Washington Square Park Struggle Continues
Unless neighborhood activists decide to lie down in front of the bulldozers, [Manhattan L.P.] will be celebrating its latest acquisition very soon: Washington Square Park. Thats because a [Supreme Court judge dismissed a suit](http://www.openwsp.com/DecisionEAS_Dec3_07.pdf) filed against the city by the [activists ](http://www.preservewashingtonsquarepark.com)who oppose a controversial [redesign](http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/videos.php) of the park yesterday. The petitioners had hoped to stall the city by forcing it to conduct a lengthy environmental impact study of the project.
After its victory, Manhattan L.P. said construction will begin this month. Whether youre a fan of New York, Big Box Edition, or not, that means three-years of a largely closed park for everyone – neighborhood, chainsaw jugglers, dogwalkers and [oregano-sellers alike].
If the renaming of what is now called [Tisch Fountain] is any indication of the shape the [iconic gathering spot](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Square_Park) will take in the near future, doomsayers visions of a privatized, sanitized park will be realized.
Photo by David Shankbone