Yes, it is pretty hideous. The sign. What sign? THIS sign.
This… thing… showed up today at the Parkside Avenue portal to the City’s Cadwalader Park. It was constructed by George Zienowicz of Zienowicz Sign Company, who was on hand this evening to talk to a few residents who lived on one side or the other of the Park. It’s a well-constructed sign; it should be for the $17,000 it cost to build and install.
It just doesn’t belong here.
The Trenton Makes Bridge motif has nothing to do with this Frederick Law Olmsted-designed gem that is listed on both the State and Federal Register of Historic Places. It’s a steel behemoth in a park of wood and tree, stone and grass. It hearkens to Trenton’s industrial heritage at the point of welcome to an oasis of pastoral peace. It is tone-deaf to its surroundings, and as such is a perfect tribute to Tony F. Mack, the man who erected it and who doesn’t want you to forget it. That’s why the MAYOR TONY F. MACK sign dangles from the superstructure. As if anyone else could have done this.
This new addition to the neighborhood was news to the neighbors, such as yours truly, who live next to the park. We weren’t consulted, or even notified. If we had, I imagine the response would have been, let’s say spirited.
Other parties were not consulted about this, apparently. Not our own City Landmarks Commission for Historic Preservation, which oversees – or, rather, should oversee – proposed changes to historic properties such as the Park. And not the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), which does have jurisdiction over such historically-designated properties on a statewide level. I did say above that the Park is on both the State and Federal Historic Registers, didn’t I?
It’s kind of hard at this point for me to understand why the Mayor failed to involve the Landmarks Commission or the SHPO. The City Commission is in City Hall, after all, and these directions to SHPO will show that it’s located 2 blocks east of City Hall, right on State Street. So I don’t know why the Mayor didn’t contact them.
Except. I just remembered something I wrote just this morning. How did it go? Oh, yeah: “Tony Mack has shown time after time that he doesn’t let mere rules or laws stop him from what he wants to do.” This is yet one more example of this.
This could have been avoided. No one asked for this. There was no plan for this. In fact, the City’s own Master Plan for Cadwalader Park calls for something entirely different. In that plan, the objective for the Parkside Avenue entrance is stated as this:
The restoration of the historic Parkside Avenue entrance could become an important demonstration project for the renewal of the park. Historical documentation exists and could provide a basis for careful restoration of the gate, urns and masonry. The administration area should be redesigned to screen the parking from the park entrance and provide a rational circulation system to the maintenance buildings and offices.
• Restore the Parkside Avenue entrance gate and bridge using available historical documentation.
“Careful restoration.” Using “available historical documentation.” The Mayor did none of that here. I’m not making this up by the way. The Park Master Plan is currently on the City’s official website, and it is something that the Mayor is obligated to support, after all. It is technically His Plan.
But it doesn’t matter to him. It never does. He wanted – for whatever strange reasons he will no doubt try to publicize over the next few days – something new to hang his name on, literally. No matter how garish, inappropriate or expensive.
Where did he find the money? I’m sure he will wave that away. “It’s a small sum of money,” he may say. “We were going to spend it on the Park anyway,” he may add.
OK. I will play Devil’s Advocate for a moment. $17,000 is a small amount of money to spend on the Park? I will respectfully suggest there are other places in the park where $17,000 could have been spent more productively.
This lamp post lies broken on the ground within view of the new Sign, although it is still lit. How long will it lay there, unreplaced? $17,000 might have gone a ways to do some needed capital repairs.
Or how about Playground equipment? This swing, and what looks like the remains of a children’s water fountain, are just about all that is left of any play ground gear for kids. It was probably old during the Eisenhower Administration. If Mayor Mack had $17,000 burning a hole in his pocket, he could have spent it better getting some new swings.
He could have put his name on them, too: “Mayor Tony Mack’s Center for Repetitive Motion That Goes Nowhere and Makes You Dizzy.” Hey, It works!
