What a difference a sidewalk makes

May 2, 2025 Community News, Parks

Repairing the sidewalks around the traffic triangle that is Finn Square at Franklin and Leonard was always low priority for the city, and on some level I get that, but what a difference it makes to that corner of the neighborhood! Maybe it’s also the color and energy of spring — and this glorious weather — but every time I have walked by pedestrians are actually using the sidewalks and the benches facing the subway entrance have been full.

The Department of Transportation has just about finished with the sidewalks and is now trimming the edges with Belgian block. That is their full scope of work. The Parks Department should take over to replace the arched wickets (that’s what I call them — maybe there’s a more accurate name?).

In addition, the Friends of Finn Square (who are looking for support in many ways so they can now get to work!) hopes to install more robust fencing, and once they have an estimate, will launch a campaign, said board member Patricia Markert Aakre, who has lived across the street from Finn Square since 1978.

An anonymous donor (thank you, whoever you are!!) to the Friends has provided the services of The Hort — aka the Horticultural Society of New York — to improve the landscaping and provide much needed soil and compost, which has made the garden much healthier, Patricia said.

“The locust tree at the south corner has been stalwart,” she added. “Here’s hoping it can hang on. An arborist from Parks came by to be sure they were giving it what it needed.”

“In the meantime, spring is here!”

 
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4 Comments

  1. Reader on Reade
    May 2, 2025 • 9:30 am

    A step in the right direction!

    Is there any coordinated local effort to fundraise and/or start planning to create a landscaped park space and seating around the Franklin St uptown subway entrance (I.e., in place of the asphalt just south of Gotan)? Seems like such a wasted opportunity for a wonderful community gathering space (and, thankfully, is already off limits to cars).

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  2. Don Thomas
    May 5, 2025 • 12:32 pm

    Great news for Finn Square. A more substantial fence would be a great addition!

    Another real eyesore in the neighborhood is the GreenStreet Park on the east side of 6th Avenue, between Canal and West Broadway. At one time, long ago, this little park had thriving plants and looked good. Since the fast food places opened in the adjoining building it has become a rat infested no-mans-land. It is truly disgusting. A fence here would make all the difference. There needs to be a tall fence separating the park from the building’s property, and a lower fence all around. Currently the area behind the Park is storage for the restaurant’s garbage. The trees in the are are doing very well. It is a welcome bit of shade in the Summer.

    If it could be fenced and planted with low maintenance material it could become a neighborhood asset. Perhaps the buildings across 6th Avenue could spearhead this. It would make a giant difference to their street view.

    Don. Friends of Tribeca Park

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