Spring Street Park facts for kids

Looking south from Spring Street.

The statue of José Gervasio Artigas at Dominick Street.

Spring Street Park is a small park in lower Manhattan, a busy area of New York City. It is located in a neighborhood called Hudson Square. The park is shaped like a triangle. It is surrounded by Spring Street to the north and Broome Street to the south. On its east side is Avenue of the Americas, also known as Sixth Avenue. A small street, which is part of Sixth Avenue, runs along its west side. This park used to be a walking area called SoHo Square.

History of Spring Street Park

Spring Street Park was created a long time ago. It appeared when Sixth Avenue was made longer, stretching south from Carmine Street. Many other similar public spaces were also created this way.

The Statue of José Artigas

In 1945, Sixth Avenue was renamed "Avenue of the Americas." To honor this name, a large statue was placed in the park. This statue is of General José Artigas. He was a very important leader from Uruguay, a country in South America. He is a national hero there because he helped Uruguay become independent.

The statue in Spring Street Park is a copy of another statue. The original was made by a Uruguayan artist named José Luis Zorrilla de San Martín. The first statue has been in front of the Uruguayan National Bank in Montevideo since 1949.

Who Manages the Park?

The land where Spring Street Park sits belongs to the New York City Department of Transportation. This department helps manage roads and transportation in the city. The park is kept nice by two groups. One is the Hudson Square Business Improvement District (BID). The other is the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. They work together to make sure the park is clean and well-maintained.

Park Redesign and Features

Starting in April 2017, the Hudson Square BID began to make the park even better. They wanted to give it a fresh new look. This big project cost a lot of money. The BID gave $3 million. The New York City Economic Development Corporation added $2 million. The New York City Council also contributed $1 million.

What's New in the Park?

The redesign brought many new things to Spring Street Park. There are now 160 places for people to sit. Some of these are special "swivel seats" that can turn around. The park also has new, energy-saving lights. A total of 42 new trees were planted, along with other plants.

One important change was moving the statue of General Artigas. It was placed in a more central spot in the park. This makes it easier for everyone to see and appreciate.

Why the Redesign?

The main goal of the redesign was to create a "world-class green space." This means a really great park that people will enjoy for many years. Corey Johnson, a member of the City Council, said this was the aim. Making the plaza into a beautiful park is a key part of the Hudson Square BID's plan. This plan aims to improve the streets and public areas in the neighborhood. The park partly opened again in August 2018. It was fully open to the public two months later.

Nearby Places

Several interesting places are located around Spring Street Park. These include:

• The Dahesh Museum of Art
• The Chelsea Career & Technical Education High School
• The NYC iSchool
• The HERE Arts Center

Signage at the northern entrance of the park.