Poll: what to do with Richard Serra’s ‘Twain’?

Citygarden, located in two blocks of the Gateway Mall, is an unquestionable hit with anyone who has seen the 2-block (8th, Market, 10th, Chestnut) sculpture & botanical garden.

But the block to across 10th Street to the West is a very different story!  ‘Twain’ by Richard Serra was installed in 1982, a decade earlier than the two blocks (now containing Citygarden) were razed.

Art is something you should love or hate and ‘Twain’ manages to make sure viewers have one of those reactions, no in the middle.

I have my feelings which I’ll share on Wednesday April 14, 2010 when I show the final results of this week’s poll: “Which best describes your thoughts on the Gateway Mall block w/Richard Serra’s ‘Twain’ sculpture?” I phrased the question the way I did to get at feelings on the block as a whole as well as the art itself.  The answers provided are:

• Love Twain, don’t change that block at all.
• Get rid of Twain ASAP.
• Like Twain and the minimal surroundings, just needs new sidewalks, etc
• Like Twain but the block is too bare, needs more art & activities.
• I don’t hate Twain but I’m not crazy about it either.
• Unsure/no opinion.

And you can make your own answer if you like. The poll software will randomize the answers so please read them before voting.  Share your thoughts below on why we should keep or remove Twain.

– Steve Patterson

A bike I can ride?

When I moved downtown in November 2007 I brought two bicycles with me: an urban hybrid and my beloved orange Kronan:

I rode this bike once that Winter before my stroke in February 2008, since then it has served as art in my loft.

In May of 2009 I rode a friend’s tricycle:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7NDCIQVWPs

The ride was very encouraging. I think I can balance a bike once again, but getting on  the trike required someone to help and involved tipping me over onto grass to get off the trike.  My orange bike is a one size fits all and the bar was always a challenge for me.  Sadly, I’ll never again ride that bike.  So I plan to sell it and my hybrid so I can buy this bike:

At first glance you might think this is a woman’s bike, but as more and more active adults seek ways to stay active bikes like this one from Biria’s EZ Boarding Series may help fill a void. Old ideas about what bikes men & women ride are going away.  I’d rather deal with snickers from a few rather than not be able to cycle. The nearest dealer is in Chicago so on my next visit I will take my helmet and schedule a test ride. Hopefully by this time next year you will see me tooling about downtown on this bike.

– Steve Patterson

Poll results: readers on desired activity for St. Louis’ Gateway Mall linear park

Each Sunday as I post a new poll on this site I’m never sure how it will go over, see Poll: What activity do you want to see added to the Gateway Mall? Last week I was pleasantly surprised by the response to the poll, the number of responses was far better than I thought it would be.

Here is the question and results:

Q: What activity would you like to see added to the Gateway Mall? Pick only one:

1. Miniature golf 66 [24%]
2. Ice skating 55 [20%]
3. Ferris wheel 34 [12%]
4. Other answer… 27 [10%]
5. Skateboard/BMX park 24 [9%]
6. Picnic/BBQ area 21 [8%]
7. Dog park 18 [6%]
8. Level field for kickball, etc 14 [5%]
9. Basketball 7 [3%]
10. Unsure 6 [2%]
11. Tennis 5 [2%]

Based on the way the poll software works I had to have readers pick only one answer.  As with voting, this can skew the results because everyone’s 2nd answer might be the real winner.  But the length of the mall is long so there is room for more than one activity. If we look at the top 5 items we have:

1. Miniature golf
2. Ice skating
3. Ferris wheel
4. Skateboard/BMX park
5. Picnic/BBQ area

Miniature Golf
I wasn’t keen on the idea the first time I heard it suggested but after more thought and the strong interest here I’m liking the idea more and more. I don’t think anyone wants to see a typical cheesy miniature golf course set in the middle of our urban park.  What is appealing is that it is a good activity for one person or for groups.  It has been about three decades since I’ve played miniature golf so I know I need to check out newer courses that are more interesting and worthy of a grand public park.

Ice Skating

Urban ice skating can be lovely, in January 2008 I enjoyed watching skaters in downtown Providence RI.  With St. Louis’ popular Steinberg Skating Rink less than five miles to the West I’m hesitant to think we could sustain two rinks in our short Winter.  I’d rather see something not offered elsewhere instead of competing with Forest Park. Furthermore, you need to have uses for the rink for the 8-9 months of the year when it is too warm for ice skating.

