Note: 25

As I write this, a quarter of Clark Park has been privatized for the long weekend – fenced off by Parks on Tap.

The previously public area is now only open to people 21+ with a government issued ID, or the family members of such (source). You also have to sign up online, giving away your PII to (I assume) be sold to data-brokers.

Now, credit where it’s due, the organizers have also installed some positive infrastructure in their private space: most notably a porta-potty. The installation of a public bathroom in Clark Park has been stalled for over a year, so they needed to bring one with them. Don’t worry though, they’ll be removing it on Tuesday.

I’m all for having a beer in the park, but this isn’t the way. We need actual public infrastructure, not money making schemes. We need parks, not fences.

For my part, I’m enjoying my time in the public Dog Bowl, listening to the man playing violin nearby, and watching kids and dogs chase a soccer ball around with no private company to stop them.