As the only memorial dedicated to a former president, the Four Freedoms Park celebrates the freedoms that President Roosevelt considered essential in safeguarding the human freedom all over the world. These freedoms are the freedom of speech and expression, freedom of wanting, freedom of worship, and freedom from fear. The Park is on a four-acre piece of land on Roosevelt Island in an urban space within the City of New York. It is carefully developed landscape presents an atmosphere that is similar to that of an antique sanctuary grounds. The design of the park resembles an arrowhead appearing to divide the waters of the East River, and this aspect are most conspicuous when one views the plaza from the southern part of the Roosevelt Island. One of the most attractive aspects of the part is the bronze carving of the Late President Roosevelt, and the four freedoms that are engraved on the side of the sculpture that is facing south. The position of the sculpture is at the entrance of the open plaza of sandstone and appears to be standing sentinel in the building hosting the United Nations across the East River. The sculpture has platforms that enable visitors to take a seat and read the four famous speeches, which are inscribed on the bust. Accordingly, the attractive granite blocks that seem to surround the temple-like chamber are precisely on the same level, with a small space between the blocks. The idea to face the sculpture towards the United Nations seems to receive inspiration from the fact that people consider President Roosevelt as the chief architect of the United Nations given that the planning of the U.N. began at some stage during his tenure as the President of the United States. At the entrance of the Park, there are few copper beach trees and walkway lines with trees flank the subsequent lawn inside the park. Once in the park, visitors have free access to the Park’s website through a wireless connection on their internet-enabled devices to enable them learn more about the history of the park as well as the achievements of President Roosevelt regarding the four freedoms.
It is enlightening to know that the plan to construct a monument for the purposes of commemorating the four essential freedoms that Franklin Delano Roosevelt advocated for during his presidency was formulated four decades ago, yet the idea came to fruition only. Notably, the surrounding area of the park does not have any new buildings being constructed and the only structure in sight is the remains of an 1845 building that I have come to learn housed a smallpox hospital centuries ago. The fact that the site of the monument and the surrounding area is in a prime position and there is no construction of new buildings means that there must be some kind of restriction on building construction around the Park. However, the apparent preservation of the ruins belonging to ancient structures seems to provide a perfect setting that gives the impression of a cleansing atmosphere of the Park. The presence of a seemingly cleansing ambiance, prods one to begin realizing the majestic progression towards the profound vision of the United Nation, which seeks to achieve a peaceful future way from the conflict and suffering that affect virtually all countries. As such, the impression created by the ruins and the imposing Park reveals some level of optimism thereby generating a feeling of redemption for the City of New York and the chaotic world in general.
Ultimately, knowing about the four freedoms by President Roosevelt provides one with knowledge, but a visit to the Four Freedoms Park provides a completely new and unforgettable experience because one is able to relieve the work of the former President. After the a visit to the park there is a depressing feeling because although the vision of President Roosevelt regarding the formation of the United Nations became a reality several decades ago, the same has largely failed to achieve sustainable peace around the world as evidenced by recurring conflicts among nations such as the long-standing conflict between Israel and Palestine. Nevertheless, it is obvious that similar to the imposing Park, the United Nations has become a revered institution whose main objective is to maintain peace through economic and cultural means throughout the world. Consequently, like the way the plan of the park outlived the renowned architect Louis Kahn, the ideology of the institution is well-grounded to outlive everyone for the benefit of future generations. Ultimately, the intention of the designers and creators of the Park was to enlighten the visitors about the origin of the United Nation and the key freedoms that it seeks to achieve for every country. The only bias that the park seems to propagate is its overemphasis on President Roosevelt, rather than the purpose for which the monument serves or could serve towards addressing existing conflicts. As such, the monument only seems to portray the past while offering nothing tangible regarding offering solutions to conflicts given the never-ending wrangles based on cultural, economic, and military differences.
Work Cited
“The Four Freedoms”. Four Freedoms Park Conservancy. 2016. 13 Jun. 2016.
http://www.fdrfourfreedomspark.org/overview/
