Street benches: A necessary amenity or just an attraction for street people?
Plainfield has come down on both sides of this issue. One can point to the eighty benches with "City of Plainfield" logos purchased in another administration, or to the recent removal of seating at Park & Seventh. On an empty lot downtown, the city and some volunteers created a pocket park with shrubbery and benches, but now, I'm told, benches have been removed from Library Park.
The current flash point for this debate is the peninsula, where some feel benches will be the final touch after new lighting and landscaping, while others predict an influx of ill-behaved sitters who will mar the tranquility of the small oasis at Park and Ninth.
San Francisco has struggled with this dichotomy and is now leaning toward the pro-bench philosophy. See article here.
Plainfield certainly has its own contingent of homeless, who socialize and even take care of personal functions outside. As a pedestrian, I may see more of them than people in cars and I must admit it is annoying to have to break through a bunch of street people to keep walking on an errand on Park Avenue. Now that the Plainfield Public Library is closed for three weeks, I expect to see the regulars who spend time there to be out and about at Park & Seventh.
The city also has some agencies or places that expect people who live there to spend time out of the building. An interesting accommodation for residents of the Park Hotel was a private seating area on the residence's grounds, erected several years ago by a benefactor. The seats are screened off and allow some dignity for those who live there. But around City Hall, public benches at bus stops fill up with people who stay in a nearby shelter or single-room residence across the street.
Plainfield society has many striations and they don't necessarily mingle very often. Many neighborhoods, whether modest or affluent, are self-contained. It seems to be the business districts and public venues such as parks where the controversy over seating arises. Recent changes indicate a trend to do away with benches. If you were in charge, what would your policy be?
--Bernice
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Many benches in towns have a arm rest in the middle so a person can not sleep on it. A Good Idea ? I am not sure, but with the only public rest rooms available at City Hall when it is open, another problem has leaked into the City by the numerous persons occupying the downtown. One answer has been to brook the situation or make a tour of the shade trees pits.
ReplyDeleteBernice,
ReplyDeleteI believe there should be benches for folks to sit on in all of our public spaces. That includes library park, our downtown, and the new peninsula. I think that more benches, along with planters and nice streetscaping, will make our city an attractive place. In terms of who sits on the benches, everyone has a right to our public spaces--we cannot regulate who sits there. However, if public drinking of alcoholic beverages, urination, littering (including the pervasive cigarette and cigarillo butts), and other forms of disorderly conduct occur--which is what I think some folks are concerned about--these are enforcement items-- and it is up to public safety to take care of them. I look forward to seeing the seating at the peninsula, as well as the return of the benches in Library Park. Seating is for everyone. It is not in the city's interest to remove seating--in that case, the disorderly element will have "won." Rather, Public Works and Public Safety (with the help and input of neighborhood associations in each area) need to ensure that our public spaces are safe and attractive for everyone who lives here, regardless of whether he or she is a homeowner, a renter, or lives in that particular area.
Rebecca
My policy would be to enforce the regulations that prohibit street people from lingering in areas. I would investigate where these street people need to go, and get them there (off our streets would be my main concern, and into a place where perhaps they can be helped). What policies are in place, which ones need to be in place, and let's enforce them all.
ReplyDeleteI am constantly frustrated at how Plainfield panders to the lowest common denominator, as opposed to aspiring to the highest goals.
Do we have homeless? Yes. Does Westfield, Cranford, Clark? Let's start getting all our neighbors on board to help these people and not just have Plainfield the dumping ground for whatever Union county wants to dump here (I am not referring to the homeless here, but rather the fact that Union County does not ask of Westfield, etc what it asks of Plainfield).
Plainfield is special because of its caring and giving community. But there is a fine line between making this city a ghetto and being caring. Let's wake up, and demand better for ourselves, and demand that ALL cities share in creating a solution to this problem.
The Park and Seventh removal was not a bench to be used for the public. It was a bus station that was infested with people who had nothing better to do. It is a shame that that shelter is no longer available to people who need public transportation.
ReplyDeleteI ride my bike and walk all over town. I seldom see people sitting on public benches and monopolizing them. I like the idea of benches and have used them on occasion myself. Let the police do their job fine people for loitering who turn benches into their dialy hang-out. I think the benches should stay and this issue is very overblown.
