Tricentennial Park (Albany, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tricentennial Park |
|
|---|---|
Tricentennial Park as seen from across Broadway
|
|
| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Albany, New York |
| Created | 1986 |
| Operated by | City of Albany |
Tricentennial Park is a special urban park in Albany, New York. It was built to celebrate the city's 300th anniversary of becoming an official city. The park features several interesting statues and monuments. It takes up an entire block, bordered by Broadway, Columbia Street, James Street, and Steuben Street. The idea for the park came about in 1914, but it was finally built in 1986. This happened during Albany's big 300-year celebration, along with the renovation of the Albany Union Station building.
Contents
The Park's Story: How Tricentennial Park Began
The idea for a park here first came up in 1914. Architects Arnold W. Brunner and Charles Downing Lay included it in their city plan. They wanted it to be a welcoming spot for visitors arriving by train. These visitors would come to the Albany Union Station right across the street.
The park was built in 1986 on what used to be a large parking lot. This was part of the celebrations for Albany's 300th birthday as a city. The city became official under the Dongan Charter. The park cost $378,000 to build. A company called Norstar Bancorp paid for the statues placed in the park. At that time, Norstar was turning the old Union Station into their main office.
The park officially opened on September 19, 1986. This grand opening happened at the same time Norstar's new headquarters opened. The event included fireworks, a laser show, and a performance by Up with People. Important people like Governor Mario Cuomo and Mayor Whalen attended. Less than a year later, a statue in the park was damaged. A woman claimed responsibility, saying she was protesting property assessment increases.
A Look into the Future: The Time Capsule
A special time capsule was placed in Tricentennial Park. It's a 100-pound box, about 1 foot deep, 2 feet wide, and 3 feet long. The Tebbutts family, who own a funeral home in Albany, built and paid for the box.
The time capsule holds many interesting items. It includes a video of Mayor Thomas Whalen III and the head of the Tricentennial Committee. There's also a book written by two 8th-grade students about their daily life. Students from Catholic Central High School made a model of the Empire State Plaza. Other items were chosen from a competition. These included a pamphlet from the First Church in Albany. William Kennedy's novel O' Albany was also added. City development plans were included, to be compared to the city in 100 years. The capsule is set to be opened in 2086.
Art and History: Park Monuments
The first statue in Tricentennial Park was a 6-foot, 4-inch bronze copy of the official Albany city seal. Hy Rosen, a cartoonist for the Albany Times Union newspaper, designed and created it. This statue is more detailed than the actual city seal. For example, the generic boat on the Hudson River became the specific Half Moon ship. The general tree became a birch, and the Native American's bow does not have a string.
In 2005, a bronze statue of Albany's 73rd mayor, Thomas Whalen III, was added. It also features his golden retriever named Finn McCool. The statue shows the mayor sitting on a park bench with his hand on his dog's head. Mayor Whalen is the only Albany mayor to have a statue built in his honor in the city. The statues of Mayor Whalen and his dog are life-size. Including the bench, the monument is 16 feet long and 15 feet wide. Hy Rosen also designed this monument.
A metal sculpture shaped like a globe was placed in the park in 2011. It shows the United States and Russia. Each country has a large star marking Albany in the US and Tula in Russia. A bridge links the two stars. Steve Kroeger designed this sculpture, called Albany–Tula, Russia. It celebrates 20 years of Albany and Tula being sister cities.
Fun in the Park: Activities and Events
Tricentennial Park is a popular spot for many special events. In 2006, it hosted the "Knight in the Park" chess tournament. The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) holds a "Garden Party" fundraiser here. This party is connected to their yearly "Sculpture in the Streets" event. The city also puts on the annual "September in the City Art Fair." This fair features art, crafts, and live music for everyone to enjoy.
