A Little Piece of Coney Island
On Tuesday, as I drove from Clemson to my home on Greenville’s
Eastside, I contemplated this week’s post. As I neared the Pelham Road exit on
Interstate 85, a topic appeared on the roadside in the form of the brightly lit TopGolf
entertainment venue that opened in April 2019.
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| TopGolf Exterior (Source: https://topgolf.com/us/gallery?venue=greenville) |
In “'Life in the Metropolis’ or ‘The Culture of
Congestion,’” Koolhaas described Coney Island as a laboratory for amusements that
gave New Yorkers an escape from crowded city life. Unlike a country retreat, Coney
Island was meant to be “a superior substitute” to nature. Its Steeplechase attraction,
for example, offered the experience of racing a mechanical horse without the
need for riding skills. Furthermore, the horses did not require food or stabling.
TopGolf is a Steeplechase for today. Replacing the traditional
golf course, it uses a virtual ball, digital connectivity, and video to
create a golfing experience in a climate-controlled, high-energy social environment.
Just as Steeplechase visitors needed no equestrian skills, TopGolf describes
itself as “Everyone’s Game” where “there’s no pressure to have a good golf
swing or score a lot of points” (Source: https://topgolf.com/us). Finally, they eliminated the need for
groundskeepers to manage turf, sand traps, and water holes.
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| TopGolf's plot with expansion plans (Source: https://upstatebusinessjournal.com/the-top-21-cre-projects-in-greenville) |
I agree with this assessment of the growth in Greenville entirely. As a lifelong "greenvillian", it is fascinating to see how the growth of the city has occurred at such a fast pace. While the comparison to Topgolf/Coney Island could certainly be argued, it also seems that the commercialization of recreational spaces is something that has achieved widespread success in many cities across America. No longer do you have to travel to a place like Coney Island for a break from reality.. in most thriving cities, all you need to do is travel right down the street.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this assessment as well. As cities are evolving from small towns into metropolitan areas, they embody a controlled chaos that offers small spaces for leisurely activities. These spaces invite one to enjoy the beauty of their environment from within, rather than packing up for a distant vacation. This also parallels Charlotte, NC, where the city is embracing small rooftop ventures, and hot spots such as the Epicentre. These places are not only attracting locals, but a variety of vacationers who are able to walk or take the lightrail and see a variety of recreational spaces in a matter of minutes.
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