I just finished reading this article in the NY Times, about a woman who enforces, with dogged determinism, the private nature of Gramercy Park in Manhattan. The park, about tow acres, is in an odd private/public limbo, and controlled by a board of trustees, who, as far as I can tell, hates anything fun.

It seems that the park used to be part of a farm, until 1831, when its owners donated it to New York City on the grounds that it not be used for commercial enterprise. How the park went from city-owned land to a semi-private limbo that now requires a residence facing the park to gain access, I do not know. But one thing is certain: we can debate the comparative merits of "paving a park" to increase the city's net total of basketball courts, but at least we'll wind up with a facility that everyone can use, rather than Gramercy Park, which is open only to a select few, while everyone else stands outside and gazes longingly in.

Enjoy our parks because we can. Have a good weekend.