Fort Greene Park: Framed Views

Fort Greene Park, center

Photographed June 5, 2010

Fort Greene Park is hilly with winding and linear paths.  Its linear paths are framed with tree allees and emphasized with low walls meant for division, seating and framing.  The large sculptural finials add rhythm and break the otherwise picturesque path into smaller, more intimate and functional spaces.  The line of sunken gravel positioned between the wall and the brick pavement invites visitors to sit along the wall and look out at the large monument.  Park benches along the brick pavement accomplish the same activity.



Unfortunately not many visitors engaged this space, most chose to sunbathe on large swaths of inclined grassland with unobstructed sunlight, or gather in celebration on flat grassland with unobstructed sunlight.  A couple visitors chose a seat on a bench further along the path and a nondescript person chose to lie under the tree, but overall this space is not in heavy use.  

This space is an ideal outdoor classroom setting.  It is unappealing to recreational activity, thereby inspiring minimal distraction; it is at the peak of the park centered on a large monument, which is in tandem with academic instruction within classical and neoclassical architectural theory; and its inclusion of paved surfaces make the outdoor classroom more functional.  

As the Fort Greene neighborhood continues to make its transition to an upper middle class neighborhood this section of the park should see more use.  More school age children with more opportunities for traveling classrooms will alter the social fabric of the space.  As increased use unfolds the park should be able to include more lighting and re-design in order to increase its allure to its new visitors.