Liberty Park facts for kids
|
||||||||||||||||||
Liberty Park is a 1-acre (4,000 m2) elevated public park in New York City. It is part of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan. The park looks out over the National September 11 Memorial & Museum.
Liberty Park opened on June 29, 2016. It is built on top of the World Trade Center's Vehicular Security Center. Inside the park, you can find the St. Nicholas National Shrine. You can also see The Sphere, a famous sculpture saved from the World Trade Center site. Another important statue, America's Response Monument, is also in the park.
Contents
History of Liberty Park
Construction of Liberty Park started in 2013. The park was built on top of the Vehicular Security Center. This center helps protect the World Trade Center area from unwanted vehicles.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spent about $50 million to build the park. Liberty Park officially opened its doors to the public on June 29, 2016. Later, in August 2017, the famous sculpture The Sphere was placed in the park. It now overlooks its original spot from before the 9/11 events.
What You'll Find in Liberty Park
Liberty Park can hold up to 750 people at one time. It serves as the roof for the Vehicular Security Center below.
One special feature is a "living wall" on the park's north side. This wall is 336 feet (102 m) long and 20 feet (6.1 m) tall. It has 826 panels filled with different plants like periwinkle and ivy.
A curving walkway leads through the park. You can enter or leave the park using three stairways, a pedestrian bridge, or a ramp down to Greenwich Street. There are also wooden benches where you can relax. At the west end, there's a small amphitheater-like area. This spot faces West Street.
Along Liberty Street, there's a continuous overlook. There's also a gently curving balcony near the church. A young tree, grown from a seed of the Anne Frank tree, is located in the park's southeastern corner.
The park offers great views of the National September 11 Memorial & Museum. It also connects to the Liberty Street Bridge. The St. Nicholas Church, which was destroyed on September 11, is being rebuilt inside the park. The new church was designed by Santiago Calatrava. The park is about 25 feet (7.6 m) above Liberty Street.
The Sphere Sculpture
The Sphere is a large bronze sculpture created by German artist Fritz Koenig. It used to stand between the original World Trade Center towers.
After the September 11 attacks in 2001, The Sphere was found in the rubble. It was damaged but still mostly together. For a while, its future was uncertain, and it was stored away.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey decided to move the sculpture to Liberty Park. This park was being built on top of the security center. In August 2017, The Sphere was moved to its new home in Liberty Park. On September 6, 2017, it was officially shown to the public. It now stands in Liberty Park, looking out over the World Trade Center site.
America's Response Monument
The America's Response Monument is a bronze statue. It honors the brave actions of U.S. Special Operations Forces. These forces were among the first to respond during the War in Afghanistan.
The statue was first shown to the public on November 11, 2011, during the Veteran's Day Parade in New York City. Vice President Joe Biden helped dedicate the statue.
The base of the sculpture has its name, America's Response Monument. It also has the Latin words De Oppresso Liber. This phrase means "to free the oppressed." It is the motto of the Green Berets, who inspired the monument. A piece of steel from the original World Trade Center is placed in the statue's base. This monument is the first public statue to honor United States special forces.
The statue cost $750,000, which was donated by many private citizens. Some of these donors were survivors of the September 11 attacks. The statue was first placed temporarily inside a building near Ground Zero. On September 13, 2016, the statue was moved and rededicated in Liberty Park. It now stands on an elevated spot on the south side of Ground Zero.
St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church
The original St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church was destroyed during the September 11 attacks. In July 2008, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey made a deal to buy the land where the church once stood.
Later, there were some disagreements about rebuilding the church. However, a new plan was eventually made. Architect Santiago Calatrava was chosen to design the new St. Nicholas Church. His design was inspired by famous old churches in Istanbul.
The new church is being built inside Liberty Park. Its location is just east of where the original church stood. Construction on the new church began in early 2014. After some delays, it is expected to be finished in 2021. The church is made of steel and concrete, with a stone exterior. The inside of the church is still being designed.
See also
In Spanish: Liberty Park para niños
