Central Park

The Daily Plant : Friday, October 13, 2000

THE NEW FOLEY SQUARE

Yesterday morning, Mayor Rudolph (Eagle) Giuliani and Commissioner Henry J. (StarQuest) Stern cut the ribbon at Foley Square Park in lower Manhattan, welcoming visitors into the redesigned and reconstructed space—an urban garden and meeting place that joins six distinct open air properties into one unified, five acre park. The goal of this reconstruction was to create a park suitable for public assembly, and one that would draw individuals out of doors and into an attitude of rest and reflection.

Elements of the project include the creation of a two-tiered plaza lined with hex-blocks; a black granite amphitheater with a center foundation; flares of blue rock cut into the pavement leading to additional public space in front of the government buildings surrounding the square; World’s Fair benches; London plane and Linden trees; holly and rose bushes; old fashioned lighting fixtures; and a towering black granite sculpture. Five bronze medallions installed throughout the park tell the rich history of the square and its surrounds. Two gathering places were also created. One large 100?diameter circle is located around the fountain, and a 60?diameter section lies inside the northern section of the park named for Thomas Paine. The Capital Projects division worked with multiple city and state agencies to bring this terrific $18 million project to completion.

THIRTEEN YEARS AGO IN THE PLANT

(Friday, October 16, 1987)

TRUMP SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH PARKS TO MANAGE CENTRAL PARK SKATING RINKS

Standing next to the tear-shaped Wollman Rink, Commissioner Stern and Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization Anthony Gliedman Wednesday announced that an agreement had been signed for Trump Ice Inc. to manage Central Park’s Wollman and Lasker skating rinks.

“There is no leak. There was no leak. And we fixed the leak,?said Commissioner Stern when asked about the current condition of Wollman Rink.

QUOTATION FOR THE DAY

Chance is part of reality: we are continually shaped by the forces of coincidence, the unexpected occurs with almost numbing regularity in our lives.

Paul Auster (b. 1947)

Know Before You Go

Harlem Meer Center (formerly Lasker Rink)

Harlem Meer Center