GreenAcre Park

51st between Second and Third Aves.
New York, NY

Contributed by Project for Public Spaces

One of New York City's famed "vest pocket-parks," providing an emerald-green sanctuary for east-side residents and workers.

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Why It Works

Like its sister vest-pocket park, Paley Park, Greenacre Park has the basic ingredients of a good public space:

1. It is located directly on the street so that people are attracted to look and to go in.
2. There is good, reasonably priced food.
3. There are movable chairs and tables so people can be comfortable and can have some control over where they sit.
4. A waterfall provides a focal point and a dramatic reason to visit the park and its noise creates a sense of quiet and privacy.
5. There is shade in the summer from the trees yet their thin structure allows a beautiful dappled light to pass through.
6. Overhead heat lamps on the upper level heat the park in cool weather.

GreenAcre Park functions as a living room for the community and the "regulars: who use it make a significant contribution to the safety of the park.

History & Background

With a 25-foot-high waterfall cascading over the rear wall, skillfully landscaped trees and plantings, an outdoor cafe, and shady arbors, the park was designed to make the most of its small size. Built in 1971 by the Greenacre Foundation, (founded two years earlier by Mrs. Jean Mauze, the former Abby Rockefeller) the park was developed to provide New Yorkers with "some moments of serenity in this busy world." The park's award-winning designs were created by Hideo Sasaki, former chairman of Harvard's Landscape Architecture Department, and Harmon Goldstone, who served as consultant. Greenacre park is heavily used, but not enough to make it feel busy.

The Greenacre Foundation, which owns and masterfully maintains the park, also operates a reference center at 457 Madison Avenue (51st Street) in conjunction with The Municipal Arts Society.

Contact Info:

Greenacre Foundation, 30 Rockefeller Plaza #5600, New York, NY, 212-649-5691

User Comments:

> Add your own comment about GreenAcre Park

08/08/03 Mark Lentz said:: I past this park on my way to the laundromat and particularly agree with the comment about the beauty of the dappled light.
Here are some more pictures of the park:
http://www.nycjpg.com/2003/pages/0805.html
01/07/05 Carl Juneau said:: I've been to a number of world-class cities. When I travel to New York, I often stay in the hotel across the street from Greenacre Park. This park is at the top of my list for its ability to draw visitors in and provide some quiet respite from the daily hustle and bustle. Some of my fondest memories of New York are sitting in Greenacre Park in warm autumn sunlight, quietly sipping coffee and reading a newspaper.
12/14/05 Bronwyn Jackson said:: Greenacre is my oasis in New York. I pull up a chair as close as possible to the waterfall and when I close my eyes, I imagine myself back on my local beach in Australia. Some of my best friends in New York are fellow Greenacre visitors.
Bronwyn Jackson. Australian, living in Midtown.
06/06/06 Kimberly Randolph said:: I arrived in NYC to meet my cousin and her friend who flew in from Detroit to do some shopping. As we had dinner, they talked about this beautiful,"sitting area" that they stumbled onto while taking a walk. The next day after breakfast, we went there and I couldn't believe how beautiful,serene and refreshing this "resting area" was... People were smiling, we took pictures with the caretakers who had great smiles. I wanted to take my shoes off and jump in, but I didn't want to be arrested. What a great place to commune with GOD. We sat there for 2 hours. We owe A.Rockerfeller Mauze a big thank you for private public spaces. Kim, Kansas City, Mo.
11/19/06 Brendan Roeder said:: While GreenAcre Park certainly is a nice, simple place to relax, it just doesn't quite measure up to Paley Park, only down the street from it. It's taken a lot of the elements from Paley Park, including the waterfall and the types of trees, seating, and flooring, but doesn't, in my opinion, use them in as good a fashion. It's a bit too close to the street as well, whereas Paley offers a nice separation. Still a beautiful park, but check out Paley down the block for a nicer atmosphere.
09/09/09 Eddie Donnelly said:: Greenacre park is a wonderful oasis in a city as wired up as New York city.I came across it when staying at the Pickwick Arms hotel across the street,now called another name in about 1999. I could'nt believe my eyes, and ears,It was such a memorable moment because i thought i was the only person who knew about this wonderful place...and that is what it does to you,it makes you feel, this is your own very special peaceful bit of New York City.I have been back about four times since 99,and i always make my way down to E51st to grab myself a coffie and apple cinnamon pie and just sit there for an hour or two and just watch people come and go, ( i think i'm there right now )and I.m thinking what are these people doing in MY park !!!....Love you New York and cannot wait to see you again