Townsend Park
Encyclopedia
Townsend Park is a small urban park
in Albany
, New York
. It encompasses a triangle of land formed by the Y-intersection of Central and Washington avenues (north and south borders respectfully), with the third (western) border formed by Henry Johnson Boulevard.
with the intentions of erecting a statue in his honor, but the city later changed the name in honor of former Mayor John Townsend
, Washington going to nearby former State Street Parade Grounds as Washington Park
.
In 1928 a Spanish-American War
monument was erected in the western end of the park.
In 2009 as part of an effort to spruce up the park the Central Avenue Business Improvement District
(BID) removed the park benches and picnic tables and replaced them with metal mesh topped poles. Some of those who work in the area protested the removal of the benches by the organization as an attempt to limit public accessability, particular the comfort and availability to use the new seating by the disabled. Speculation by an outreach program director of the Homeless Action Committee was that it was an attempt to remove the homeless who used the benches to sit on and drink or to sleep on at night. Chess games played in the park became impossible without the picnic tables though the BID promised their return and Dan Colonno, Albany Police Department commander of Center Station, stated that chess playing there made him feel "a little good" and "It reminds you of what a park really should be."
. During the war they were sent to Hawai'i due to concerns of an eminent Spanish attack, which never occurred.
Inscribed around the base are several inscriptions, a different location in the war is inscribed on each of the four sides. Hawaii on the east (back) side, Porto Rico
{sic} on the south side, Philippines
on the north side, and Cuba
on the west (front) side. A bronze cross on the front is inscribed with "United Spanish War Veterans 1898-1902" and below that the inscription "Erected by the City of Albany July 22, 1928 in Memory of Those Who Served Their Country in the Spanish American War–William S. Hackett John Boyd Thacher 2nd
Mayors."
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It encompasses a triangle of land formed by the Y-intersection of Central and Washington avenues (north and south borders respectfully), with the third (western) border formed by Henry Johnson Boulevard.
History
A fence enclosure was put around the park in 1833, by nearby residents and the park was christened Washington Park after George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
with the intentions of erecting a statue in his honor, but the city later changed the name in honor of former Mayor John Townsend
John Townsend (Mayor)
John Townsend was a prominent industrialist and politician in the Albany, New York area. He was unanimously elected Mayor of Albany three times and served as the 37th Mayor of the city.-Birth and Family:...
, Washington going to nearby former State Street Parade Grounds as Washington Park
Washington Park Historic District (Albany, New York)
Washington Park in Albany, New York is the city's premier park and the site of many festivals and gatherings. As public property it dates back to the city charter in 1686, and has seen many uses including that of gunpowder storage, square/parade grounds, and cemetery...
.
In 1928 a Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
monument was erected in the western end of the park.
In 2009 as part of an effort to spruce up the park the Central Avenue Business Improvement District
Business improvement district
A business improvement district is a defined area within which businesses pay an additional tax or fee in order to fund improvements within the district's boundaries. Grant funds acquired by the city for special programs and/or incentives such as tax abatements can be made available to assist...
(BID) removed the park benches and picnic tables and replaced them with metal mesh topped poles. Some of those who work in the area protested the removal of the benches by the organization as an attempt to limit public accessability, particular the comfort and availability to use the new seating by the disabled. Speculation by an outreach program director of the Homeless Action Committee was that it was an attempt to remove the homeless who used the benches to sit on and drink or to sleep on at night. Chess games played in the park became impossible without the picnic tables though the BID promised their return and Dan Colonno, Albany Police Department commander of Center Station, stated that chess playing there made him feel "a little good" and "It reminds you of what a park really should be."
Spanish–American War Monument
The Spanish–American War Monument is a 20 feet (6.1 m) tall monument of a bronze statue of a US soldier marching into battle, rifle leading the way. It was sculpted by Dave Lithgow and erected in 1928. The statue commemorates the four companies of the First Provisional Regiment of the 10th Battalion which was located at the nearby Washington Avenue ArmoryWashington Avenue Armory
The Washington Avenue Armory, officially known as the Washington Avenue Armory Sports and Convention Arena and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as Washington Avenue Armory, is now a multi-purpose arena in Albany, New York. It was the home of the Albany Legends of the...
. During the war they were sent to Hawai'i due to concerns of an eminent Spanish attack, which never occurred.
Inscribed around the base are several inscriptions, a different location in the war is inscribed on each of the four sides. Hawaii on the east (back) side, Porto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
{sic} on the south side, Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
on the north side, and Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
on the west (front) side. A bronze cross on the front is inscribed with "United Spanish War Veterans 1898-1902" and below that the inscription "Erected by the City of Albany July 22, 1928 in Memory of Those Who Served Their Country in the Spanish American War–William S. Hackett John Boyd Thacher 2nd
John Boyd Thacher II
John Boyd Thacher II was the Mayor of Albany, New York from 1926 to 1941. He was the nephew of Albany mayor John Boyd Thacher and grandson of another Albany mayor, George H. Thacher....
Mayors."