What Lies Within Us



A small vest pocket park in midtown Manhattan, the park was developed (and every detail considered) by the person who paid for it, William Paley, former Chairman of CBS. Mr. Paley was involved in all aspects of planning the park from its conception to the selection of just the right hot dog (which is still served at a reasonable price). Featured in William H. Whyte’s film The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces, the park is a success for several reasons.
For one, it is located directly on the street so that people are attracted to look in and enter. It has good, reasonably priced food, as well as moveable chairs and tables that let people be comfortable and have some control over where they sit. A waterfall provides a dramatic focal point and a reason to enter the park; its noise blocks out the sounds of the city and creates a sense of quiet and privacy. There's adequate shade in the summer from the trees, though they allow a beautiful dappled light to pass through their leaves.
People that PPS interviewed in the park said that they liked it because they could be "alone" in a busy city and it gave them a quiet, restful feeling. In reality, Paley Park is a quite heavily used place, but the movable chairs allow people the freedom to sit where they choose. It is also very noisy - but the noise is white noise from the waterfall.
Had breakfast at the Paris Bakery in West Palm Beach and found my chair. I have to admit it's really fun to have my own chair at the Paris Bakery. It's like having a very minimal outdoor office in a remote location that serves espresso. I bought this chair a few years ago at a party in the "dig-zone". The "dig-zone" was a name my sister Patty made up for the little neighborhood that surrounded her old office. Besieged by redevelopment and construction delays, the little shops and restaurants were very difficult to reach and patrons had to negotiate torn up sidewalks and yellow-taped off- limit areas just to get a sandwich or a cup of coffee and many people simply avoided the area. Patty helped turn things around by creating a very comical map and brochure about the "dig-zone" which she then convinced the town council to produce and distribute. After that she started organizing some street events and parties and the newspapers picked up on the story and people were curious enough to start checking out and patronizing the "dig-zone" restaurants. Now the work is completed and all that remains of the dig zone is the story and some chairs.