In my April 24 letter (“Treat Flushing Meadows with respect”), I stated that this park is the most abused and neglected of any major park in the city. In the May 22 TimesLedger issue, city Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe took issue with me (“Parks Commissioner provides update”).
Benepe's argument is that over the past 13 years, more that $422 million has been invested in the park, but it does not describe what has been accomplished. All or most of that money was spent on a plethora of structures alien to urban park use, things that would and should never be permitted in Central, Bronx or Prospect parks.
Therein lies the difference between the undersigned and Benepe. Urban parks represent a respite from congestion and places where people can picnic and derive pleasure from passive use. They should be spared having to be surrounded by structures that do not belong in park settings. Stadiums and the other structures in the park do not belong in an urban park.
Benepe is aware of what an urban park is about because he would never allow similar structures in any other park. It ill serves his position to claim the park is treated with respect when he knows the money he alludes to has no relevance to urban park use.
Benjamin M. Haber
Flushing
