"I hope for the experience of people standing together, turning their backs to the city and facing this, and hearing the leaves rustle. Well, maybe it won't be as bucolic as at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, but I know you will feel removed from the city"

Michael Arad's quote evokes a vision of common reflection and reconnection with nature in the middle of an urban setting. At its core, Arad's hope is for individuals to collectively step away from the pressure of city life, symbolized by "turning their backs to the city", and immerse themselves in a minute of tranquility and introspection. The act of dealing with far from the city signifies a deliberate detachment from the pressures and sound of city existence, enabling a temporary escape into a more tranquil and grounding environment.

When Arad mentions "hearing the leaves rustle", it underscores the yearning for simple, natural experiences typically lost in the mechanized and artificial city landscape. This imagery of rustling leaves recommends a return to nature, a sensory experience that urban occupants might long for but hardly ever come across in their every day lives. The notion of rustling leaves is emblematic of nature's calm, a subtle soundtrack that contrasts dramatically with city noise.

Though Arad acknowledges that the experience "won't be as bucolic as at the Brooklyn Navy Yard", he still insists on its worth. This phrase hints at a concession to the realities of city spaces-- they may not offer the idyllic pastoral scenes found in more secluded settings-- however even within the city, there exist pockets of peacefulness efficient in offering a sense of removal and peace.

Eventually, Arad desires to create an area where people can feel briefly distanced from city mayhem. This sense of removal is not physical moving however a mental and emotional respite. By promoting such experiences, Arad provides a vision of healing and unity through shared minutes of quiet reflection, reinforcing the concept that even in the heart of a city, individuals can find methods to connect with nature and each other.