Soundwalk at Union Square Park

            I went to Union Square Park at 5pm on a Friday. I chose this location because it is conveniently located and because it is a hub for many people to gather. I walked around the park a few times and sat down on the benches to listen carefully to the sounds in this environment. 

            Union Square Park is known for having various performers show off their talent in order to get money. The sound signals were hip hop music blaring through a boom box and the roar of applause that came from the crowd. Another sound signal was the sounds of the gong, tambourine, drum and bell that came from a religious group that performed for donations.  

            Union Square Park contained a lot of keynotes. There was the: clicking of boots on the cobblestone, stroller and garbage can wheels rolling against the ground, the soft sound of paws making contact with the pavement, the crunch of fallen autumn leaves, the wind blowing, fading conversations of people walking past, cars whooshing by, the abrupt short stopping of skateboards, giggles and laughter piercing the air, the blended mutter of multiple conversations, dogs barking, the slight sway of trees and the clanking of a bike chain. Stalls from the Farmer’s Market were also set up around the perimeter of the park. I could hear plastic bags crinkling as people walked by with their purchases. In addition, sounds signaled a different time of day. I heard the screeching of metals, the banging of tables and the rough friction of boxes being pushed on the floor as stall owners were preparing to pack up their wares for the day. 

            The sound that surprised me the most was the sound of sirens blaring. I am used to hearing this sound, but I did not expect to hear it so many times during my soundwalk. I wasn’t sure if it was because the park is a very big open space and this permitted for the sirens to be heard more easily or because it was Halloween and more incidents were occurring. This experience was very different from a regular stroll for me because I was opening up my ears to be more aware of my surroundings. I was actively listening for all sounds whether they ranged from the soft sound of a dog’s paw on the ground or the louder sound of car horns. The texture of sound varied depending on what location of the park I was at. Near the Farmer’s Market sounds were more muddled because there was a greater density of people. Their voices jumbled together and this created a lot of background noise; whereas in the interior of the park there was a greater stillness in the air because people were quietly sitting down which allowed me to make out the conversations of people near me. I realize that there are a rich variety of sounds that can come from the environment of Union Square Park.