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Bryant Park

January 20, 2023

For other uses, see Bryant Park (disambiguation).

Bryant Park is a 9.6-acre (39,000 m2) public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan. Privately managed, it is located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue) and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan. The eastern half of Bryant Park is occupied by the Main Branch of the New York Public Library. The western half, which contains a lawn, shaded walkways, and amenities such as a carousel, is located entirely over an underground structure that houses the library's stacks. The park hosts several events, including a seasonal "Winter Village" with an ice rink and shops during the winter.

Bryant Park
The lawn in Bryant Park, with the New York Public Library Main Branch in the background
TypePublic park
Locationbetween Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°45′14″N 73°59′02″W / 40.75389°N 73.98389°W / 40.75389; -73.98389Coordinates: 40°45′14″N 73°59′02″W / 40.75389°N 73.98389°W / 40.75389; -73.98389
Area9.6 acres (3.9 ha)
Created1847
DesignerCarrère and Hastings, Lusby Simpson
EtymologyNamed for William Cullen Bryant
Operated byNew York City Department of Parks and Recreation
StatusOpen all year
AwardsDesign Merit Award from Landscape Architecture Magazine
Urban Land Institute Award for Excellence (1996)
Public transit accessSubway: ​​​​​ at 42nd Street–Bryant Park/Fifth Avenue
Bus: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M42, M55, Q32
Websitewww.bryantpark.org
New York Public Library and Bryant Park
LocationAvenue of the Americas, 5th Ave., 40th and 42nd Sts., New York, New York
Coordinates40°45′12″N 73°58′56″W / 40.75333°N 73.98222°W / 40.75333; -73.98222
Built1895
ArchitectCarrere & Hastings; Simpson, Lusby
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
NRHP reference No.66000547
Significant dates
Added to NRHPOctober 15, 1966[2]
Designated NYCLNovember 12, 1974[1]

The first park at the site was opened in 1847 and was called Reservoir Square due to its proximity to the Croton Distributing Reservoir. Reservoir Square contained the New York Crystal Palace, which hosted the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853 and burned down in 1858. The square was renamed in 1884 for abolitionist and journalist William Cullen Bryant. The reservoir was demolished in 1900 and the New York Public Library's main branch was built on the site, opening in 1911. Bryant Park was rebuilt in 1933–1934 to a plan by Lusby Simpson. After a period of decline, it was restored in 1988–1992 by architecture firms Hanna/Olin Ltd. and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates, during which the park was rebuilt and the library's stacks were built underneath. Further improvements were made in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.

Though it is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, Bryant Park is managed by the private not-for-profit organization Bryant Park Corporation, which was founded in 1980 and led the restoration of Bryant Park. The park is cited as a model for the success of public-private partnerships. The park is both a National Register of Historic Places listing and a New York City designated landmark.

History

Early history

 
Painting of the New York Crystal Palace, 1853

In 1686, when the area was still a wilderness, New York's colonial governor, Thomas Dongan, designated the area now known as Bryant Park as a public space.[3] George Washington's troops crossed the area while retreating from the Battle of Long Island in 1776. The road upon which Washington's troops retreated traversed the park site diagonally.[3][4][5] The city acquired the land in 1822.[4] Beginning in 1823, Bryant Park was designated a potter's field (a graveyard for the poor) and remained so until 1840, when thousands of bodies were moved to Wards Island.[3][5]

The first park at this site opened in 1847, though that park was never legally named.[6] It was called "Reservoir Square" after the Croton Distributing Reservoir, which was erected on the eastern side of the park site due to its elevated location.[4][3] In 1853, the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations with the New York Crystal Palace, featuring thousands of exhibitors, took place in the park.[3] The Crystal Palace, also known as the Great Exhibition Hall, burned down in 1858.[7][8] The Latting Observatory was also constructed in the park as part of the 1853 Exhibition, and was also burned down in 1856.[5][9] The square was used for military drills during the American Civil War, and was the site of some of the New York City draft riots of July 1863, when the Colored Orphan Asylum at Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street was burned down.[3][4][5]

Reservoir Square was renovated in 1870–1871, during which the modern-day park had been laid out.[3][4] Several additional structures were planned for Reservoir Square, but never built.[10] These included an 1870 plan for new armory for the 7th New York Militia,[11] an 1880 plan for an opera house,[10] another plan in 1881 for a New York Historical Society building,[12] an 1893 plan for relocating the New York City Hall building,[13] and a 1903 plan for a general post office.[14]

Late 19th and early 20th centuries

Renaming and library construction

A clip of Panorama from the Times Building, New York 1905, Bryant Park (and NYPL under construction) and Hippodrome Theater(demolished in the 1930s and now The Hippodrome building)

In 1884, Reservoir Square was renamed Bryant Park,[15] to honor the New York Evening Post editor and abolitionist William Cullen Bryant.[16][5] Around the same time as the park's renaming, in 1883, plans emerged to build a library in Bryant Park, atop the site of the reservoir. The library would be funded by Samuel J. Tilden.[17] This was opposed somewhat by property owners, who wanted to extend the park eastward onto the reservoir site. Nevertheless, by the 1890s, the reservoir was slated for demolition.[18] When the New York Public Library was founded in 1895, its founders wanted an imposing main branch building.[19]: 2  The trustees of the libraries chose to build the branch at the eastern end of Bryant Park, along Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets, because it was centrally located between the Astor and Lenox Libraries, the library's direct predecessors.[20] The architects of the building, Carrère and Hastings, also planned to convert the western border along Sixth Avenue into a pedestrian arcade with a flower market, while the central portion of Bryant Park would have housed sculptures and statues. However, these plans were cancelled as a result of opposition.[21]

 
The William Cullen Bryant Memorial, installed 1911, includes a bronze statue of William Cullen Bryant, the park's namesake

The reservoir was torn down by 1900,[5][6] and construction started on the library.[22] In conjunction with the library's construction, several improvements were made to the park, such as terrace gardens, public facilities, and kiosks, as well as a raised terrace adjoining the library on the eastern portion of the park.[1]: 1 [21] Since Bryant Park itself was located several feet above the surrounding streets, an iron fence, hedge, and embankment wall were built on the north, west, and south borders to separate the park from the bordering sidewalks. Benches were also installed along the retaining walls. Bryant Park's interior was split into three lawns, divided by a pair of west–east gravel paths that aligned roughly with the sidewalks of 41st Street on the west end of the park. Four stone stairways were built: one each from Sixth Avenue's intersections with 40th and 42nd Streets, and one each from 40th and 42nd Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues.[21] In addition, 42nd Street was widened in 1910, necessitating the relocation of the fence on Bryant Park's northern border and the removal of plants there.[23] The NYPL's Main Branch was opened on May 23, 1911.[24][25][26]

