MAYOR GIULIANI AND PARKS COMMISSIONER HENRY STERN ANNOUNCE $2.6 MILLION EXPANSION OF UNION SQUARE PARK
Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern today announced plans to expand and improve the grounds of Union Square Park. The $2.6 million project -- $2.2 million City capital funds and $400,000 Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) funds -- will append 20,000 square feet to the Park by extending the southern boundary along Fourteenth Street to create a more accessible pedestrian thoroughfare, and by uniting surrounding gardens to the existing Park. Also attending today's event at Union Square Park was Jonathan Fanton, Co-Chairman of the 14th Street/Union Square Local Development Corporation.
"Today, I am proud to announce a $2.6 million capital project that will expand and improve Union Square Park -- another step forward in improving the overall condition of Union Square." Mayor Giuliani said. "Over the last four years, we have seen a dramatic turnaround in the City's quality of life and economic vitality. We have witnessed a resurgence of both residential and retail development, and an interest in Union Square greater than it has ever been. And what we're seeing today in Union Square is a direct result -- a cleaner and safer Union Square Park that better serves its community and all New Yorkers."
"This expansion of Union Square Park will further add to the positive changes we have already seen. I would like to thank the MTA for joining the City in making this great project a reality."
Parks Commissioner Henry J. Stern said, "This park laid out in the 19th century will be even larger in the 21st century thanks to Mayor Giuliani's historic commitment."
The Union Square Project will extend the southern boundaries 10 to 20 feet, creating a connected pedestrian passageway and linking the Park's Gandhi Gardens, monument and floral beds into one large park. In addition to this unification, the current paved parking area will be turned into a plaza adorned with different plants and trees. The half acre unification will make the grounds safer and less disjointed.
The project follows the Mayor's drug-free zones in parks initiative and several well publicized economic development projects, including a 14-screen movie theater and a new retail and residential complex with 240 apartments and 300,000 square feet of retail space.
The National Parks Service recently granted a New York City Parks & Recreation request to place Union Square Park on the National Registry of Historic Places.
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