Paley Park facts for kids
Paley Park is a famous small park, often called a "pocket park." You can find it in the busy Midtown Manhattan area of New York City. It's located on 53rd Street, between Madison and Fifth Avenues. This special park opened on May 23, 1967. It was designed by a company called Zion Breen Richardson Associates. Many people think Paley Park is one of the best city parks in the whole United States.
It is a privately owned public space. This means a private group owns it, but it's open for everyone to enjoy. The park was paid for by the William S. Paley Foundation. William Paley named the park after his father, Samuel Paley. A sign near the entrance says: "This park is set aside in memory of Samuel Paley, 1875–1963, for the enjoyment of the public."
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What Makes Paley Park Special?
This park is about 4,200 square feet (390 square meters) in size. It has tall, airy trees and light, easy-to-move furniture. The park's layout is simple and easy to understand.
The Amazing Waterfall
A tall waterfall, about 20 feet (6 meters) high, covers the entire back wall of the park. This waterfall is very powerful, moving about 1,800 gallons (6,800 liters) of water every minute. The sound of the waterfall creates a soft, constant noise. This "grey noise" helps to block out the loud sounds of the city. It makes the park feel calm and peaceful.
Park Design and Features
Paley Park has walls on three sides, making it feel like a quiet escape. The fourth side faces the street and has a decorative gate. Green ivy covers the walls, making them look like "vertical lawns." Above, honey locust trees form a natural roof, providing shade.
The park is a little higher than the sidewalk. You can enter by walking up four steps or using a wheelchair ramp on either side. The park uses a mix of different materials. The chairs are made of wire mesh, and the tables are marble, making them light. The ground is made of rough granite stones. These stones even extend across the sidewalk to the street. The honey locust trees are planted about 12 feet (3.7 meters) apart. The green ivy on the walls looks great next to colorful flowers.
Paley Park's Influence
Paley Park has been recognized for its excellent design. In 1968, it won an Albert S. Bard Civic Award. It shared this award with the Ford Foundation Building. The award celebrates buildings and spaces that show great architecture and city design.
A famous film called The Social Life of Small Urban Spaces studied how people use the park. The film, made by William H. Whyte, looked at how people interact and enjoy public spaces like Paley Park.
Paley Park also inspired another park in Charleston, South Carolina. This park, called Theodora Park, opened in June 2015. It is similar in size and design to Paley Park.
