In July of 1976, large bleachers were set up on the completed landfill as seating for “Operation Sail”, one of the first large-scale public events hosted in Battery Park City. “Operation Sail” celebrated the United States Bicentennial, the 200th anniversary of the United States Declaration of Independence.
"Battery Park City and the Authority are not just about the buildings – it’s about the character of the community that has developed over time. Public space has had a new renaissance in New York City, but here in Battery Park City is where it started."