Straus Square Pedestrian Plaza Gains New Seating
One year after the city sealed off Straus Square to vehicular traffic, the pedestrian plaza is taking shape.
It’s not just the planters and sandy pavement holding court. A half-dozen concrete barriers were repurposed as seating placements for the public. Each is colored with art.
In the meantime, there is still no sign of the previously mentioned “cycling amenity” for the community – a shed and bike repair shop functioning under the banner of Bike New York’s “Recycle-a-Bicycle” program.
As discussed, the ultimate goal of the nascent pedestrian plaza is connecting Straus Square to Seward Park, the oldest municipal playground in the country. In effect, annexing the traffic triangle and incorporating it as part of a unified park. The project was made possible due to $6.4 million in grant money awarded to Seward Park as part of the “Parks Without Borders” program.
Perhaps this seating arrangement will prove more popular to the locals who tend to shoot the shit around the Straus Square obelisk.
These benchworks are just waiting for the skateboard community to grind. Let’s see how long it takes.
Recent Stories
Electeds Behind ‘Save Our Storefronts Act’ Tour LES Small Businesses
Since last spring, the coronavirus pandemic has laid waste to countless small businesses around the city, with many more barely treading water. Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and State Senator Brad Holyman are looking to change that. The two elected officials visited Lower East Side stores Wednesday in an effort to promote the Save Our Storefronts Act. […]
The Meatball Shop Sues Jersey Shore’s Snooki and Deena over Merch
Jersey Shore alums Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi and Deena Cortese are in hot sauce this week for a line of “Meatball”-related merch. The Meatball Shop filed a lawsuit against the duo, alleging trademark infringement, according to TMZ. The legal papers also claim that Polizzi and Cortese lifted the restaurant’s merchandise for use on their “Team Meatball” […]
Dr Smood Shutters LES Outpost After 3 Years
Three years later, the Dr Smood organic cafe on the Lower East Side is flatlined. Readers relayed that the neon signs hanging inside 181 East Houston Street were deposed yesterday, along with the writing on the windows. The light housings now sit discarded. When reached for comment, a spokesperson stated only that, “sadly [the cafe] […]
Stanton Street 99-Cent Pizzeria Robbed Before Thanksgiving
Another commercial robbery in Hell Square. Last week, just before Thanksgiving, the 99-cent pizzeria at 105 Stanton Street fell victim. Police say that two men busted through the front door and stole money from the cash register ($1,400) as well as an electronic bicycle (valued at $2,400). Both individuals were seen fleeing eastbound on Stanton Street […]
Running for Chinatown Amidst a Pandemic (Again)
For the second time since spring, one Chinatown native is literally stepping up to help the community. Leland Yu, the 28-year-old member of the Chinese Freemasons Athletic Club, returns to the pavement this Saturday for his 12-hour “Run for Chinatown.” The last time around, he clocked an astonishing 61.2 miles, and raised over $18,000. Yu […]