What else did I say this morning of the Mayor? “[H]e makes decisions that cost the city and its taxpayers more money it doesn’t have, creates problems where none were before, or makes existing situations and problems much worse for his involvement.” In a Park that we all have agreed needs careful management and attention to historic preservation, he barges in with something that only a cretin would find attractive. In a park crying out for some basic repairs and maybe some new playground equipment, he raises a Monument to Tony.
Yep. This is another Mack-Manufactured problem where there was none before. But since Tony Mack went and raised the issue, literally as well as figuratively, he should have to answer the questions:
“Where did the money come from?”
“You couldn’t find a better place to spend it?”
“Why in the World did you do this?”
“Why do you keep doing stuff like this?”
the lamp was push over by a park ranger when I worked there. The curbs around the entrance are in need as well. EVERY mayor has ignored those. There is a picture of the balloon man on the landing with the curb in need of repair in the 60’s. The sigh sucks, the acting mayor sucks, and Christie sucks for leaving mackie boy there
I’ve reached the point where all I can do is smh (shake my head)!! There is no explanation for this administration except what you statement, “Tony Mack has shown time after time that he doesn’t let mere rules or laws stop him from what he wants to do.” But just add to that, or common sense!!
Oh, come on – give the guy a break. His name plaque could read, “The Honorable Mayor Tony F. Mack.” Trenton is broke, like no money, and the administration spends $17,000!!!
THe park is crap anyway. Who in their right mind would go to such a dump. Walk in the park, get raped, get your car stolen, walk on syringes. Who cares about Trenton. Hell, even Camden is laughing at you
To Trenton Sucks – I first started visiting New York City, and moved to it, in the late 1970’s, when people were saying the same things about Central Park, Bryant Park, and other places in the City. In fact, the entire City. Things turned around some in the intervening decades. Hey, the City isn’t Paradise, but it’s not the lost cause that it seemed to so many folks then.
Trenton is having its problems now, absolutely. But I am not willing to write off Cadwalader Park or the whole city, as you apparently have.
I am always amazed at folks such as you. You are so down on the city, so dismissive of others who do give a damn. Yet, you still cling to Trenton – in your screen name and your email address, even as you are now writing from Nassau County, Long Island.
Watching things at a distance is giving you a quite distorted view of things. I suggest you focus your energies and your enmity closer to where you are now. And perhaps you could change your name to “Franklin Square Sucks” and leave us alone. Hmmm??
I saw that monstrosity at the Art all Night,where i volunteered. I had no idea that item was paid for by the city for 17,000 dollars, that would have paid for what, a police officer for a month, a fireman, a housing inspector.
btw how was the job bid out?
Trenton Sucks prefers Franklin Square to Trenton!! I’m a Long Island native – a real native, born and raised, etc. I wouldn’t have a house in Franklin Square a gift; there are, however, several houses in Trenton for which I would pay. The only thing Nassau may over Trenton right now is a county police department.
Pat – I guess for some people, the grass is always Browner on the other side of the River!
Ed – As described to me by Mr. Zienowicz yesterday evening, he and at least two other sign companies were invited to bid. The maximum to be bid was $17,000, which kept it comfortably under the $17,500 threshold that would have triggered the City’s Pay-to-Play Ordiances, http://www.nj.gov/state/ordinances/mercer_trenton_city_06-014.pdf and http://www.nj.gov/state/ordinances/mercer_trenton_city_06-010.pdf.
Convenient, that!
One can never have too many bridges in an Olmsted park.
I am just a passer by here for the summer teaching Art in Princeton, and actually know the name of this park since yesterday.
The publicity has even established a history.
Olmsted was a radical thinker, especially when it came to the subjective nature of beauty.
I believe his design principle stated, “incongruous mixture of styles”. He wanted a creation of design that made
the area seem larger with indefinite boundaries. His writings bequeath a set of design principles that predict the unique character of the site.
The chief purpose of a park he taught was “an effect on the human organism by an action of what is present to view.”
If Olmsted the radical thinker who differed greatly from the traditional gardeners embracing beauty, warned against the emphasis of beauty.
