Alan Gerson

Petrosino Square to Expand Into Lafayette Street

Alan Gerson extolls the value of using underutilized traffic lanes for park space, with Friends of Petrosino Square founder Georgette Fleischer, Parks Borough Commissioner Bill Castro and CB 2 Chair Brad Hoylman

By Brad Aaron

2:45 PM EDT on June 12, 2008

Manhattan Community Board 2 member Ian Dutton reports that this morning city officials held a groundbreaking for the renovation of Petrosino Square. As part of the project, the square, which lies on Lafayette Street between Kenmare and Spring, will be expanded, as one of Lafayette’s two southbound travel lanes will be turned into park space. Writes Dutton:

Interestingly, the loudest round of applause from the crowd of local residents, many elderly Italian citizens, appeared to come during [Council Member] Alan Gerson’s remarks regarding freeing up useless road space on Lafayette St. for community use. “Today is an historic day as we transfer a lane of pavement to more space for an expanded park — space for the people who appreciate the neighborhood and space for public art.”
Though long-time Little Italy residents might not appreciate the impact of crowd- and traffic-attracting street festivals, the value of
proper use of public space hasn’t been completely lost on this audience.

Photo: Ian Dutton

Brad Aaron

Brad Aaron began writing for Streetsblog in 2007, after years as a reporter, editor, and publisher in the alternative weekly business. Brad adopted New York's dysfunctional traffic justice system as his primary beat for Streetsblog. He lives in Manhattan.