Infrastructure and further improvements

 
Experimental garden in Bryant Park, 1922

Due to its central location in Midtown Manhattan, several transit lines and infrastructure projects were also built around Bryant Park.[27] The first of these was the Sixth Avenue Elevated railway, which opened in 1878.[28] The city's first subway line, now part of the 42nd Street Shuttle, was opened in 1904 by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) and ran directly under 42nd Street.[29][30] In the 1910s, the Hudson & Manhattan Railroad (now PATH) also planned to extend their Uptown Hudson Tubes from Herald Square to Grand Central Terminal,[31][32] with intermediate stations near Bryant Park's northeast and southwest corners, though this plan was never realized.[33]

The Catskill Aqueduct water tunnel was built under Bryant Park in the early 1910s.[34] Once the work was complete, the affected sections of Bryant Park were restored.[35] During World War I, Bryant Park was frequently used for patriotic rallies,[36] and a "war garden"[37] and a "recreation building" for Allied soldiers was erected in the park.[38] After the end of the war in 1920, an experimental garden was placed in the park[39] and the recreation building was destroyed.[40] During construction of the IRT Flushing Line in the 1920s, the northern segment of Bryant Park was partly closed for four years[41] while the subway line was constructed directly underneath.[3][42] The subway tunnel ran 35 feet (11 m) below ground level with a station at the eastern edge of the park, at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. During construction, workers took precautions to avoid interrupting the flow of traffic above ground and interfering with preexisting tunnels.[42] The Fifth Avenue station opened in 1926,[43] while the tunnel under Bryant Park to Times Square opened the following year.[44] In January 1927, after the section of the Flushing Line under Bryant Park was complete, plans were announced for a restoration of the park's northern section.[41]

1930s restoration

 
Looking east

By the 1930s, Bryant Park was suffering from neglect and was considered disreputable, as the Sixth Avenue elevated literally overshadowed the park.[45]: 236  Over a period of 10 years, about 100 separate plans for Bryant Park's renovation were proposed, but never enacted.[46] In an attempt to revitalize the park, the George Washington Bicentennial Planning Committee and Sears filed plans for a replica of lower Manhattan's Federal Hall in early 1932.[47] During the construction of the replica, part of the park was fenced off.[48] The Dr. Marion Sims and Washington Irving statues were removed; the statues were later found under the Williamsburg Bridge.[49][50] The replica was opened to the public in May 1932, charging an admission fee for entry.[51] That November, Manhattan parks commissioner Walter R. Herrick formally notified Sears that the replica had to be torn down, because he did not approve of its proposed conversion into a Great Depression relief center.[52][53] By the next year, the Bicentennial Committee's funds had been exhausted.[54] The replica was torn down in mid-1933.[55]

In an attempt to engage unemployed architects, the Architects' Emergency Committee held a competition for the redesign of Bryant Park in 1933. The winning design was submitted by Lusby Simpson, of Queens.[1]: 2 [5][45]: 236  However, due to a lack of funding, the winning design was not implemented immediately.[56] In February 1934, under the leadership of newly appointed parks commissioner Robert Moses, work was started on Simpson's plan.[57][58] The renovated park featured a great lawn, as well as hedges and later an iron fence that separated the park from the surrounding city streets. Two entrances each were added from 40th and 42nd Streets.[1]: 2 [46] As part of the project, 270 trees were placed around the park.[59] Moses also placed the park's statues along 40th and 42nd Streets so as to block sight lines from these streets.[60] To save money, the project hired workers from the Civil Works Administration, an unemployment relief program.[46] The renovation was complete by late 1934, and after a short postponement,[61] the park reopened that September 15.[1]: 2 [62]

Parts of the park were closed in the late 1930s due to transit changes on Sixth Avenue; the elevated was torn down in 1938,[28] and the construction of the underground Sixth Avenue subway line occurred around the same time. The Sixth Avenue subway opened in 1940.[63] A New Yorker article remarked in 1936 that during the prior 14 years, "Bryant Park has been closed to the public [...] for half that time."[64]

Mid-20th century

Public events in Bryant Park were held through the mid-20th century. For instance, in 1944 during World War II, an aircraft demonstration was held in the park.[65] Outdoor summer concerts in Bryant Park were started in 1948 by Philip Lieson Miller, a musicologist at the New York Public Library.[66] These concerts took place from 12 to 2 pm on weekdays from July through September.[67] On October 15, 1969, forty thousand people attended a rally in Bryant Park as part of the nationwide Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam.[68][69][70] Another large event, the Big Apple Circus, was proposed to be held in Bryant Park in 1978,[71] but parks commissioner Gordon Davis denied the circus permission to host a show there, since it would have closed off Bryant Park to the public.[72]

Plans to build parking garages under Bryant Park also surfaced in the mid-20th century, as a means of relieving parking shortages in Midtown Manhattan. The first such plan was made in 1946 when the city conducted a survey to determine the feasibility of such a garage.[73][74] Parks commissioner Moses opposed the plan.[75] A parking garage was proposed again in 1958, with plans for 1,200 spaces, though Moses also opposed this proposal.[76] This proposal was backed by the Avenue of the Americas Association.[77] However, though Mayor Robert F. Wagner Jr. supported the proposal,[78] the New York City Planning Commission voted against it in November 1961.[79]

By the 1960s, Bryant Park had entered a state of deterioration, due to a lack of maintenance and its location in a business district with few nighttime activities.[60] In an attempt to deter crime, new lighting was installed in Bryant Park in 1962.[80] Nevertheless, in 1966, parks commissioner Thomas Hoving called a meeting to restore the park,[81] noting its degraded condition.[82] By the 1970s, Bryant Park had been taken over by drug dealers and the homeless, and was considered a no-go area by ordinary citizens and visitors.[83] The condition of the park was so bad that in 1973, parks commissioner Richard M. Clurman threatened to "close Bryant Park and clear it of everybody—until we can get together and make it a place that New Yorkers want it to be."[84][85] After a man was murdered at the park in 1976, the New York Times noted that gambling and drinking were commonplace at the park.[86] In an opinion piece in the New York Daily News, Jerome Gartner, a coordinator for the Bryant Park Steering Committee, stated that the mugging of a Union Carbide executive in Bryant Park had been quoted as a reason for the company's moving out of New York City.[87]

An initial attempt at cleanup was commenced by the Bryant Park Community Fund in the mid-1970s. Free concerts were added in the hope that it would keep out criminals. The initiative was largely unsuccessful, though, and its funding was nearly depleted by 1977.[88] Another initiative, the Bryant Park Steering Committee, was created in 1977 as a partnership between local businesses and the City University of New York.[89] More New York City Police Department (NYPD) officers were added, and District Attorney Robert Morgenthau agreed to process arrests in Bryant Park more quickly. By 1978, public perception of Bryant Park's safety was slightly better than in previous years, though drug dealers still frequented the park after office workers had gone back to work following their lunch breaks.[90] Furthermore, NYPD officers initially declined to arrest drug users who were nonviolent.[91] Starting in 1979, a coordinated program of amenities, including book and flower markets, landscape improvements, and entertainment activities, was initiated by a parks advocacy group called the Parks Council.[92] Though the Parks Council's activities became popular, drug use and small crimes were still common within the park through the early 1980s.[93] After a group of undercover NYPD officers were stationed in the park starting in 1980, they had made 400 drug-related arrests within six months.[94]

