Court Square Park (Rendering: Parks Dept.)
July 2, 2020 By Christian Murray
Court Square Park will be undergoing a $4 million upgrade and the Parks Department has released preliminary design plans.
The project will feature a new central lawn that will take the place of the fountain. The redesign also includes new seating, games tables and additional plantings.
The loss of the fountain has received a mixed reception, according to Frank Wu, president of the Court Square Civic Association. He said many people believe it adds character and has history.
The park, which is about half an acre in size, is located directly in front of the courthouse, an ornate building at 25-10 Court Square. The park’s best known feature has been the fountain.
Design Plan (Parks Dept.)
However, Wu said that many residents—particularly those with families—believe the lawn provides more room for children to play and provides more space for programming and pop-up markets.
Lisa Deller, chair of Community Board 2, said that Parks Dept. told her that the fountain had to be removed since it is in poor condition and would be expensive to repair and maintain.
Deller said that residents—such as Wu– have been pushing for other water features, such as an interactive spray area, given the loss of the fountain. The spray area could be used by children and it also has a cooling component.
The Parks Dept. confirmed this week that it would be including an interactive spray area in the park, something that was not in the initial plans presented to residents.
Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2021 and take about a year to complete. The project is being funded by the mayor’s office.
Court Square Park in its current condition ( Parks Dept.)
Court Square Park (Rendering: Parks Dept.)
One Comment
I think the re-design looks good, but is lacking in a replacement of the 115 year old fountain, a place for dogs to enjoy with their owners, who are just as important as people with kids, and it’s missing a shelter for inclement weather