A Visit to The Restored Bryant Park and Its Surrounding Areas
A few months back I went to Bryant Park in New York’s Midtown to meet…
Bryant Park is located behind the New York Public Library just off of Fifth Avenue. I sat in one spot and just photographed. This is my visit to the restored Bryant Park and its surrounding areas.
The 9.6 acre park is a privately managed public park situated between Fifth and Sixth (Avenue of the Americas) and between 40th and 42nd Street. In other words, between Times Square and Grand Central Terminal – in the heart of mid-town Manhattan.
A statue of the poet and journalist, William Cullen Bryant sits at the center of the back overlooking the park which has his name.
Back when I lived in New York (and we are talking in the eighties here), I remember being terrified to walk near this park, it was a location of “ill repute” to put it mildly. But now, having come back, I am amazed at the transformation.
After a bit of sleuthing on my part I was surprised to learn that stacks were built in 1988, underneath the great lawn. That was the starting point for a major overhaul.
During the period of “ill repute” the park was not safe and felt cut off from the rest of the city. The renovations lowered the park by a few feet and opened it up to the outside with new entrances which made the area safe for all visitors.
There is also a carousel in keeping with the French styling of the park.
Looking up at the tall buildings upon buildings surrounding the area.
On the Sixth Avenue side we see lots of modern skyscrapers such as this tall glass building and the one to its right which is the Bank of America Financial Center.
The Fountain Terrace has plentiful seating that is movable, adding to the feeling of the public being in control. There is also a reading room where visitors can borrow books to read in their spare time and where events are hosted.
Summertime, the lawn hosts a weekly movie night event, and Broadway concerts.
The Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain is made of Stony Creek granite and bronze. It is the first major monument in the city, to honor a female who was a social worker. It was installed in 1912 and relocated to its present site in 1936.
It is also known as the W.R. Grace Building and is famous for its curved vertical facade on both sides. Yes, it looks as if it is going to topple over.
On the southwest corner of the park we can see the Bank of China which recently built this skyscraper.
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I love New York City, it’s such a civilised place! Lovely photos of this special part of it…
Thanks for taking part in the Travel Tuesday meme.
I’m not sure exactly how to find your current post, but there are some very fine shadows in this collection. Thanks!