Liberty Park
| Company type | Public park |
|---|---|
| Industry | Recreation, tourism |
| Founded | June 29, 2016 |
| Headquarters | Manhattan, New York City , United States |
Area served | Manhattan, New York City |
| Products | Elevated park, public green space |
Liberty Park is an elevated park situated at the World Trade Center in Manhattan, offering views of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. It opened on June 29, 2016, and is constructed atop the World Trade Center's Vehicular Security Center. Within the park are located the St. Nicholas National Shrine, Fritz Koenig's The Sphere—the emblematic sculpture rescued from the original site—and America's Response Monument.
History
Following the completion of the Vehicular Security Center, which provides security against unauthorized vehicles and links to the full 16-acre World Trade Center site concourse, construction of Liberty Park commenced in 2013. In December 2013, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey designated approximately $50 million for the park's creation. Liberty Park officially welcomed visitors on June 29, 2016. On August 16, 2017, The Sphere was placed within the park by the Port Authority, positioned close to its original location.
Description
Perched atop the Vehicular Security Center, Liberty Park accommodates up to 750 people. The northern side features a "living wall" stretching 336 ft in length and rising 20 ft high, composed of 826 panels planted with a variety of species including periwinkle, Japanese spurge, winter creeper, sedge, and Baltic ivy. A walkway extends from the pedestrian bridge and winds through the park, which includes three staircases, a pedestrian bridge, and a ramp leading down to Greenwich Street. Among its key features are wooden benches, a small amphitheater-style raised area facing West Street, and a continuous overlook along Liberty Street with a curved balcony adjacent to the church. Near the ramp at the southeast corner stands a sapling grown from the Anne Frank tree.
Next to Liberty Park lies the site of 5 World Trade Center, which is under development on what was once the Deutsche Bank Building lot.
Overlooking the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, Liberty Park connects to the Liberty Street Bridge. The St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, destroyed during the September 11 attacks, is being reconstructed within Liberty Park featuring a new design by Santiago Calatrava, who also designed the World Trade Center Transportation Hub. Positioned roughly 25 ft above Liberty Street, Liberty Park spans slightly more than one acre.
Location of The Sphere
The large bronze sculpture known as The Sphere, created by German sculptor Fritz Koenig, was initially positioned in Austin J. Tobin Plaza between the two World Trade Center towers in Manhattan. After the September 11 attacks in 2001, it was recovered with damage but remained intact and was subsequently installed near the Hope Garden in Battery Park.
When plans emerged to renovate Battery Park's Lawn, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ), the owner of The Sphere, explored moving it to Liberty Park, located between 90 West Street and the World Trade Center Memorial area. Since construction of Liberty Park did not begin until 2013, a temporary site was necessary, leading to the sculpture being stored during that interim.
Liberty Park opened in June 2016 without a confirmed location for The Sphere. On July 22, 2016, the Port Authority approved relocating the sculpture to Liberty Park. The move took place in August 2017, with The Sphere officially unveiled on September 6, 2017, in its permanent position overlooking the World Trade Center grounds.
America's Response Monument sculpture
Unveiled on November 11, 2011, during New York City’s Veteran's Day Parade, the America's Response Monument is a bronze statue at one and a half times life size that pays tribute to the initial efforts of U.S. Special Operations Forces in the War in Afghanistan. The dedication ceremony featured Vice President Joe Biden and Lieutenant-General John Mulholland, who commanded the U.S. Army Special Operations Command and formerly led Task Force Dagger. Soldiers from this command were also present at the event.
The monument’s base displays its name alongside the Latin phrase De Oppresso Liber, translating to "to free the oppressed," symbolizing the Green Berets who inspired this tribute. Embedded within the base is a fragment of steel from the original World Trade Center, linking it directly to 9/11. This statue represents the first public memorial dedicated to United States Army Special Forces.
Costing $750,000 to create, its funding came from hundreds of private donors, including some survivors of September 11. Initially housed in the West Street Lobby of One World Financial Center, directly across from Ground Zero, it was rededicated on September 13, 2016, in an elevated location on Ground Zero’s southern side within Liberty Park.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
On July 23, 2008, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agreed to purchase the property occupied by St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church for $20 million, with costs evenly shared between the Port Authority and JPMorgan Chase. Additionally, the Port Authority proposed investing up to $40 million for constructing a bomb-resistant platform underneath. However, negotiations ended in March 2009 due to what the Port Authority described as excessive demands by the church that could impede progress on the World Trade Center project. The Archdiocese reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding the church as a memorial and interfaith prayer space.
Architect Santiago Calatrava was selected to design the new St. Nicholas Church, drawing inspiration from Byzantine architecture exemplified by Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia and Chora Church. The reconstruction is taking place in Liberty Park at 155 Cedar Street, slightly east of its original site. Construction began in early 2014 with an anticipated completion by late 2017; it features a steel and concrete framework clad with stone materials. Following delays, construction was finalized in 2022.
External links
- Commons category: Liberty Park (Manhattan)