Late 20th century to present

Formation of corporations

 
Tables and seating

The Bryant Park Restoration Corporation was founded in 1980 by Dan Biederman, along with Andrew Heiskell, chairman of Time Inc. and the New York Public Library.[95][96] The BPRC immediately brought significant changes to remake the park into a place that people wanted to visit, and instituted a rigorous program to clean the park, remove graffiti, and repair physical damage. The BPRC also created a private security staff to confront unlawful behavior.[5][95] In addition, the BPRC started an outdoor concert series in the summers. By 1982, arrests had decreased significantly compared to two years prior.[97][98]

Another agency—the Bryant Park Management Corporation, composed of several nearby businesses—was tasked with maintaining the park, spending $525,000 per year to do so. NYC Parks spent an additional $250,000 a year on maintenance, the same amount as when the city had sole control over the park's management.[99] In 1983, HBO's president, Frank Biondi, gave Heiskell a $100,000 check just before the company moved into new headquarters at 1100 Avenue of the Americas, adjacent to the park. At the time, that was the largest donation toward Bryant Park by a private corporation.[100]

Renovation

In 1983, in an attempt to draw crowds to the park and raise money for continued maintenance, the BPRC proposed leasing Bryant Park from the city, renovating it, and building a café in the park.[93] The $18 million renovation was to be executed by an alliance between the BPRC, NYPL, and NYC Parks.[101] Restaurateur Warner LeRoy was to operate the eatery, and he planned to build an 80-foot-tall (24 m), 10,500-square-foot (980 m2) glass café on the park's east side adjacent to the library.[102] In addition, the park would include four smaller food kiosks, a reflecting pool and water fountain, and a dedicated security team.[101]

In 1984, the state passed legislation to allow the BPRC to lease space for such an eatery.[103] The City Planning Commission also approved the structure the following year.[104] However, the proposed café was met with opposition from the public, as it would obscure the library's rear facade.[102] Several park advocates who opposed it argued that the proposed eatery would turn over part of a public park to a private entity.[105] LeRoy withdrew from the project in 1986 due to this opposition, saying that he feared that the constant reviews of the plan would bring the proposed structure to "mediocrity".[60][106]

The renovation was approved by the City Art Commission in January 1987, though the restaurant plan had not yet been approved.[107] Following LeRoy's withdrawal from the proposed Bryant Park café, the BPRC created a new plan with multiple smaller restaurant spaces. The spaces would be composed of two smaller pavilions, each 20 feet (6.1 m) tall with an area of 5,250 square feet (488 m2), flanking the Bryant memorial next to the library. In September 1987, the plans went to another vote before the City Art Commission, with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission taking an advisory role.[106][108] The redesigned restaurant spaces were also approved by the City Art Commission that December,[109] though the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission registered no official position on the matter.[110] A concessionaire for one of the spaces was found in 1988,[111] and the same year, the city turned over duties of Bryant Park's land to BPRC.[5] Subsequently, the park redesign was drafted by Hanna/Olin Ltd. and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates; the design preserved many elements of Simpson's design in the 1930s.[45]: 236 

 
The Holiday Shops at Winter Village

The park was closed for renovations on July 11, 1988.[60] The four-year project to rebuild Bryant Park entailed new entrances, repairs to paths and lighting,[45]: 237–238 [60][112] and a redesign of the park's garden by Lynden Miller.[113][114] Biederman worked with William H. Whyte, a sociologist whose influence led them to implement two decisions.[45]: 237–238  One was the placement of 2,000 movable chairs in the park.[115] The other was to lower the park itself, because Bryant Park had been elevated from the street and isolated by tall hedges prior to the 1988 redesign.[45]: 237–238  The 1988 renovation lowered the park to nearly street level and tore out the hedges, though much of the park was still slightly elevated. The park's restrooms, which had been closed for 35 years, were renovated, as well.[60][112][116] The BPRC also found that several of the sculptures would need to be repaired, and called on William Cullen Bryant's descendants and other entities to provide funding for the restoration of these sculptures.[117] Landscape architect Laurie Olin of Hanna/Olin recalls that the design process focused on "the different abilities of people [who] use these spaces...as well as making spaces that people are comfortable being with each other in."[118] The restoration cost $8.9 million, which included $5.7 million of city funding and $3.2 million of private funding.[119]

The renovation took place at the same time as the NYPL's expansion of the main branch's stacks underneath Bryant Park.[60][120][121] The project was originally estimated to cost $21.6 million and was to be the largest expansion project in the main branch's history;[122] it entailed building 84 miles (135 km) of stacks, which could hold 3.2 million books.[120][121] Construction on the stacks started after the park was closed.[120] The park was excavated and the Great Lawn was rebuilt above it.[122] Once the underground facilities were completed, Bryant Park was completely rebuilt,[123] with 2.5 to 6 feet (0.76 to 1.83 m) of earth between the park surface and the storage facility's ceiling.[124][120]

Reopening and critical acclaim

Bryant Park was initially supposed to reopen in late 1990 or early 1991.[99] The reopening date was pushed back due to delays caused by the construction of the library's stacks.[119] In June 1991, the city and BPRC reached an agreement to reopen the western section of Bryant Park on summer weekdays.[119] The park was soft reopened on April 21, 1992, with the official reopening set for nearly a month later.[125][126]

The new design received widespread acclaim. Deemed "a triumph for many" by New York Times architectural critic Paul Goldberger, the renovation was lauded not only for its architectural excellence, but also for adhering to Whyte's vision. According to Goldberger, Biederman "understood that the problem of Bryant Park was its perception as an enclosure cut off from the city; he knew that, paradoxically, people feel safer when not cut off from the city, and that they feel safer in the kind of public space they think they have some control over."[112] The renovation was lauded as "The Best Example of Urban Renewal" by New York magazine,[127] and was described by Time as a "small miracle".[128][129]: 34  Many awards followed, including a Design Merit Award from Landscape Architecture Magazine,[129]: 34  and the 1996 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).[130] The park has been extolled for its relative calmness and cleanness.[131] Even through the 21st century, Bryant Park remains a model of civic renewal that mayors of other cities, such as Jorge Elorza of Providence, Rhode Island, sometimes hold up as a model to emulate.[132]

Bryant Park was described in the media as an example of New York City's 1990s revival. A New York Times article in 1995 referred to the park as the "Town Square of Midtown" and an "office oasis" frequented by midtown office workers.[133] Further improvements included the installation of two newsstands in 1992, one each at Fifth and Sixth Avenues.[134] Open-air concerts in the summers, which drew thousands of people, were commenced.[135] To lessen infestations of pigeons eating the plants, the BPC started scattering corn kernels that contained the drug azacosterol, which resulted in many pigeons becoming infertile without any other side effects.[136] Meanwhile, financing for a restaurant in Bryant Park next to the library was finally secured in 1993.[137] The restaurant opened in 1995.[138]

