Long one of the city’s great public spaces, Union Square Park is known to New Yorkers both as a stage for historic events and a hub for daily activity. Originally opened in 1839, the current renovation of Union Square Park has been ongoing since the 1980’s. The first phase rebuilt the area south of 16th Street, creating new, redesigned paths and lighting. In 2002, the second phase reconstructed and expanded the park’s southeastern triangle and southwest border.

The third and final phase of the renovation of Union Square Park, the North End Project, will complete restoration of one of New York City's most important and historic public places. The planned improvements include unifying the two existing playgrounds, which will nearly triple its total size from 5,135 square feet to 15,307 feet; planting trees along the northern and western perimeters of the park; repaving the public plaza; rehabilitating the historic Pavilion; and creating new public restrooms for park users including a men's room and women's room as well as dedicated family room with dedicated access from the playground.

The North End Project is a collaboration between the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation and the Union Square Partnership. The Parks Department has sought and received public comment on the project, which has been approved by the Art Commission and supported by the local community board. The principal purposes are to rehabilitate physically deteriorated features of Union Square Park, and to maximize its accessibility and usability.

This Week's Construction Update

Concrete was flowing in Union Square Park last week as both the southern wall of the new playground and a portion of the northern plaza foundatione were formed and poured. The location of each new tree pit is now visible as well as bollard locations that will house electric hookups for Greenmarket use. With the foundation now set, crews will soon shift the temporay pedestrian walkway to the northern edge of the site in order to finish excavating the remainder of the plaza.

This week, preparations are underway to begin excavating 17th Street to replace the traffic island at Park Avenue South. Traffic patterns will be maintained, but will shift slightly to the south, and temporary traffic signals will be installed on the site while work is underway at the island.

Also in the upcoming week, the contractor will begin to install patterned hexagonal paving blocks that will give a sense of the final plaza design treatment. Structural work on the Pavilion, including column shoring and floor underpinning, also continues. 

Question of the Week

Question:  What happened to the newsstand at the northwest corner of the park?

Answer:  The newsstand is now closed for the duration of the construction project and a new one will open in the same location once the project is complete.

Past Construction Updates

July 30, 2008

June 18, 2008

June 11, 2008

June 2, 2008

May 26, 2008

May 19, 2008