Site of Proposed Columbia Gym in the 1960's (New York City, New York)

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In the 1960's, Columbia University proposed building a gymnasium in Morningside Park. The gym would be built two main entrances so that it had sufficient capacity and easy access for residents of neighboring Harlem. Despite this, the plan to occupy part of a park used by the primarily black residents of Harlem provoked serious dissent among a certain group of students and some residents of the community, who called it "Gym Crow." The protests led to a sit- in, takeover and shutdown of Columbia, and virtual race riots before an army of police officers reclaimed the school by force. Construction work, which had already begun, halted and the area excavated for the gym was turned into this natural pond.