He referred to a brocade pattern in his description of how different stitches can still create a beautiful motif. He knew that there is a psychological
response that went with the appreciation of the beauty of the scene calling it “unconscious or indirect recreation”
Does anyone know how many bridges are in Olmsted’s Central Park? I would guess at least a dozen, some of stone, some of metal, some covered in greenery. Even the Biltmore Estate has a ½ dozen. His birthday was celebrated on a bridge in Connecticut.
Olmsted may have used this bridge as a metaphor to show that all these different points of view “stitches in a brocade” could make a
beautiful motif when sewn together. Cross through this bridge with a wish for support for your city and it’s leaders.
CLA
With Mack it’s all window dressing and zero substance. Anyone following his actions can see this.
Tony Mack is large on very ambiguous ideas with no substantial activity to bring them to reality.
This blog entry points out a perfect example. The entrance sign (with his name on it – of course it had to have his name on it…) is more important than the condition of the park itself. Not that the park is in terrible condition, but the photos definitely show at least three things that can be improved.
Until people stop being fooled by these empty actions, nothing will change until he is voted out of office.
-Can the City Landmarks Commission for Historic Preservation have it removed if they deem it contrary to thier historical documentation?
-Come to think of it, why is his name even on that sign? Is that even necessary except for the ego boost it might give him?
-Hell, I helped pay for it. I want my name hanging on it also. 🙂
Colleen – Welcome to the area, and I am glad you’ve now become acquainted with Cadwalader Park! Your comments about Olmsted are spot on. However, when you say “Olmsted may have used this bridge as a metaphor” you may be under the impression that this bridge was intended or designed by Olmsted or his team. That is far from the case. It’s not even a real bridge, but a portal at the Parkside Avenue entrance to the Park.
This “bridge” is a new element, inserted without any regard to the history of the Park, or the desires of those of us who live in the neighborhood. As I wrote in my post, the Master Plan for the Park – a very ambitious plan, by the way, and one which is not likely to be made reality in our lifetimes if ever – specifically calls for that location to be restored to its historically accurate previous state. This bridge, however close to the radical and iconoclastic spirit of Olmsted it may be, is in no way authentic to the location.
Even if there is merit to the “bridge” portal (I don’t think there is any, but allow the possibility), the proposal for it should have been openly brought to our Landmarks Commission, to the state’s Historic Preservation Office, and to the park’s neighbors and users. For our Mayor to just dump it there unannounced is just capricious and insensitive.
I am a photographic artist…been making a living at it for 44 years…damned lucky and Blessed by the Good Lord above. I generally try to find something aesthetically pleasing in every artist’s vision…but this is tough…
I will, however, throw out a prospective title: The Shrine to Mediocrity.
Geoff – I think Tony Mack should ASPIRE to Mediocrity. It would be a major improvement for him.
Kevin…
So true.
Who ever the designer it shimmered at sunset as I passed by perfectly complimenting the landscape. As an art historian and teacher I was truly impressed. Please pardon my spelling of Olmstead.
Tony Mack couldn’t reach mediocrity with the Space Shuttle.
You’re starting to worry me, Colleen. How come the spelling of your name has changed? And you got “Olmsted” spelled right the first time, not in your second message.
As “an art historian and a teacher” you were impressed by something that is 1000% inauthentic and false to its setting?
From your sentence construction you seem to be saying that the designer shimmered at sunset, and that you were paying a compliment to the landscape, LOL. Where exactly are you teaching this summer?
sorry, my class is from 3 to 5, I was just trying to reply quickly.
I am serious though, from a design aspect it works well.
This thing is inappropriate, ugly, unneccessary, insulting, expensive, incongruous, appalling, and infuriating.
So is Tony Mack.
At least the nameplate matches all of the other nameplates on all the new signs at that have popped up at seemingly every single entrance to the city since Mack took over.
Fortunately, those signs are more generic, not nearly as offensive, and can be used without holding one’s nose once Mack’s (hopefully) voted out. Assuming he doesn’t just ignore the election results the same way he ignores council.
I live just up Bellevue and exit to work facing the park each day. Frankly, I don’t think it’s that bad. It’s new; it’s different. But I tend to agree with Colleen.
