Eternal Circle: A Washington Square Park Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Bob Dylan's arrival in New York City

Robert Allen Zimmerman was born in Duluth, Minnesota.

Bob Dylan was born in New York, New York.

The 50th anniversary of this transformation is but a few months after Phase 2 of the renovation of Washington Square Park, which is scheduled to be completed in late Autumn of 2010.

Due to New York City Department of Parks and Recreation regulations restricting paying homage to living persons, we now are petitioning the New York City Council and Mayor’s Office to support commemorating the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan’s arrival in New York City in a concrete and lasting way, by designating a section of Washington Square Park with the name of an illuminating song of his, apropos for this and every occasion, Eternal Circle.

Bob Dylan’s candidacy is not only due to his far-reaching plethora of influences among those who have been touched by his art, but also because of what we can learn from his personal and musical journey over the last fifty years. Dylan has received many accolades over the years, including innumerable industry awards, the Thomas Paine award, an honorary doctorate in music at Princeton University, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, Kennedy Center Honors, The Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, the Polar Music Prize, Prince of Asturias Awards, the Pulitzer Prize Special Citations and Awards, and the National Medal of Arts. It is time for the City of New York to finally join this list by honoring one of its most distinguished citizens.

Even though many of us consider Eternal Circle a reality already, please sign our petition and offer your support for the City of New York to come to this realization and act accordingly.

Keep On Keepin' On,

Delores DiGiovanni
"Being part of the Dylan generation in Greenwich Village; his ideas and music ignited a sense of individuality. The presence of Bob Dylan in New York was part of a positive and exciting time of change, a renewal of ideas. His style and creativity cannot be surpassed."

Jason Keis
“Dylan is the exemplar of the New York story. He has shown there is an inherent art to living and self invention, which can only be manifested by free will. The fine line between artist and person is immediately diminished at the very instant one acts upon the realization that our life journeys are our own to make. New York necessitates such individual creativity. We are essentially all artists. It is up to us to create our own masterpieces.”

Jake Kuhnle
"Eternal Circle goes beyond just celebrating what Dylan has accomplished the past 50 years. As a fellow Midwest native who also shed his roots to come out to New York, I have been deeply inspired by this journey of self realization that this great city inspires in all artists and dreamers who call it home. Bob Dylan epitomizes this journey perfectly, and few can compare with his talent and his impact on the world. To me Eternal Circle is a celebration of Dylan as well as all poets, musicians and artists who have come through New York both past, present and those yet to come. We are Eternal."

Brian Slattery
"When we are long gone, Bob Dylan’s music will remain. It is timeless and speaks to all people of every generation. He would not be the artist he is today if he did not come to New York City. With all respect to his hometown, Bob Dylan is a New Yorker and should be celebrated as such."