Chess in the park

[Richard Weekes II]

Some of you may know that chess in the park is BIG in New York. I've recently found out that they play chess in the park in Budapest as well. This would be a great idea to start playing chess on Goose Green or in Dulwich park either on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon.

I intend to contact Southwark council to enquire but in the meantime does anyone have any thoughts on joining in when I get permission to start it off. Of course children and young people plus adults will take part; won't they?

Regards, Richard

[SimonM]

On the right sort of day I think it would be quite marvellous in Dulwich Park - somewhere close to the cafe perhaps?

[Domitianus]

I heartily agree. In fact we could arrange for local primary schools to dress children up as the various chess pieces and the players could simply stand with a megaphone and direct the little brats where to move on a 'board' made by cleverly mowing a piece of lawn to create a chessboard effect. When they 'took' another piece they would have to do so with a bit of fisticuffs and the whole thing could be filmed by people on their mobile phones!

During long games, if any of them needed to go to the loo they would just have to stay where they were and wet themselves in public causing enormous humilation and psychological scarring!

[karter]

Domitianus.

I think maybe you drink too much coffee in cafe nero and those kiddies have psychologically scarred you?

[professordingo]

what a fab idea, domitianus... except that instead of children it really should be edf-ers. it would have been a brilliant idea for the 'edf showpiece' at the goose green fair on sunday. do you think you could organise it in time??? >:D< and we could run a sweepstake on who's going to p themselves first.

[Ant]

I misread this as 'cheese in the park'. Ah, what a wonderful image that was.

Anyway... never mind... carry on.

[bawdy-nan]

This is probably just the kind of thing you could make happen (either small fixed chess boards or big chess) with a bit of badgering of Dulwich Community Council. They have money for projects to improve facilities and this sounds like a good community minded thing.

[Mogs]

Isn't there a big chess set in Crystal Palace Park?

[bawdy-nan]

Not sure - there's some kind of maze - though was a bit scrawny when I went last

[Domitianus]

My earlier child-hostile comments aside, I think chess in the park would be an extremely good and civilised idea. I would certainly partake if timing was right. I think the idea of having fixed tables with a chessboard surface might work - ie. if you want to play chess use them for that, if not other park-goers could use them as a simple picnic-table. All you would need to bring along would be the chess pieces and I have a couple of sets that I would be able to bring.

[bawdy-nan]

Or they could hold chess sets at the cafe that could be borrowed for a deposit

[Domitianus]

Another fine option.