Subsequent developments

 
The lawn, facing west toward 1095 Avenue of the Americas (left) and Bank of America Tower (right)

With security largely under the purview of the BPC, corporate control of the park has meant that Bryant Park received passive-recreation amenities, while excluding active sports that might cater to a broader urban public.[139] The BPC added a custom-built carousel in 2002[140] and revived the tradition of an open-air library, the Reading Room, in 2003.[141] In July 2002, the park launched a public wireless network, making the park the first in New York City to formally offer free Wi-Fi access to visitors.[142] The Wi-Fi system was subsequently upgraded in 2008.[143] Furthermore, the Pond, a free-admission ice skating rink, opened in the park in 2005.[144] The park's public restrooms were renovated in 2006 and in 2017.[145][146]

The dramatic rise in real estate values in the area around Bryant Park, as well as new construction in adjacent areas, was a consequence of the park's improvements. By 1993, the surrounding region had become a highly desirable office area, and formerly vacant office space around the park was being filled quickly.[135] By the first decade of the 21st century, nearby buildings and businesses were also using names that referred to the park.[147] This was shown by the then-new Bank of America Tower skyscraper at the park's northeast corner using the address "One Bryant Park", as well as the growing trend of Bryant Park vanity addresses, including 3, 4, 5, and 7 Bryant Park.[10] National Public Radio, located just south of the park, also named a now-defunct talk show the "Bryant Park Project" upon the show's 2007 launch.[148] Such enthusiasm to use the Bryant Park name would have been nonexistent in the 1980s, when the area was described as "the Wild West".[149]

New real-estate developments were also built in the park's vicinity starting in the 21st century, which together added over 13,000 new workers to the area immediately surrounding Bryant Park. These included the Bank of America Tower; an expansion to 1095 Avenue of the Americas immediately to the south; Eleven Times Square a block west of Bryant Park; and 505 Fifth Avenue at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street. Several hotels were also built, including a conversion of 485 Fifth Avenue at 41st Street, a Residence Inn by Marriott at Sixth Avenue and 39th Street.[150] By the early 2010s, investors were purchasing buildings around Bryant Park south of 42nd Street as part of a small real estate boom. Rents per square foot in buildings south of 42nd Street had historically been lower than rents in buildings north of 42nd Street. Conversely, 1095 Avenue of the Americas and 452 Fifth Avenue were able to attract comparatively high rental rates despite both being south of 42nd Street.[151] Later in the decade, the area around Bryant Park started growing into a residential neighborhood, with the construction of new developments in the area. Within a two-block radius of the park, or roughly 500 feet (150 m), units routinely sold for millions of dollars.[152]

Description

Bryant Park is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Street, and covers 9.6 acres (3.9 ha). Although technically the main branch of the New York Public Library is located within the park, in design it forms the eastern boundary of the park's green space, making Sixth Avenue the park's primary entrance. Bryant Park is used mostly as a passive recreation space, and lacks active sports facilities.[153] Bryant Park is several steps above the surrounding streets, enclosed by a retaining wall. Granite stairs at several locations provide access from the surrounding sidewalks.[1]: 2  The surrounding area contains numerous structures, including the Bank of America Tower and 1095 Avenue of the Americas to the northwest;[154]: 270–271  the Bryant Park Studios, American Radiator Building, Engineers' Club Building, and 452 Fifth Avenue to the south;[154]: 268–270  461 Fifth Avenue and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library to the southeast;[154]: 269  and 500 Fifth Avenue, the Aeolian Building, and the W.R. Grace Building to the north.[154]: 271 

One of the park's largest features is a large lawn located slightly below the level of the surrounding walkways.[1]: 2  Besides serving as a "lunchroom" for office workers,[155] the lawn serves as the seating area for some of the park's major events, such as Bryant Park Movie Nights,[156] Broadway in Bryant Park,[157] and Square Dance.[158] The lawn's season runs from February until October, when it is closed to make way for Bank of America Winter Village.[159]

Numerous walkways surround the central lawn. The northern and southern sides are each flanked by two flagstone walkways. Each of these walkways is bordered by London plane trees (Platanus acerifolia), which contribute to the park's European feel. In addition, numerous statues are scattered throughout the park.[1]: 2  A raised terrace on the eastern side of the lawn, which dates to the construction of the library's main branch, is paved with gray flagstones and red brick. Its centerpiece is the William Cullen Bryant Memorial, which is raised on a pedestal of its own.[2]: 4 

A restroom structure is located at the northern border of the park along 42nd Street.[145][146] A carousel, installed in 2002, is located at the park's southern border.[140] The park is served by the New York City Subway's 7, <7>​​, B, ​D, ​F, <F>, and ​M trains at 42nd Street–Bryant Park/Fifth Avenue station, entrances to which are located on the northern and western borders of the park,[160] as well as MTA Regional Bus Operations' M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, M42, M55 and Q32 routes.[161]

Art and monuments

 
The statue of Gertrude Stein, installed in 1992
 
Street sign for Nikola Tesla Corner

Sculptures

Notable sculptures in the park include or have included:[162][163]

Other memorials

The northwest corner of Bryant Park, at Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street, contains the Heiskell Plaza, a stairway and entrance plaza paved with flagstones. It was placed in 1993 in honor of Andrew Heiskell, a cofounder of the BPC.[174]

The southwest corner of Bryant Park, at Sixth Avenue and 40th Street, is known as Nikola Tesla Corner. Tesla, an inventor, lived in the nearby New Yorker Hotel in his later years, and would feed pigeons in the park.[169] The placement of the sign was due to the efforts of the Croatian Club of New York in cooperation with New York City officials, and Dr. Ljubo Vujovic of the Tesla Memorial Society of New York.[175]

Carousel

 
Le Carrousel designed by Marvin Sylvor

Bryant Park contains a carousel called Le Carrousel Magique, located in the southern section of the park.[176] The carousel was designed by Marvin Sylvor, created by the Fabricon Carousel Company, and installed in 2002. The company was selected after a carousel installation in Bryant Park was approved in 1997. The carousel has a diameter of 22 feet (6.7 m), weighs 12,000 pounds (5,400 kg), and contains 14 animal casts, of which 12 are capable of moving vertically. In keeping with the French theme of the park, it plays French music.[140] It underwent a restoration in 2009.[177] The carousel also has a ticket booth, measuring 7 feet (2.1 m) tall and 4 feet (1.2 m) wide, which was constructed in 1928 and was relocated from Paragon Park in Hull, Massachusetts.[140]

