Teardrop Park facts for kids
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Teardrop Park is a cool 1.8-acre public park located in lower Manhattan, a part of New York City. It's in an area called Battery Park City, which is close to the World Trade Center site.
This park was designed by a company called Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, who are experts in creating beautiful outdoor spaces. It even has special art made for it by an artist named Ann Hamilton. The park is surrounded by tall apartment buildings in Battery Park City, at the corner of Warren Street and River Terrace.
Battery Park City itself is a unique neighborhood. It was built in the 1970s by adding new land into the Hudson River! Before the park was built, this spot was just an empty, flat area. Teardrop Park was planned to be a green space surrounded by four big residential towers. Even though it's a public park for New York City, it was created for the Battery Park City Authority, and the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy helps take care of it.
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What Makes Teardrop Park Special?
Teardrop Park first opened on September 30, 2004. It's one of several parks in Battery Park City. There's another park nearby called Rockefeller Park, which has a playground with regular swings and slides. Teardrop Park was designed to be different. Experts helped create it so kids could play with natural things like water, plants, rocks, and sand, instead of just typical playground equipment.
Many people have praised Teardrop Park for using natural plants in a park for children. Some say it's often full of kids and parents, offering a wonderful natural escape from the busy city. Others thought it wasn't used much. However, a study by child development experts who helped design the park showed that it is indeed very popular and a successful public space.
Exploring the Park's Features
The park is divided into two main parts. The southern half is shadier and has lots of fun things to do. You'll find a long slide, two sand pits, "theatre steps," and a water play area there.
The northern half of the park is more open. It has a big grassy lawn that's shaped to get the most sunlight. There are also park benches, a small wetland path for playing, and a special gathering spot made from rocks from New York State. This rock installation was created by the artist Ann Hamilton.
The Big Rock Wall and Tunnel
A large rock wall separates the two main areas of the park. This wall is made from sedimentary rocks brought from other parts of New York State. The rocks are stacked to look like natural layers of earth. Water flows down the wall, which even allows icicles to form in the winter!
A short tunnel connects the two parts of the park. This tunnel is a special nod to Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park and included tunnels there too. Pathways criss-cross through Teardrop Park, giving you different views and connecting you to the city around it.
Green Design and Nature
Teardrop Park was built following "Green Guidelines" for Battery Park City. This means it uses eco-friendly ideas. For example, water collected from the nearby buildings is reused to water the park's plants. Also, the materials used to build the park are sustainable.
The plants in Teardrop Park are chosen to grow well in shady spots. They also provide a home for local birds and birds that migrate through the area. The park's soil is designed to help plants grow without needing chemical fertilizers, pesticides, or weed killers.
Teardrop Park South
In 2008, work began to expand Teardrop Park across the street to the south. This new section, called Teardrop South, was also designed by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates. It continues some of the same ideas from the original park.
Because this new area is very shady, they added three special mirrors called heliostats. These mirrors are 8 feet (about 2.4 meters) wide and reflect sunlight from the top of a nearby apartment building down into the park. These clever mirrors were designed by Carpenter Norris Consulting.
Awards
- American Society of Landscape Architects: 2009 Professional Awards
- Water Path Photos via Delta Fountains
