway was packed with waterfront users and the area around the HIGHLINE was dense with activities- people enjoying the city amidst gardens.  Three different kinds of garden logics: the island, the waterfront and the train tracks are harnessed in one bike ride from the Meat Packing district to Governors Island on a weekday.  The emergence of Manhattan and its environs as a diverse garden city is a new experience whose goals are rooted in Mayor Michael Bloomberg's PlanNYC2030 imperative of a park for every New Yorker.  At this point, many New Yorkers live too far away from adequate green space,  children in particular. The move to green the streets, sidewalks and roofs, create micro green spaces on window sills and fire escapes, and slowly transform the macadam of New York into green habitats is reminiscent of the brilliant little gardens in LOISAIDA.  It is gradually transforming NYC.