Who would’ve known?
Between Warren Street and Murray, in lower Manhattan’s Battery Park City, is a small public park. I bet you’re thinking a nice little manicured lawn with some swing sets in between some high rises. Wrong.
Well it is small (1.8 acres) and it is nestled between several apartment towers and it was designed primarily for children. But the design intent makes it even more interesting. I hadn’t given much thought to how natural environments are widely recognized as an important part of early childhood development. Since most parks remove plants in favor of equipment, Teardrop Park was designed to address this gap by offering adventure and sanctuary while engaging their minds and bodies. As I strolled the grounds all I could think of was… how incredible for playing hide-and-seek or pretending that you’re Tarzan! Do children even do this today?
The park is filled with waterfalls, interactive water fountains, huge pieces of natural stone and plantings contributing to textures everywhere. My favorite, the Ice Wall is complete with a moving sheet of purified water that skims across panels of rippled blue stone. Can’t wait to see this in the winter time!
The name teardrop? Simply after the shape of the garden on the original blueprints.
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