1) It is hot, sparse, and unattractive. There is no greenery, few trees and even the trees that do live (4 out of 12 have died) are not in the right place to shade anything. It is a long, narrow space with hot basketball courts next to a busy road--it's pointless. If it were green space at least you could sit and rest. Also, it is silly not to have a water fountain when you have such an active area with children. There should be a place for quiet enjoyment. It's an active park in a bad way.
2) It makes sense to have a corridor go all the way to the river for the residents in the interior, because as it is this park ends right here at the building. Where does it lead you? To a 43-story building with a parking structure, instead of allowing it to continue to the waterfront, as in the Alternate Plan.