Battery Park (New York) - Definition and Overview

The promenade of Battery Park City is an extension of Battery Park.

Battery Park is a 21 acre (8.5 hectare) park located at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City. The park is named for the artillery that was stationed there at various times by the Dutch and British. At one end of the park is Hope Garden, a memorial to AIDS victims. At the other end, ferries depart for the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

To the northwest of the park lies Battery Park City, an area of landfill redevelopment built in the 1970s and 80s. Its promenade (illustration, right) continues the green space of Battery Park up the Hudson shoreline.

History

Battery Park was created by landfill during the 19th century, creating a treed open space at the foot of the heavily built-up mainland of Manhattan Island. Skyscrapers now occupy the original land, stopping abruptly where the park begins.

Within the park lies Castle Clinton, an American fort built on a small off-shore island immediately prior to the War of 1812 and named for mayor DeWitt Clinton. When the land of Battery Park was created, the island was enclosed by land.

The fort became property of the city after the war and was renamed Castle Garden. It is currently known again by its original name.

External link

• The Battery Conservancy (http://www.thebattery.org/)

See also

Battery Park (disambiguation page)