New York Times: The Gates in Central Park

The New York Times > Arts > An Appraisal: Billowy Gift to New York: a 23-Mile Saffron Ribbon

The New York Times might rave about the gates in Central Park. I just say they look like huge orange pilons with a little bit of fabric.

The stands look like they are forcing people to walk underneath them on the path. So it would seem if you put up metal frames and attach some funky orange tent canvas to them that people will stay on the paths and off the wintering grass. Perhaps this was the idea of the Central Park big wigs who want to save the grass in Central Park.

True their are some pretty spots of these "gates" in areas, but mostly the bright orange colour stands out like a sore thumb and blocks the views of some of the buildings that surround central park. These same buildings provide a great opportunity for pictures to show nature within one of the world's most populous cities.

I say this is a big waste of $20 million. But at least it didn't come out of my pocket as a taxpayer of New York City, because at least the artists took it upon themselves to fund the "artistry" themselves. To this I say, thank goodness the hardworking city taxpayer was not fleeced.