And I don’t care if Mack wants to put his name on things, if it will get things improved. Please, fix the broken lamps, walkways, etc. Feel free to put mosaics with “Mack” in them, just fix the place up. If we only ever focus on police, fire, etc., things will never change. We need to improve the area, even if some things are only superficial (and even if they are egotistical, IMO).
Ambrose – I sympathize with your plea that things get fixed up. But I must disagree with you on this. To “improve the area,” I suggested two other areas inside the Park that would have been far more deserving of $17,000 of attention. You ask for broken lamps to be fixed; I showed a picture of a broken light and of a pathetic “play” area. Just within view of this sign, there are more obvious targets for improvement than what was put into place.
You say you accept small incremental improvements, even if only superficial and egotistical. I must ask, Why? Why is this OK? There are precious few resources for any kinds of improvements, and it is often hard to know what is the best use for those resources. One of my great frustrations is that this Mayor and his clearly incompetent associates always make poor choices!
I, too, want them to fix broken lamps and walkways. But when they do things like this, it makes me want to scream!
“New” and “different” are poor choices when it could have been so easy to just buy a new set of swings instead. That would have been a nice – and real – improvement.
I’m sorry that you feel different. It is another great frustration to me that this kind of attitude makes it so damned easy for the Mayor to keep doing what he’s doing: he keeps kicking us and we call it progress.
Ambrose, thanks for writing. I am pleased to make your acquaintance, and sorry we don’t see the same way on this.
Things are bad in Trenton, we agree. But which of you is willing to come forward and put your name on a ballot? If we don’t start thinking about it now, we’ll be in the same boat for the next mayoral election … just saying.
Hi, Kirsten – Thanks for writing.
Actually, I did put my name on a ballot! Two years ago, I ran for Council but lost. I had a job at then that would have allowed me the ability to devote some time to the City. So the rest of me followed my mouth, or rather my keyboard fingers. The voters of the West Ward declined to take me up on my offer.
In my present position, which I hope I have for some time to come, I doubt I will have the same flexibility to run for any office. However, I have been serving on the city’s zoning board for 11 years, and have just been appointed to another term. So I do serve, and I am trying to improve things in the City by more than just talking about them.
Thanks for writing!
Kirsten has a point. Somewhere in Trenton there must be eight honest, strong, forward thinking, intelligent, healthy ego people willing to run for public office. Now is the time to start, i.e., meeting people, raising money, getting your plans out, stuff like that.
Pat, from your keyboard to God’s eyes. If He reads this blog, that is…
Perhaps,I tend to look at the positive, hence this is my first and only blog or blog response. I would just like to add that I sat with some of the greatest minds in this area and asked for an honest, unbiased response, and all I received was absolutely positive comments. I am too attached to art/artist, and know too little about your local politics to participate. I stand by my own perspective lens, I really like it!
Patricia:
Unfortunately, what seems to be needed is eight honest, strong, forward thinking, intelligent, healthy ego people who were born and raised in Trenton and went to TCHS, therefore by six degrees of separation, know at least half the electorate.
On top of that, talk to enough people and you’ll find out that it’s likely that several of those folks, depending on where they live, MUST be black. The gentleman that Kevin called out on his blog for his “KKK” comment isn’t alone in that kind of thinking.
For the record, I am black, too. I get that black people in this city have historically felt shut out — even after 20 years of Doug Palmer. However, electing a black Mayor to run the city into the ground wasn’t the proper response.
I digress, however.
I did have occasion to drive by the sign in question earlier in the evening. It is indeed bad on its own merits. It’s hideous and while the blue nameplate does indeed match all the other signs, one could easily wonder if it had been added to the rest of the structure after the fact, presumably once the Mayor had maybe noticed his name wasn’t attached. Seems his name must be everywhere, even if the sign would lead one to believe that he’s the Mayor of the park alone since the park doesn’t say City of Trenton.
A more fitting sign wouldn’t have the Mayor’s name hanging from it, but possibly something that would inform people of the park’s state and national historic status. But that would be glorifying the park and I guess, not putting the glory where it’s “supposed” to be.
damn, i miss the bears and monkey house.
peace