Whyte and Me

Can you draw any relations between Whyte Chapter 5 and your observations?

Yes.

Madison Square Park is an ideal public space. I think that a large part of the reason for that is the lack of stairs. The space is even and very flat. This makes it particularly good for constituents who often have difficulty in public spaces such as - handicapped people, bikers, skaters, rollerskaters, senior citizens and large groups of children. There are no unusual sunken stairs that move people away from the space. The architects who created the space were assistants to Olmstead and I think that many of the successful spatial elements of central park are compactly apparent at Madison Square Park. With its open seating- I always feel safe, aware of my surroundings and always comfortable enough to feel social. The landscaping provides just enough green to feel like you are in an oasis yet within walking distance of your job. The new public arts initiative in the park is also successful because it thinks of the park as a whole, while catering to its various constituents. The space is well thought out.