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Parks in New York City: Gramercy Park

By Jeff Myers


Gramercy Park is a non-public fenced-in park found between East 20th Street and East 21st Street in the Manhattan part of NYC. Gramercy Park's history is just as rich and varied as New York City itself. The area that's now Gramercy Park Manhattan started out as swamp land. In 1831, a developer named Samuel B. Ruggles (1800-1881) put forth the suggestion of a park on the property then owned by James Duane called Gramercy Farm.

Gramercy Park began with the draining of swamp land and the creation of parcels of land around what became the park. First landscaping of the private park began, encircled by a fence erected in 1833 that still exists today, occurred over the next 15 years. Additional planting in 1916 softened the park's proper and formal design. Gramercy Park NY was opened to Union soldiers in 1863 to express thanks for shielding the park in the time of the the Civil War.

Gramercy Park history contains the areas surrounding the park. The Player's Club and a couple of the city's first residences are among the noted architectural structures in the area. A statue of 19th century actor Edwin Booth as Hamlet was placed in the park by The Player's Club in 1916. Many of the city's oldest churches are found in the area with a previous Underground Railroad location. A Victorian mansion that once served as a home for once NY governor Samuel J. Tilden. It is also home to one or two charity foundations that are also located in the historic areas surrounding the Gramercy.

There was an attempted effort to run a cable car through Gramercy Park in 1890, but it was defeated by those wanting to preserve the park. In 1966, part of the park was appointed a historic district. The area encompassing the park was officially placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. A 4.5 ton bronze sculpture known as Fantasy Fountain was added in 1983. Gramercy Park remains one of New York's two privately owned parks, owned by the owners of the encompassing properties as intended by Mr. Ruggles when he first suggested the concept for a park in 1831. Presently, the park is still famous for its flowers that bloom in early spring and lush greenery that liven up the park well into autumn.

The land surrounding the park has retained its sense of style, regularly compared to London's West End. Zoning laws mean no building in the area is higher than 20 stories tall. Nevertheless, the majority of the buildings in the area are just three to six stories tall. Gramercy Park Hotel was added to the location in 1925 and remains a popular place for New York visitors to visit. A set of cafes and bars known as Irving Place remains a preferred place for New York locals and visitors to visit. The history of Gramercy Park is as rich and diverse as New York City itself and continues to provide a great place for all who enjoy the park.




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