The
tragedy of the commons is an economics
theory by Garrett
Hardin,
according to which individuals, acting independently and rationally
according to each one's self-interest, behave contrary to the whole
group's long-term best interests by depleting some common resource.
Wikipedia
In
the Flatiron District we have a number of public spaces in very
close proximity
41
Madison Ave Privately Owned Public Space
Five
public spaces all offering adult passive recreation, but none
offering adult active recreation. .This is somewhat analogous to The
Tragedy of the Commons in that
each of these spaces
is “acting
independently and rationally according to each one's self-interest,
behave contrary to the whole group's long-term best interests” .
The Flatiron District needs not only passive recreation for adults
but active recreation also, yet all the open space entities have
chosen to act in their own self interests to offer passive adult
recreation activities rather then taking into account the needs of
the greater community for active recreation in the Flatiron district
and east Chelsea.
