Mitchel Square Park facts for kids
Mitchel Square Park is a small, green space in New York City. It is located in the Washington Heights area of Manhattan. This park has a unique triangle shape. It is split into two parts by busy streets. These streets are Saint Nicholas Avenue, Broadway, and 167th Street.
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Exploring Mitchel Square Park
The park is divided into two main sections. The southern part is a peaceful, grassy area. It is surrounded by an iron fence. Here you can find benches to relax on. You will also see large rocks sticking out of the ground. These rocks are made of a special type of stone. It is called Manhattan schist.
The World War I Memorial
The northern part of Mitchel Square Park is very important. It features a special monument. This monument honors those who served in World War I. The sculpture was created by a famous artist. Her name was Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney.
Details of the Sculpture
The monument shows three bronze figures. One figure is a wounded sailor. A Marine helps to support him. An army private also bends down to speak to the wounded man. This powerful sculpture won an award in 1923. It was called "the most meritorious monument erected during the year." This award came from the New York Society of Architects.
The Monument's Message
The bronze figures stand on a strong granite base. Words are carved into this base. They read: “Erected by the people of Washington Heights and Inwood in commemoration of the men who gave their lives in the World War.” The monument was put up on Memorial Day in May 1922. At that time, people only knew about one "World War." The sculpture is surrounded by a fence. There are also plants around it.
Park History
Before it was named Mitchel Square Park, this area had a different name. It was once known as Audubon Square.
