Union Square Park152

An eyesore as recently as the 1970s, 3-and-1/2-acre Union Square Park has gradually evolved into a dynamic, attractive, and heavily utilized park space.

The stone and pavement plaza on the south end is dominated by an enormous equine statue of George Washington and is flanked by two subway kiosks. The center of the park is a large lawn, which is sometimes partially or totally off-limits when the grass is being seeded. When it's open it's a very pleasant, shady place to sit and relax.

At the center of the lawn is the Independence Flagstaff, a beautifully sculpted bronze edifice constructed in 1926 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of US independence. There's a procession of several figures for children to identify (a native American, various workers, etc), and underfoot are stars for each of the (then) 48 states. The Declaration is inscribed in bronze at the south side; a famous Thomas Jefferson quotation is inscribed in stone above the figures; above that is more bronze sculpted with symbols of the 13 colonies.

Union Square's new expanded, 15,000-square-foot playground is a thing of beauty, consisting of three outdoor "rooms" dedicated to different age groups. The western section, for toddlers (up to age 5), includes a large swing set, climbing platforms with slides, and a sand and water play area. The center area beckons school-aged children (ages 5-12) with play equipment and a spray shower. And the eastern area offers a climbing and sliding dome, monkey bars and a tube slide. Surrounding the space are beautifully landscaped gardens with dozens of new trees.

In the summertime, the area of the playground in front of the Pavilion transforms into a miniature water park with a fountain and misters.

On Mon, Wed, Fri, and Sat, the Greenmarket, occupies the paved area across the entire north side of Union Square. However, because of ongoing construction, the North Plaza is closed and the Greenmarket has moved to the South Plaza.