Bob Bolmer
Taking away the benches will not solve the problem it just takes away out opportunity for us to enjoy the town we live in and the beautiful parks we have that generations of Plainfielders have enjoyed. After all this is all funded and maintained by our tax dollars, is it not? So why should we spend money to maintain them and not have the joy of using them. Why are the neighbors letting these spots be hangout if people are up to no good there, call the police and let them do their job. Downtown presents a different challenge but authorities should be taking care of these issues between the police and the city administration these issues need to be addressed! It's a blight on our city, hampers economic development and discourages shopping dowtown if residents don't feel safe. Downtown benches should be placed appropriately where needed and can be maintained to give residents a place to rest, enjoy a snack from downtown, waiting to meet friends at restaurant, or just taking a look at what's left of our once magnificent dowtown architecture. In residential neighborhoods and parks we should be able to relax on a Long dog walk, take a break as kids play in the parks, or just enjoy being outside on a nice day. So keep the benchs so we all don't lose out on their positive benefit and keep the few from ruining it for us all. Figure out how to address the problem areas and then come up with a plan to maintain them. Removing the benches takes the easy way out but doesn't really address the real issue they will still loiter around or move elsewhere.
ReplyDeletemore benches - however the type of bench (discourages laying down and sleeping) and location - congregating at them would not block pedestrian traffic and having trash bins near by are important
ReplyDeleteI agree with Rebecca and Liam. Make many, many more benches available -- with armrests, if necessary, to take care of any bench sleeping.
ReplyDeleteEveryone deserves to be able to spend time in the fresh air. It's a quality of life factor for every being. Removing them hurts us all.
The police can "discourage" illegal loiterers, or perhaps some compassionate persons have helpful ideas for places to congregate legally.
Rebecca said it best, the right to sit outside belongs to all and making sure seating sites stay safe for all belongs to all of us.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the benches for Library Park:
How a good number of benches got dislodged from their permanent base is a mystery to me, perhaps the metal screws are to blame since metal is now being stolen from public places. Regardless on how the benches got dislodged the problem was all the litter that people were leaving behind at the benches' "new sites". Add to the litter the fact that the benches were being placed under trees which soil is already badly compacted, these are the two issues I raised awhile back to a city official. Why couldn't the benches be placed back into their permanent concrete base? Another mystery to me, but this is where citizens can help by contacting their representatives an find out why the benches were removed and not secured and advocate for the return of the benches if that is how you feel.
What is more, Library Park needs strong advocates that secure better care for the park, that organize regular clean ups and that help find monetary funds to bring back the beauty of this park and the health of the few remaining trees. More trees are needed at the park and if you look at old pictures of the park you will see that the trees had at their bases planted evergreens (most likely azaleas, rhododendros and mountain laurels). Just imagine the beauty!
As a last note:
A good number of people complain about who sits at Library Park (or anywhere), but when is the last time you saw any of the people complaining about who sits there using the park? I have been thinking for a long while that we should make Library Park a hub for recreational activities for all ages, from low impact exercise classes -think tai chi- to summer recreational activities -think dancing classes, PG movies for the kids and perhaps short shows-. The city could also allow one or two food vendors (ice cream, bagels, hot dogs?) to come during most of the year's weekends -limited hours of course-. All these combined would make Library Park more inviting to folks that are afraid to set a foot at the park, or at least that is what I think.
I pretty much look forward to see Library Park get better, don't you?
Maria Pellum
Maria, the Tai Chi suggestion is excellent!!
DeleteThe following are just some of the benefits for our Elderly population.
I emphasize this aspect because there is a senior home a few blocks away.
Many seniors and senior care facilities have been enjoying this style of workout and conditioning for more than 20 years. Here are 12 benefits of Tai Chi for seniors:
Relieves physical affects of stress
Promotes deep breathing
Reduces bone loss in menopausal women
Improves lower body and leg strength
Helps with arthritis pain
Reduces blood pressure
Requires mind and body integration through mental imagery
Accumulates energy by releasing endorphins rather than depleting it
Enhances mental capacity and concentration
Improves balance and stability by strengthening ankles and knees
Promotes faster recovery from strokes and heart attacks
Improves conditions of Alzheimer’s, Multiple Sclerosis, and Parkinson’s
I need the benches. Where would I sit to drink my alcohol and smoke my weed and pee
ReplyDeleteI will agree that city benches are open for all we just have to look at who is actually taking advantage of those spaces. I don't know of many myself included who walks around the city and would enjoy stopping to observe the scenery for any length of time. It seems that a small portion of our great city is allowed to dictate an dominate the terms of quality of life issues with no regard to the vast majority of the residents of our city who wish to change and erase this stigma. We are all at blame for this situation because those of us who want better have the ability to vote. The excuse that Its useless is just that an excuse. If all the concerned parties came out to vote be you white, black, Indian ,Latino or whatever you identify with, for the right persons our situation would change. If you say only certain persons are allowed to run then ALL must organize and unite behind the right people. This can't be for one election nor for one or two people it has to be a concerted constant effort.
ReplyDeleteDorien Hurtt