They're talking about putting a private restaurant in the north end of [Union Square Park] in Greenwich Village. Jack Taylor, a member of the Union Sq. Community Coalition, said later that the funding for the project has never been made clear. Two million dollars comes from discretionary funds dedicated by Councilmember [Margarita Lopez]. An anonymous $5 million donation via the Union Sq. Partnership was widely believed to be contingent on using the pavilion for a restaurant; but Jim Gabbe, president of the [BID], told the meeting that the donation was not connected to the proposed restaurant. Gabbe also said the decision to create a year-round restaurant in the pavilion came solely from the [Parks Department]. While Castro told critics on Monday that they could get figures of cost and revenue sources the following day, a Parks spokesperson said on Tuesday that a public statement on the funding was being prepared but was not yet available.

[Geoffrey Croft] said that despite the redesign of the two playgrounds at the north end of the park, there was not enough children's play space in a neighborhood that has become increasingly residential. The immediate neighborhood has nine restaurants, three cafes and 108 places for food but less than 8,000 sq. ft. for children, he said.

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