Gantry Plaza State Park is situated near the East River in Long Island City. It is large territory which includes four pierces. Besides, you can find here in the Park wonderful views. Walking in the Park you can see Empire State Building, Manhattan skyline both of which are situated on the opposite side of the river. There are many benches where you can sit, read books or just relax.
It is a good place for children, teenagers because there are many places for different sports activities such as basketball courts and other in the park. The park is good for walking, riding a bicycle, jogging. There is also the place for concerts in summer and spring seasons.
Space in the park is different from spaces inside buildings of the house where I live, of the college where I have classes. The park is pretty spacious, there is no noise and it allows me to feel free, to feel that I have here some personal space. Also, I feel pretty secured in this place. I know that there are some rules which can prevent violations of personal boundaries.
I like this park because here I can improve my mood. Here I can forget about my problems. Also, I feel that when I observe river, nature in the park, enjoy beautiful views in the park my anxiety, negative thoughts and adverse emotional states such as aggression, frustration, sadness begin to decrease.
The spaces in the park inspire me to forget about my problems and look at surrounding world more philosophically, more globally. The beauty of this park also plays a significant role for me. The beauty of this place makes me feel better and brings me aesthetical satisfaction.
Generally, I experience positive emotions being in the park. It is not surprising that I feel satisfaction when I`m in this place because the park has most of that features (described in the book) which can increase the satisfaction of people. It is walkable, beautiful, green, natural, with access to many opportunities for different activities etc.
According to the classification of Donald Appleyard, there are several ways of watching in public places. When I walk or recreate in the Gantry State Plaza Park I tend to look at objects and people in the park in a responsive manner, mode. I just observe surrounding objects and people passively and gain some sensory experience.
Urban parks such as Gantry Plaza State Park give people opportunity to spend their time more actively, interestingly, effectively. For example, conditions, an organization of the park encourage people to walk and spend more time outdoors, to be more physically active, to be more open, etc. So such places where people have different opportunities encourage people to lead a healthy lifestyle.
This park is the place where I can walk alone when I need some privacy or meet with my friends and hang out. To some extent, this place encourages people to communicate with each other to find new acquaintances because people who go to the park are that one who recreate. I mean that people here forget about their work, they are not in a hurry and they are not busy. People come to the park to have rest and that is the reason why a park is a good place for social interactions and communications.
Four words to describe Gantry Plaza State Park are “open”, “interesting”, “safe” and “welcoming”.
I like places like this one because here I can be in the role of a friend; I can be an athlete and a person who prefer healthy lifestyle in the park. For me, the park is a happy medium of city`s benefits and the psychological comfort of small villages. On the one hand, there are many opportunities for spending time interestingly and actively. On the other hand, here you can find calmness, peacefulness. This place is pretty quiet but it is not so quiet to be bored here. There also some stimulation can be found.
This park meets many of guidelines proposed by Brower. For example, Brower indicates that it is important to make places must be attractive for adults as well as for teens and children, in public places there must be reduced a number of cars, there must be activities to do and places to be, etc. Therefore, I think that Gantry Plaza Park meets many of these standards.
The park supports democratic values. For example, people of different social-economical classes, from different cultures, of a different ethnicity can come to the park and spend their time here. People in the park are free to choose those activities which they like. Many people who cannot afford themselves to visit gyms, fitness-club can jog, ride bicycle and other in the park. Or people who don`t have spaces in their houses for basketball courts and other can come here and enjoy different activities.
However, there also some rules in the park. These rules are maintained to prevent violations of rights of other people. For example, it is prohibited to walk with animals in the park or to make barbecue here, because such activities can lead to pollution of the territory in the park.
The park is the reflection of that authority of the city care about needs, a physical and psychological health of its citizens; that city is created and built for its residence, for people who live here.
Conclusions
Gantry Plaza State Park is a pleasant urban space which is construed and designed to bring people psychological satisfaction, to give residents of the city the opportunity to recreate – actively or passively. This place meets standards of effective neighborhoods, public places, parks indicated by spatial psychologists in their guidelines and theories.
