Dante Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dante Park |
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Statue of author and poet Dante Alighieri in Dante Park opposite the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts
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| Location | Upper West Side, Manhattan, New York City |
| Area | 0.14 acres (0.057 ha) |
| Created | 1921 |
| Operated by | New York City Department of Parks and Recreation |
Dante Park is a small public park in Manhattan, New York City. You can find it in the Upper West Side neighborhood, right across from Lincoln Center and close to Central Park. It's a quiet spot where people can relax and enjoy a bit of green space in the busy city.
About Dante Park
Dante Park was created in 1921. It was built by Italian-Americans living in New York. They wanted to honor a famous Italian poet named Dante Alighieri. He lived a long time ago, from 1265 to 1321.
The park is on a special triangular piece of land. It sits where Broadway, Columbus Avenue, and West 64th Street meet. This makes it a unique and easy-to-spot location.
The Story Behind the Statue
The idea for a statue of Dante started around 1912. A man named Carlo Barsotti had this idea. He was the editor of an Italian-American newspaper called Il Progresso Italo-Americano.
Carlo Barsotti first wanted a very large statue of Dante. He hoped to put it in Times Square. But it was hard to raise enough money for such a big project. So, they decided on a smaller statue instead.
The famous artist Ettore Ximenes created this smaller statue. It was finally put up in Dante Park in 1921. This year was special because it was 600 years after Dante's death.
Park Improvements and Connections
Dante Park got some updates in the early 1990s. The nearby Radisson Empire Hotel helped pay for these changes. The statue of Dante was also carefully repaired at this time.
Did you know there's another statue just like this one? A copy of the Dante Alighieri statue from Dante Park is in Meridian Hill Park in Washington, D.C.. It's cool to think that the same artwork can be in two different cities!
Gallery
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Dante Park and the poet's statue at night.