Restrooms

Bryant Park contains a Beaux-Arts granite restroom structure on the northern border, along 42nd Street. There are two facilities, one for men and women, both of which are 315 square feet (29.3 m2). These were built in 1911 along with the NYPL Main Branch, but due to the park's landmark status, they cannot be expanded.[145][146] The exterior of each building contains a frieze with garland motifs.[2]: 5  After being closed in the mid-1960s, they were restored by Kupiec & Koutsomitis[178] and reopened in 1992.[179] The restrooms have been described as being among the city's best.[145][146] A subsequent renovation in 2006 solidified their status as, in the words of then-New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe, "the gold standard for park comfort stations."[180] The restrooms were renovated again in 2017. Following the 2017 renovation, the restrooms contained rotating artworks selected from a collection of 225 works, as well as fresh flowers, classical music, attendants, and automatic toilets and faucets.[145][146]

Reading room

The original Reading Room was founded in August 1935 to entertain unemployed workers during the Great Depression.[181] Started as an initiative by the New York Public Library, the Reading Room provided the jobless with a place to interact and share ideas without having to pay money or show identification. Despite this, the library was well-used, being used by 50,000 people by its first anniversary. Theft was low, with only 34 publications being lost in the library's first year.[182] By its third year, 400 books and 1,000 magazines were in circulation and were being perused by 70,000 people per year.[183] Books from the NYPL, and donations of magazines and trade publications from publishers, contributed to the success of the open-air library.[184] The tradition of Reading Rooms halted in 1944 due to a staff shortage during World War II.[185]

The Reading Room tradition was revived in 2003 with HSBC as its first sponsor. Oxford University Press, Scholastic Corporation, Mitchell's NY, Condé Nast Publications, Time Inc., Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S., and Rodale, Inc. were among the companies who donated books and publications.[141] In addition to the complimentary reading materials, in 2004 programming was added to Reading Room's content. The Reading Room features readings and book sales by contemporary writers and poets, plus book-related special events such as book clubs, writers workshops and storytelling for kids.[186]

Bank of America Winter Village

 
The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village

Modeled on Europe's Christkindlmarkt, in 2002 Bryant Park introduced the Holiday Shops in an effort to liven up the park space during the winter. Initially slow to gain traction,[187] the Holiday Shops became a fixture of the Manhattan holiday scene in 2005 by expanding into an all-encompassing seasonal destination with the addition of New York's only free-admission ice skating rink.[188] The Shops also include a Norway Spruce tree,[189][190] as well as a standalone dining and event space.[191][192][193]

Sponsored by Bank of America, Winter Village can be set up within two weeks.[169] It has transformed the park into a year-round destination. In September 2016, Bryant Park Corporation announced market makers Urbanspace as the new operator for the Holiday Shops, which grew from 80 boutiques in 2002 to over 170 in 2018.[194] In 2018, Urbanspace also took over management of the rinkside eatery, rebranding it as The Lodge.[193]

Private operation

 
The park from above, a bit of green amid Midtown Manhattan's buildings

The Bryant Park Corporation (BPC), formerly the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation (BPRC),[195] manages the park. BPC also oversees the Bryant Park Management Corporation (BPMC), which was created to manage the Bryant Park business improvement district.[196]

Although Bryant Park is a public park, BPC accepts no public funds. It was initially supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, but now receives funding through tax assessments on surrounding property within the business improvement district, fees from concessionaires, and revenues generated by public events.[197] To acquire accurate data about park usage, BPC counts the number of patrons in Bryant Park twice per day, at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.[169]

The number of events at the park grew significantly after its reopening, causing some consternation by people who feared that the park would be dominated by private entities, thus would be inaccessible to the public. As a result, BPC makes most events free and open to the public. One exception was the New York Fashion Week shows that formerly took over the park for two weeks in the winter and late summer each year. BPC cofounder Dan Biederman often publicly expressed his frustration that the fashion shows were not under BPC's control. "They pay us a million dollars. It's a million dollars I would happily do without," he told the Los Angeles Times.[198] BPC was particularly frustrated that the fashion shows dominated the park during two crucial times: in late summer, when the weather is perfect for park visitors; and in early February, necessitating the early closure of the park's popular free-admission ice-skating rink.[199]

Programming

Numerous events are hosted on the lawn at Bryant Park.[200] Bryant Park Movie Nights, begun in the early 1990s, take place on Monday evenings during the summer.[201][202] Various free musical performances are sponsored by corporations during months with warm weather, including Broadway in Bryant Park, sponsored by iHeartMedia and featuring performers from current Broadway musicals, integrated with content provided by event sponsors.[5]

The park has various activity areas open all day long, including board games, chess and backgammon, a putting green and Kubb area, an Art Cart, ping pong tables, and Petanque courts. The parks also offer free classes in juggling, yoga, tai chi, and knitting.[203][204] In the 40th Street plaza of the park, there is a station called Bryant Park Games where visitors can borrow an array of games, including Chinese chess and quoits. In addition, chess and table tennis can also be played at Bryant Park.[205]

Food and drink are served at four park-operated concessionary kiosks.[206] There are two additional kiosks on Fifth Avenue, bringing the total of concessionaires near Bryant Park to six.[207]

Former programming

Formerly, Bryant Park hosted New York Fashion Week (NYFW) shows, which took over the park for two weeks in the winter and late summer each year. NYFW, which moved to Bryant Park in 1993,[208] was forced to set fees for its shows after Manhattan Community Board 5 disapproved of a free fashion show on the grounds that three-fourths of profits would go to BPC and only one-fourth to NYC Parks.[209] Dan Biederman of the BPC had called the profits from NYFW "a million dollars I would happily do without,"[198] and lamented the fact that NYFW took over the park at two high-traffic periods: late summer and late winter.[199] NYFW moved from Bryant Park in 2010 after disagreements with the BPC.[210]

Landmark designations

Bryant Park and the New York Public Library Main Branch were jointly listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1966. Its listing on the NRHP is distinct from the "New York Public Library" on the same day, which covered just the main branch building.[2] In addition, in 1974, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the park as an official scenic landmark.[1]

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External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bryant Park.
  • Official website (Bryant Park Corporation)
  • Official NYC Parks website

