By Nicole Breskin
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UNION SQUARE — Union Square residents were preparing to sue the Parks Department Friday over its decision to move forward with a 1,584-square-foot café and kiosk in the 80-year-old pavilion in Union Square.
They say the land is public and privatizing it requires state approval, which they said the Parks Department never received.
“We have so little green space,” said Sylvia Friedman, chair of the Union Square Community Coalition. “To take away our little bit of green space is an outrage and it’s illegal.”
Local leaders took the department to court last year over the decision to put a restaurant in the pavilion, but a judge dismissed the case, stating that residents could raise the issue again when plans for the restaurant were confirmed.
“Union Square Community Coalition was told the case wasn’t ripe, because the RFP was not issued,” said Friedman. “Now that it is, I expect we’ll be back in court soon.”
NYC Parks Advocates founder Geoffrey Croft said he is currently preparing the lawsuit to file with the coalition.
“This is a direct slap in the face to the community and people who want to use parks for recreation,” he said.
The Parks Dept. said they are seeking leases for a 15-year term and proposals must be from a food service that will operate the café from May 1 to Oct. 31. A year-round kiosk can also be opened just due west of the pavilion, according to the RFP.
Union Square Community Coalition will meet June 15 at 123 E. 15th St. to discuss the issue.
The Parks Department was not immediately able to provide comment.
