"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."
As the first major public waterfront plaza built on the Hudson River, the Plaza was commissioned by the Battery Park City Authority as part of its public art program, and was conceived as a multi-purpose space, providing the pleasure of variety via a range of open space for individuals, intimate groups, as well as large public gatherings. Starting from the north, there is the wide-open space of the court outside the Winter Garden, with plenty of room for outdoor concerts, lunchtime gatherings, jogging, and other activities. Along the eastern edge of North Cove is seating designed by Scott Burton. Here you can watch the sunset and read passages from Walt Whitman and Frank O’Hara celebrating the exhilarating spirit of New York City, which Siah Armajani designed into the railings along the water. At the southern edge of the plaza is a more intimate park, in direct contrast to the civic scale and atmosphere of the northern part. This relaxing space has benches and tables, which line an oval lawn – perfect for quiet sitting and relaxation.