January 20, 2023
bryant, park, other, uses, disambiguation, acre, public, park, located, york, city, borough, manhattan, privately, managed, located, between, fifth, avenue, avenue, americas, sixth, avenue, between, 40th, 42nd, streets, midtown, manhattan, eastern, half, occup. For other uses see Bryant Park disambiguation Bryant Park is a 9 6 acre 39 000 m2 public park located in the New York City borough of Manhattan Privately managed it is located between Fifth Avenue and Avenue of the Americas Sixth Avenue and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan The eastern half of Bryant Park is occupied by the Main Branch of the New York Public Library The western half which contains a lawn shaded walkways and amenities such as a carousel is located entirely over an underground structure that houses the library s stacks The park hosts several events including a seasonal Winter Village with an ice rink and shops during the winter Bryant ParkThe lawn in Bryant Park with the New York Public Library Main Branch in the backgroundTypePublic parkLocationbetween Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Streets in Midtown Manhattan New York CityCoordinates40 45 14 N 73 59 02 W 40 75389 N 73 98389 W 40 75389 73 98389 Coordinates 40 45 14 N 73 59 02 W 40 75389 N 73 98389 W 40 75389 73 98389Area9 6 acres 3 9 ha Created1847DesignerCarrere and Hastings Lusby SimpsonEtymologyNamed for William Cullen BryantOperated byNew York City Department of Parks and RecreationStatusOpen all yearAwardsDesign Merit Award from Landscape Architecture MagazineUrban Land Institute Award for Excellence 1996 Public transit accessSubway at 42nd Street Bryant Park Fifth AvenueBus M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M7 M42 M55 Q32Websitewww wbr bryantpark wbr orgNew York Public Library and Bryant ParkU S National Register of Historic PlacesNYC LandmarkLocationAvenue of the Americas 5th Ave 40th and 42nd Sts New York New YorkCoordinates40 45 12 N 73 58 56 W 40 75333 N 73 98222 W 40 75333 73 98222Built1895ArchitectCarrere amp Hastings Simpson LusbyArchitectural styleBeaux ArtsNRHP reference No 66000547Significant datesAdded to NRHPOctober 15 1966 2 Designated NYCLNovember 12 1974 1 The first park at the site was opened in 1847 and was called Reservoir Square due to its proximity to the Croton Distributing Reservoir Reservoir Square contained the New York Crystal Palace which hosted the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations in 1853 and burned down in 1858 The square was renamed in 1884 for abolitionist and journalist William Cullen Bryant The reservoir was demolished in 1900 and the New York Public Library s main branch was built on the site opening in 1911 Bryant Park was rebuilt in 1933 1934 to a plan by Lusby Simpson After a period of decline it was restored in 1988 1992 by architecture firms Hanna Olin Ltd and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates during which the park was rebuilt and the library s stacks were built underneath Further improvements were made in the late 20th and early 21st centuries Though it is owned by the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Bryant Park is managed by the private not for profit organization Bryant Park Corporation which was founded in 1980 and led the restoration of Bryant Park The park is cited as a model for the success of public private partnerships The park is both a National Register of Historic Places listing and a New York City designated landmark Contents 1 History 1 1 Early history 1 2 Late 19th and early 20th centuries 1 2 1 Renaming and library construction 1 2 2 Infrastructure and further improvements 1 3 1930s restoration 1 4 Mid 20th century 1 5 Late 20th century to present 1 5 1 Formation of corporations 1 5 2 Renovation 1 5 3 Reopening and critical acclaim 1 5 4 Subsequent developments 2 Description 2 1 Art and monuments 2 1 1 Sculptures 2 1 2 Other memorials 2 2 Carousel 2 3 Restrooms 2 4 Reading room 2 5 Bank of America Winter Village 3 Private operation 4 Programming 4 1 Former programming 5 Landmark designations 6 References 7 External linksHistory EditEarly history Edit Painting of the New York Crystal Palace 1853 In 1686 when the area was still a wilderness New York s colonial governor Thomas Dongan designated the area now known as Bryant Park as a public space 3 George Washington s troops crossed the area while retreating from the Battle of Long Island in 1776 The road upon which Washington s troops retreated traversed the park site diagonally 3 4 5 The city acquired the land in 1822 4 Beginning in 1823 Bryant Park was designated a potter s field a graveyard for the poor and remained so until 1840 when thousands of bodies were moved to Wards Island 3 5 The first park at this site opened in 1847 though that park was never legally named 6 It was called Reservoir Square after the Croton Distributing Reservoir which was erected on the eastern side of the park site due to its elevated location 4 3 In 1853 the Exhibition of the Industry of All Nations with the New York Crystal Palace featuring thousands of exhibitors took place in the park 3 The Crystal Palace also known as the Great Exhibition Hall burned down in 1858 7 8 The Latting Observatory was also constructed in the park as part of the 1853 Exhibition and was also burned down in 1856 5 9 The square was used for military drills during the American Civil War and was the site of some of the New York City draft riots of July 1863 when the Colored Orphan Asylum at Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street was burned down 3 4 5 Reservoir Square was renovated in 1870 1871 during which the modern day park had been laid out 3 4 Several additional structures were planned for Reservoir Square but never built 10 These included an 1870 plan for new armory for the 7th New York Militia 11 an 1880 plan for an opera house 10 another plan in 1881 for a New York Historical Society building 12 an 1893 plan for relocating the New York City Hall building 13 and a 1903 plan for a general post office 14 Late 19th and early 20th centuries Edit Renaming and library construction Edit source source source source source source source source A clip of Panorama from the Times Building New York 1905 Bryant Park and NYPL under construction and Hippodrome Theater demolished in the 1930s and now The Hippodrome building In 1884 Reservoir Square was renamed Bryant Park 15 to honor the New York Evening Post editor and abolitionist William Cullen Bryant 16 5 Around the same time as the park s renaming in 1883 plans emerged to build a library in Bryant Park atop the site of the reservoir The library would be funded by Samuel J Tilden 17 This was opposed somewhat by property owners who wanted to extend the park eastward onto the reservoir site Nevertheless by the 1890s the reservoir was slated for demolition 18 When the New York Public Library was founded in 1895 its founders wanted an imposing main branch building 19 2 The trustees of the libraries chose to build the branch at the eastern end of Bryant Park along Fifth Avenue between 40th and 42nd Streets because it was centrally located between the Astor and Lenox Libraries the library s direct predecessors 20 The architects of the building Carrere and Hastings also planned to convert the western border along Sixth Avenue into a pedestrian arcade with a flower market while the central portion of Bryant Park would have housed sculptures and statues However these plans were cancelled as a result of opposition 21 The William Cullen Bryant Memorial installed 1911 includes a bronze statue of William Cullen Bryant the park s namesakeThe reservoir was torn down by 1900 5 6 and construction started on the library 22 In conjunction with the library s construction several improvements were made to the park such as terrace gardens public facilities and kiosks as well as a raised terrace adjoining the library on the eastern portion of the park 1 1 21 Since Bryant Park itself was located several feet above the surrounding streets an iron fence hedge and embankment wall were built on the north west and south borders to separate the park from the bordering sidewalks Benches were also installed along the retaining walls Bryant Park s interior was split into three lawns divided by a pair of west east gravel paths that aligned roughly with the sidewalks of 41st Street on the west end of the park Four stone stairways were built one each from Sixth Avenue s intersections with 40th and 42nd Streets and one each from 40th and 42nd Streets between Fifth and Sixth Avenues 21 In addition 42nd Street was widened in 1910 necessitating the relocation of the fence on Bryant Park s northern border and the removal of plants there 23 The NYPL s Main Branch was opened on May 23 1911 24 25 26 Infrastructure and further