Event Recap: A Conversation with Distinguished Visiting Urbanist Iris Weinshall and Guests
On Thursday, April 3, 2025, NYU Wagner hosted, in its Main Event Space, A Conversation with Distinguished Visiting Urbanist Iris Weinshall and an expert panel discussing civic infrastructure in New York City.
Weinshall, the chief operating officer of the New York Public Library teaching a course at Wagner this spring, moderated the panel, which included:
- Dr. Tony Marx, president, New York Public Library
- Morgan Monaco, president, Prospect Park Alliance
- Adrian Benepe, president, Brooklyn Botanic Garden; former NYC Parks commissioner
David Woloch, former deputy commissioner, NYC Department of Transportation & former executive VP of external affairs, Brooklyn Public Library
Each panelist brought perspective from their own experiences in developing spaces, policies, and programs to promote community engagement and enrich civic life.
Marx and Woloch discussed the libraries’ role in delivering knowledge, art, and culture to the community. Marx noted strongly that while many books are being banned across the country, the New York Public Library is “unbanning” books and continuing to prioritize amplifying all voices.
Monaco and Benepe discussed the transformative powers of parks, gardens, and green spaces, particularly in urban environments. Monaco noted, “Every aspect of the design [of Prospect Park] ties back to this idea that once you come into this treasured space, you are transformed,” providing the example of walking into the park from Grand Army Plaza, one of the busiest intersections in the city, into the expanse of the Long Meadow. She underscored the importance of the park as a place where community members can connect not only with nature, but with each other as well.
The panelists also each recognized the pivotal moment that civic infrastructure is facing and noted a continued commitment to their institution’s values.