The Trust for Public Land will present its preferred plan for Southpoint Park Thursday night (December 9) at 7:00 in a public meeting in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd.

In public meetings and a survey aimed at discovering public preferences for the park, TPL found that commercial elements were generally rejected, and most presenting their views favored the plan known as "Wild Gardens / Green Rooms." A "village crescent with commercial rental space" and th ree floors of speculative rental space "received the highest 'don't want this' rating," according to Charles McKinney, the project director for TPL.

McKinney and Andy Stone, the City program director for TPL, said that two-thirds of those who selected a favorite plan chose the Wild Gardens plan over two others. McKinney told The WIRE on Thursday, "There was a clearly expressed preference for a park that did not feel planned and that would be unique. Wild Gardens / Green Rooms will intrigue all generations like a fantasy novel."

In a letter to members of an advisory committee, Stone and McKinney wrote that the FDR memorial designed by Louis Kahn received the third highest "don't want this" rating, "described as too much 'concrete' and as 'blocking the view.'" They also reported that the stabilized Renwick Ruin and the "scale of adaptive reuse is the area of greatest ambiguity and bears further exploration." They continued, "If proposals emerge for other uses consistent with the Wild Gardens / Green Rooms design, such as a conference center, these can be explored."

In their letter, Stone and McKinney said, "The Sloping Lawn for performances is thought by the most people to be an element that would improve the economy and cultural vitality of Roosevelt Island. A close second is the stabilized Renwick ruin either with gardens, café and performance space incorporated into the stone structure," or in a four-story glass building within the ruin.

They reported that the components most often rated among the top five priorities were:

. Stabilized ruin with café / performance space

. Perimeter path with waterfront overlooks

. Gatehouse visitor center

. Winter landscape and ice skating

. Boat dock

The final plan is posted at http://www.markkmorrison.com/roosevelt.

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