improvements Edit Experimental garden in Bryant Park 1922 Due to its central location in Midtown Manhattan several transit lines and infrastructure projects were also built around Bryant Park 27 The first of these was the Sixth Avenue Elevated railway which opened in 1878 28 The city s first subway line now part of the 42nd Street Shuttle was opened in 1904 by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company IRT and ran directly under 42nd Street 29 30 In the 1910s the Hudson amp Manhattan Railroad now PATH also planned to extend their Uptown Hudson Tubes from Herald Square to Grand Central Terminal 31 32 with intermediate stations near Bryant Park s northeast and southwest corners though this plan was never realized 33 The Catskill Aqueduct water tunnel was built under Bryant Park in the early 1910s 34 Once the work was complete the affected sections of Bryant Park were restored 35 During World War I Bryant Park was frequently used for patriotic rallies 36 and a war garden 37 and a recreation building for Allied soldiers was erected in the park 38 After the end of the war in 1920 an experimental garden was placed in the park 39 and the recreation building was destroyed 40 During construction of the IRT Flushing Line in the 1920s the northern segment of Bryant Park was partly closed for four years 41 while the subway line was constructed directly underneath 3 42 The subway tunnel ran 35 feet 11 m below ground level with a station at the eastern edge of the park at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street During construction workers took precautions to avoid interrupting the flow of traffic above ground and interfering with preexisting tunnels 42 The Fifth Avenue station opened in 1926 43 while the tunnel under Bryant Park to Times Square opened the following year 44 In January 1927 after the section of the Flushing Line under Bryant Park was complete plans were announced for a restoration of the park s northern section 41 1930s restoration Edit Looking east By the 1930s Bryant Park was suffering from neglect and was considered disreputable as the Sixth Avenue elevated literally overshadowed the park 45 236 Over a period of 10 years about 100 separate plans for Bryant Park s renovation were proposed but never enacted 46 In an attempt to revitalize the park the George Washington Bicentennial Planning Committee and Sears filed plans for a replica of lower Manhattan s Federal Hall in early 1932 47 During the construction of the replica part of the park was fenced off 48 The Dr Marion Sims and Washington Irving statues were removed the statues were later found under the Williamsburg Bridge 49 50 The replica was opened to the public in May 1932 charging an admission fee for entry 51 That November Manhattan parks commissioner Walter R Herrick formally notified Sears that the replica had to be torn down because he did not approve of its proposed conversion into a Great Depression relief center 52 53 By the next year the Bicentennial Committee s funds had been exhausted 54 The replica was torn down in mid 1933 55 In an attempt to engage unemployed architects the Architects Emergency Committee held a competition for the redesign of Bryant Park in 1933 The winning design was submitted by Lusby Simpson of Queens 1 2 5 45 236 However due to a lack of funding the winning design was not implemented immediately 56 In February 1934 under the leadership of newly appointed parks commissioner Robert Moses work was started on Simpson s plan 57 58 The renovated park featured a great lawn as well as hedges and later an iron fence that separated the park from the surrounding city streets Two entrances each were added from 40th and 42nd Streets 1 2 46 As part of the project 270 trees were placed around the park 59 Moses also placed the park s statues along 40th and 42nd Streets so as to block sight lines from these streets 60 To save money the project hired workers from the Civil Works Administration an unemployment relief program 46 The renovation was complete by late 1934 and after a short postponement 61 the park reopened that September 15 1 2 62 Parts of the park were closed in the late 1930s due to transit changes on Sixth Avenue the elevated was torn down in 1938 28 and the construction of the underground Sixth Avenue subway line occurred around the same time The Sixth Avenue subway opened in 1940 63 A New Yorker article remarked in 1936 that during the prior 14 years Bryant Park has been closed to the public for half that time 64 Mid 20th century Edit Public events in Bryant Park were held through the mid 20th century For instance in 1944 during World War II an aircraft demonstration was held in the park 65 Outdoor summer concerts in Bryant Park were started in 1948 by Philip Lieson Miller a musicologist at the New York Public Library 66 These concerts took place from 12 to 2 pm on weekdays from July through September 67 On October 15 1969 forty thousand people attended a rally in Bryant Park as part of the nationwide Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam 68 69 70 Another large event the Big Apple Circus was proposed to be held in Bryant Park in 1978 71 but parks commissioner Gordon Davis denied the circus permission to host a show there since it would have closed off Bryant Park to the public 72 Plans to build parking garages under Bryant Park also surfaced in the mid 20th century as a means of relieving parking shortages in Midtown Manhattan The first such plan was made in 1946 when the city conducted a survey to determine the feasibility of such a garage 73 74 Parks commissioner Moses opposed the plan 75 A parking garage was proposed again in 1958 with plans for 1 200 spaces though Moses also opposed this proposal 76 This proposal was backed by the Avenue of the Americas Association 77 However though Mayor Robert F Wagner Jr supported the proposal 78 the New York City Planning Commission voted against it in November 1961 79 By the 1960s Bryant Park had entered a state of deterioration due to a lack of maintenance and its location in a business district with few nighttime activities 60 In an attempt to deter crime new lighting was installed in Bryant Park in 1962 80 Nevertheless in 1966 parks commissioner Thomas Hoving called a meeting to restore the park 81 noting its degraded condition 82 By the 1970s Bryant Park had been taken over by drug dealers and the homeless and was considered a no go area by ordinary citizens and visitors 83 The condition of the park was so bad that in 1973 parks commissioner Richard M Clurman threatened to close Bryant Park and clear it of everybody until we can get together and make it a place that New Yorkers want it to be 84 85 After a man was murdered at the park in 1976 the New York Times noted that gambling and drinking were commonplace at the park 86 In an opinion piece in the New York Daily News Jerome Gartner a coordinator for the Bryant Park Steering Committee stated that the mugging of a Union Carbide executive in Bryant Park had been quoted as a reason for the company s moving out of New York City 87 An initial attempt at cleanup was commenced by the Bryant Park Community Fund in the mid 1970s Free concerts were added in the hope that it would keep out criminals The initiative was largely unsuccessful though and its funding was nearly depleted by 1977 88 Another initiative the Bryant Park Steering Committee was created in 1977 as a partnership between local businesses and the City University of New York 89 More New York City Police Department NYPD officers were added and District Attorney Robert Morgenthau agreed to process arrests in Bryant Park more quickly By 1978 public perception of Bryant Park s safety was slightly better than in previous years though drug dealers still frequented the park after office workers had gone back to work following their lunch breaks 90 Furthermore NYPD officers initially declined to arrest drug users who were nonviolent 91 Starting in 1979 a coordinated program of amenities including book and flower markets landscape improvements and entertainment activities was initiated by a parks advocacy group called the Parks Council 92 Though the Parks Council s activities became popular drug use and small crimes were still common within the park through the early 1980s 93 After a group of undercover NYPD officers were stationed in the park starting in 1980 they had made 400 drug related arrests within six months 94 Late 20th century to present Edit Formation of corporations Edit Tables and seating The Bryant Park Restoration Corporation was founded in 1980 by Dan Biederman along with Andrew Heiskell chairman of Time Inc and the New York Public Library 95 96 The BPRC immediately brought significant changes to remake the park into a place that people wanted to visit and instituted a rigorous