The Delancey Underground, that intriguing proposal to build a park in an abandoned trolley station, hasn’t exactly kept a low profile since its unveiling last fall. But in the coming weeks you’re going to be hearing a lot more from co-founders Dan Barasch and James Ramsey about their drive to build public support and to raise money for the ambitious project.
As Curbed reported yesterday, they’ll soon launch a Kickstarter campaign to fund a large-scale demonstration of the “sunlight irrigation system” Ramsey is designing to transmit natural light into the subterranean space.
Yesterday we checked in with Barasch, who told us he hopes the fundraising effort will have a true grass roots spirit. The Delancey Underground team has placed a high priority on community engagement and is very focused on winning the support of all kinds of neighborhood organizations as well as individuals from all walks of life. You can see the growing list of supporters on their web site. Among the high profile backers: Morris Vogel, president of the Lower East Side Tenement Museum.
Incidentally, the museum will be hosting a Delancey Underground presentation on February 16th. As part of the popular “Tenement Talks” series, Barasch, Ramsey and historian Stuart Blumin will look at the past, present and future of the train station. Dave Bolotsky, founder of the “Friends of Gulick Park, will also be taking part in the discussion, offering his perspective on the challenges involved in reactivating neglected public spaces. If you’re interested in attending, it would be best to RSVP now. This is sure to be a popular event.
