openhousenyc Video, TWA Flight Center

openhousenyc. TWA Flight Center 2014. In this video I shot, a representative from the Port Authority (sorry I don't know his name) discusses future plans for the building and also we hear (briefly) from one of the original engineers of the project.

Improving Suburbia Portfolio 7, Chandler Park

Chandler Park in Mount Sinai, NY is an unusual place, not because of what it is but because of what it's not. Never heard of it?  Not surprising since you won't find any inviting signs on the street indicating, here is "Chandler Park".

Marilyn at Chandler

You also won't find it in your navigation system as when I tried looking for driving directions to this place. So why was I going there and how did I eventually find it you may be asking?  I joined a "Meet-up" group that does ecology hiking and decided that would be fun to do, so I signed up for the Chandler Park hike. Rather than call for directions I did a google search of the park and read somewhere that you park your car at a Mount Sinai church: that was good enough for me. I rationalized there will be a sign and an obvious public parking area as with most parks. As I approached the church I pulled into its parking lot. I saw no sign for the park so I stopped a bicyclist who was passing by and asked the old man if he knew where Chandler park was. Unbeknownst to me I was very close to the park, on the other side of the parking lot to be precise. The old man bicyclist tried to discourage me from visiting by telling me it was not much of a park and no open space etc. Protectionist? Concerned citizen? A stranger looking out for my well being or more likely his own well being? I don't know but I told him I was meeting a group there and he begrudgingly pointed me to the other side of the parking lot. So I parked at the Mount Sinai Congregational Church and we walked to the back and that's where I found Chandler Park. However I still found no park sign that stated, "Chandler Park" except for a typical  Suffolk County parks signage, that was it. Who is this park named after? I don't know maybe someone can answer in the comments below. During my google search I found out a few interesting things about this "hidden park" 1- It is also known as "Satan's Trail" with claims of paranormal activity complete with a haunted house (since demolished) 2- It was once a waterfront resort area where Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller stayed one summer. 3- the resort later would become residential apartments and 4-finally demolition of all the structures taking it back to its natural wild state to be used as a park with trails for hiking.

So we began our hike. These steps were found shortly into the trail. Along with a couple of other man made features these are some of the only remnants of anything having ever been built here .

We walked on and I have to say not being a hard core naturalist as my companions were, I did enjoy the change of scenic beauty, from woodland, to marsh to sandy beach to open grass fields and back to woodland. With each change of scenic scenery and elevation, you could feel the change in climate as well:

Along the way, heading down to the marsh area I found the foundation of a boathouse (I believe)....

As for the paranormal activity I did not experience any first hand but found some evidence of it -OK not really evidence but some interesting things:

I thought nobody else was around?

OK, so you may be asking why I am writing about a park in a blog for architecture? You are justified in thinking or critiquing me for that. I thought this was an interesting story of "development" in reverse; nature claiming back man's desire to build, his need to leave a mark, make a statement, build shelter to survive. Here is a place that shows us what ultimately will become of all our building endeavors.  I covered this "architectural" story ( I know that is very debatable) in my "Improving Suburbia Portfolio" series which is ironic since " Improving Suburbia through Nature" may be a more accurate title...a place more about what it's not than what it is, at least for me.

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