Can public space ever be a sanctuary? As the Museum of Modern Art plans to tear down the walls between its bucolic sculpture garden and the rest of midtown—and forego an admission fee—people are throwing out arguments about everything from aesthetic design to economic class to the woes of children's rambunctiousness, according to a story in yesterday's New York Times.

The words of one landscape architect:

“It has to be controlled."

The words of a scientist:

“It gets colonized by kids,” he said. “Then the peace ends.”

The words of the guy redesigning Seattle's waterfront (James Corner):

“They’re just trying to break down the walls."