Learning from Bryant Park

the long version

"Andrew Manshel portrays, from an insider's perspective, the revitalization of Bryant Park -- New York's town square. Transformed from a seedy, drug-infested symbol of urban decay to the jewel of midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park became a symbol of New York City's rebirth in the 1990s. Manshel's work in Bryant Park demonstrated how public spaces could be safe, and proved that cities could not only be managed, but were vital, interesting and even exciting places to be. The creation of Bryant Park as a center of social activity helped to reestablish the social importance of American cities and demonstrated their attractiveness to both the global elite and young creatives"--