Non-Parrot News: The Destruction of Washington Square Park

Community activist Sharon Woolums performs "When They Tore Down Washington Square Park"

I spend so much time in Brooklyn tracking wild parrots that I rarely set foot in Manhattan, the borough where I was born and spent most of my life. So I was shocked when I visited Washington Square Park recently and saw the rampant destruction visited upon it by bulldozers and tree cutters. More than 28 old-growth trees have already been felled, graves have been dug up, the storied fountain has been destroyed (and will be rebuilt with a 45-foot water spray device that will be loud enough to drown out musicians), and the path of destruction has only just begun. Soon a tall fence will be constructed around the park, further restricting access to rare green space in downtown Manhattan.

How did this happen? Why did what once a vital activist community roll over and let powerful interests "privatize" what was once the cultural heart of Greenwich Village? Here lies a story of intrigue and backroom political deals, and I learned enough about it to produce a song and video starring community activist Sharon Woolums, who fought in vain for three years to save Washington Square Park.

So please enjoy When They Tore Down Washington Square Park, recorded at The Monk Bunker, Brooklyn, NY.