Ferris Wheel

A few years ago it was suggested to have a Ferris wheel at the West end of the Gateway Mall, across 20th from Aloe Plaza.  While the carnival ride association doesn’t appeal to me I could see it being a draw that offers great views of our skyline.  I’ve seen friend’s pics taken from the London Eye and the Ferris Wheel on top of City Museum seems popular.  So I’m torn on this one, the activity level would be good most of the year but it seems rather cheesy. I’m not ruling it out, I just need visuals of a Ferris wheel in an urban context.

Skateboard/BMX

To me this is the best idea!  Again, we have space for more than one activity and I’d really like to see this be one of them. Such a space would almost always be in use — an important consideration.  Some will have concerns about the city’s liability but numerous cities have municipally owned skate parks such as Oklahoma City’s Matt Hoffman Action Sports Park and Bowling Green KY. A message on Twitter said “It should be done right. It should have high and low rails, at least a double-wall bowl, event seating, and lighting.”  Agreed, having a big name associated with a design would help attract users.  I’d be there on the seating to watch the kids do their thing.

Picnic/BBQ Area

I like the idea of groups gathering in the Gateway Mall for picnics but I wonder if a covered pavilion would look out of place in an urban context? I’m going to look into any examples in other cities.

The “other” answers were numerous and in a few cases, not serious:

1. outdoor vendors and consession stands
2. Ironic croquet through mini-arches, with Alice-and-Wonderland bird mallets, etc
3. Frank Gehry designed amphitheater
4. keep homeless people out
5. Urban Glass Maze
6. Construction
7. Class A office space
8. Minigolf ala City Museum style – instead of kitch plastic, arch’tctural ele
9. Veledrome
10. Antique merry-go-round
11. Food Vendors
12. outdoor vendors and media ads
13. Office/ residential
14. music venue
15. Urban Garden
16. Dedicated jogging track — multi-block
17. Buildings: Stores, Apartments, Houses
18. what are boundaries of the gateway mall?
19. A St. Louis Zoo Annex
20. city museum style playground
21. No More! Already full!
22. garden/farm
23. bicycle rental
24. Fishing Pond
25. Walking/Jogging/Bike trail
26. RV park (for Arch visitors)
27. grenhouse structure open sided seasonally

Many great ideas, too many to comment on them all.  Here is a thought on a few: I’m a huge advocate of more vendors throughout downtown and the city, lots of people & activity will mean the homeless are a smaller percentage of the users,  a stocked pond for fishing could be interesting.

The first meeting of the Gateway Mall Advisory Board will be 5pm Wednesday April 21, 2010 at the offices of the Partnership for Downtown St. Louis, 710 Olive Suite 450 (Laclede Gas Building). These meetings are open to the public.  The agenda is still being determined but I do know the first order of business is the oath of office will be taken by those of us on the board.

– Steve Patterson

Three out of four doesn’t cut it

At the intersection of 11th & St. Charles the existing curb ramps were recently redone on three of the four corners.  The forth corner lacked a curb ramp.

But the three that already had ramps now have new ramps and the forth corner still lacks a ramp.  My logic would tell me to get the all directions where someone in a wheelchair (or pushing a stroller) could easily pass before replacing existing ramps.  Who makes these decisions?

– Steve Patterson

Hearing notice locations inconsistent

A few days ago I blogged about public notice signs facing the road rather than the sidewalk (Public notice signs face drivers, not pedestrians).  Then I spotted a trio of notices two blocks to the West posted on a window visible from the sidewalk, a good location.

I don’t think I had anything to do with a shift in policy, my guess is those who post the notices are just inconsistent.  All three of these hearings are on the same date & time, each permit requires notice.  I had long wondered the difference between a “summer garden” and a Side-walk cafe” so I inquired with Robert Kraiberg, Commissioner of the city’s Excise Division.  His response:

“A Summer Garden permit is obtain if tables & chairs are placed in the patio area of a licensed premise.  Whereas a Sidewalk Cafe permit is obtain if tables & chairs are placed on the City Sidewalk.  With the Sidewalk Cafe permit one would need to also go through the Board of Public Service to obtain what is called a Sidewalk Encroachment Permit as well.“

I’m still a bit confused how a place would need both a summer garden and sidewalk cafe permit but I’ll leave that question for another day.

– Steve Patterson