Lubaba Abbas Kazmi
Sunday, March 10, 2019
Union Square Reflection
A place, food smells, surrounding neighborhoods and the sense of space can tell a lot about the place and who lives, works or visits there. Place and identity are bound to one another as people shape the place where they belong, and the place also effects their individuality. Different narratives are held from the memories of those spaces. Sometimes identity and place are so tightly connected that it is difficult to separate them.
For a class activity we went to Union Square and chose a spot for ourselves where we sat down individually to observe the surroundings and make a circulation map.
The park captures the city’s diversity and has an overwhelming yet calming energy. It was a cold yet busy day. Public spaces, such as this one, are of utmost importance, they provide multiple opportunities to come together and engage with a community.
From where I was sitting, I noticed that people were mostly crossing the park to go to the other end instead of coming inside. Most of the people inside were dog walkers, were talking on the phone or eating, maybe because it was lunch break time. This really gave a sense of the place especially the city life. Everyone was minding their own business, following their routine. Even the dog walkers looked like they didn’t have enough time for this and took their dogs out just for the sake of it. While on the other hand, there were some who would walk according to the speed and direction of their dog which I think is fascinating but also the right way.
This can be challenged as the park does give a sense of the city life but also has a certain calmness to it. The park wasn’t crowded. To change the movement of people, the walking space can be reduced so everyone walks in a straight line especially the dog walkers who were strolling around. Since most people were just crossing the park to go to the other side, the pathway can be blocked to ensure that people only enter the park when they want to and not to just cross or get to the other side.
