Zuccotti Park

Zuccotti Park (formerly Liberty Plaza Park) is a 33000 sqft publicly accessible park in the Financial District of Lower Manhattan in New York City. It is located in a privately owned public space (POPS) controlled by Brookfield Properties [1][2] and Goldman Sachs. Zuccotti Park is bounded by Broadway to the east, Liberty Street to the north, Trinity Place to the west, and Cedar Street to the south.

The park was created in 1968 by Pittsburgh-based United States Steel, after the property owners negotiated its creation with city officials. It was named Liberty Plaza Park because it was situated one block south of One Liberty Plaza. The park's northwest corner is across the street from Four World Trade Center. It has been popular with local tourists and financial workers.

The park was heavily damaged in the September 11 attacks and subsequent recovery efforts of 2001. The plaza was later used as the site of several events commemorating the anniversary of the attacks. After renovations in 2006, the park was renamed by its current owners,

History

The site was the location of the first coffeehouse in colonial New York City, The King's Arms which opened under the ownership of Lieutenant John Hutchins in 1696. It stood on the west side of Broadway between Crown (now Liberty) Street and Little Queen (now Cedar) Street.[3] On November 5, 1773, summoned by the Sons of Liberty, a huge crowd assembled outside the coffee house to denounce the Tea Act, and agents of the East India Trading Company who were handling cargoes of dutied tea. It was perhaps the first public demonstration in opposition to the Tea Act in the American colonies.[4]

The park was created in 1968 or the early 1970s by Pittsburgh-based United States Steel, after the property owners negotiated its creation with city officials, in return for a height bonus for an adjacent building at the time of its construction.[5] The structure, One Liberty Plaza, replaced the demolished Singer Building and City Investing Building.

The park is home to a signpost for Temple Street, a "ghost street" which appeared on Manhattan maps as early as 1695, but was redeveloped out of existence by the early 1970s.[6]

September 11 attacks and renovation

The park was one of the few open spaces with tables and seats in the Financial District. Located one block from the World Trade Center, it was covered with debris, and subsequently used as a staging area for the recovery efforts after the destruction of the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. As part of the Lower Manhattan rebuilding efforts, the park was regraded, trees were planted, and the tables and seating restored. Those who were working in the Zuccotti Park staging area of the recovery efforts, along with those who were living and working South of Houston Street in the months after the 9/11 attacks, have continued to develop cancers and other illnesses, for which they can seek compensation through the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. Located near Zuccotti Park is the law firm of Pitta & Baione LLP, which serves as a local office for those who were impacted by these events and are seeking legal recourse.

On June 1, 2006, the park reopened after an $8 million renovation designed by Cooper, Robertson & Partners. It was renamed Zuccotti Park in honor of John E. Zuccotti, former City Planning Commission chairman and first deputy mayor under Abe Beame and the then-chairman of Brookfield Properties,[7] which used private money to renovate the park. Currently, the park has a wide variety of trees, granite sidewalks, tables and seats, as well as lights built into the ground, which illuminate the area.

photo	Zuccotti Park Spring 2015.JPG
photo width	350
photo caption	Zuccotti Park in New York City in May 2015
type	Plaza
location	Financial District, Manhattan, New York City, U.S.
coords	40.70923°N, -74.01125°W
area	33000 sqft
created	1968
etymology	John Eugene Zuccotti, Brookfield Properties CEO
operator	Brookfield Properties
status	Open all year

History

September 11 attacks and renovation

Sculptures

See also

External links

References

Occupy Wall Street