program to clean the park remove graffiti and repair physical damage The BPRC also created a private security staff to confront unlawful behavior 5 95 In addition the BPRC started an outdoor concert series in the summers By 1982 arrests had decreased significantly compared to two years prior 97 98 Another agency the Bryant Park Management Corporation composed of several nearby businesses was tasked with maintaining the park spending 525 000 per year to do so NYC Parks spent an additional 250 000 a year on maintenance the same amount as when the city had sole control over the park s management 99 In 1983 HBO s president Frank Biondi gave Heiskell a 100 000 check just before the company moved into new headquarters at 1100 Avenue of the Americas adjacent to the park At the time that was the largest donation toward Bryant Park by a private corporation 100 Renovation Edit In 1983 in an attempt to draw crowds to the park and raise money for continued maintenance the BPRC proposed leasing Bryant Park from the city renovating it and building a cafe in the park 93 The 18 million renovation was to be executed by an alliance between the BPRC NYPL and NYC Parks 101 Restaurateur Warner LeRoy was to operate the eatery and he planned to build an 80 foot tall 24 m 10 500 square foot 980 m2 glass cafe on the park s east side adjacent to the library 102 In addition the park would include four smaller food kiosks a reflecting pool and water fountain and a dedicated security team 101 Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain In 1984 the state passed legislation to allow the BPRC to lease space for such an eatery 103 The City Planning Commission also approved the structure the following year 104 However the proposed cafe was met with opposition from the public as it would obscure the library s rear facade 102 Several park advocates who opposed it argued that the proposed eatery would turn over part of a public park to a private entity 105 LeRoy withdrew from the project in 1986 due to this opposition saying that he feared that the constant reviews of the plan would bring the proposed structure to mediocrity 60 106 The renovation was approved by the City Art Commission in January 1987 though the restaurant plan had not yet been approved 107 Following LeRoy s withdrawal from the proposed Bryant Park cafe the BPRC created a new plan with multiple smaller restaurant spaces The spaces would be composed of two smaller pavilions each 20 feet 6 1 m tall with an area of 5 250 square feet 488 m2 flanking the Bryant memorial next to the library In September 1987 the plans went to another vote before the City Art Commission with the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission taking an advisory role 106 108 The redesigned restaurant spaces were also approved by the City Art Commission that December 109 though the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission registered no official position on the matter 110 A concessionaire for one of the spaces was found in 1988 111 and the same year the city turned over duties of Bryant Park s land to BPRC 5 Subsequently the park redesign was drafted by Hanna Olin Ltd and Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer Associates the design preserved many elements of Simpson s design in the 1930s 45 236 The Holiday Shops at Winter Village The park was closed for renovations on July 11 1988 60 The four year project to rebuild Bryant Park entailed new entrances repairs to paths and lighting 45 237 238 60 112 and a redesign of the park s garden by Lynden Miller 113 114 Biederman worked with William H Whyte a sociologist whose influence led them to implement two decisions 45 237 238 One was the placement of 2 000 movable chairs in the park 115 The other was to lower the park itself because Bryant Park had been elevated from the street and isolated by tall hedges prior to the 1988 redesign 45 237 238 The 1988 renovation lowered the park to nearly street level and tore out the hedges though much of the park was still slightly elevated The park s restrooms which had been closed for 35 years were renovated as well 60 112 116 The BPRC also found that several of the sculptures would need to be repaired and called on William Cullen Bryant s descendants and other entities to provide funding for the restoration of these sculptures 117 Landscape architect Laurie Olin of Hanna Olin recalls that the design process focused on the different abilities of people who use these spaces as well as making spaces that people are comfortable being with each other in 118 The restoration cost 8 9 million which included 5 7 million of city funding and 3 2 million of private funding 119 The renovation took place at the same time as the NYPL s expansion of the main branch s stacks underneath Bryant Park 60 120 121 The project was originally estimated to cost 21 6 million and was to be the largest expansion project in the main branch s history 122 it entailed building 84 miles 135 km of stacks which could hold 3 2 million books 120 121 Construction on the stacks started after the park was closed 120 The park was excavated and the Great Lawn was rebuilt above it 122 Once the underground facilities were completed Bryant Park was completely rebuilt 123 with 2 5 to 6 feet 0 76 to 1 83 m of earth between the park surface and the storage facility s ceiling 124 120 Reopening and critical acclaim Edit Bryant Park was initially supposed to reopen in late 1990 or early 1991 99 The reopening date was pushed back due to delays caused by the construction of the library s stacks 119 In June 1991 the city and BPRC reached an agreement to reopen the western section of Bryant Park on summer weekdays 119 The park was soft reopened on April 21 1992 with the official reopening set for nearly a month later 125 126 The new design received widespread acclaim Deemed a triumph for many by New York Times architectural critic Paul Goldberger the renovation was lauded not only for its architectural excellence but also for adhering to Whyte s vision According to Goldberger Biederman understood that the problem of Bryant Park was its perception as an enclosure cut off from the city he knew that paradoxically people feel safer when not cut off from the city and that they feel safer in the kind of public space they think they have some control over 112 The renovation was lauded as The Best Example of Urban Renewal by New York magazine 127 and was described by Time as a small miracle 128 129 34 Many awards followed including a Design Merit Award from Landscape Architecture Magazine 129 34 and the 1996 Award for Excellence from the Urban Land Institute ULI 130 The park has been extolled for its relative calmness and cleanness 131 Even through the 21st century Bryant Park remains a model of civic renewal that mayors of other cities such as Jorge Elorza of Providence Rhode Island sometimes hold up as a model to emulate 132 Bryant Park was described in the media as an example of New York City s 1990s revival A New York Times article in 1995 referred to the park as the Town Square of Midtown and an office oasis frequented by midtown office workers 133 Further improvements included the installation of two newsstands in 1992 one each at Fifth and Sixth Avenues 134 Open air concerts in the summers which drew thousands of people were commenced 135 To lessen infestations of pigeons eating the plants the BPC started scattering corn kernels that contained the drug azacosterol which resulted in many pigeons becoming infertile without any other side effects 136 Meanwhile financing for a restaurant in Bryant Park next to the library was finally secured in 1993 137 The restaurant opened in 1995 138 Subsequent developments Edit The lawn facing west toward 1095 Avenue of the Americas left and Bank of America Tower right With security largely under the purview of the BPC corporate control of the park has meant that Bryant Park received passive recreation amenities while excluding active sports that might cater to a broader urban public 139 The BPC added a custom built carousel in 2002 140 and revived the tradition of an open air library the Reading Room in 2003 141 In July 2002 the park launched a public wireless network making the park the first in New York City to formally offer free Wi Fi access to visitors 142 The Wi Fi system was subsequently upgraded in 2008 143 Furthermore the Pond a free admission ice skating rink opened in the park in 2005 144 The park s public restrooms were renovated in 2006 and in 2017 145 146 The dramatic rise in real estate values in the area around Bryant Park as well as new construction in adjacent areas was a consequence of the park s improvements By 1993 the surrounding region had become a highly desirable office area and formerly vacant office space around the park was being filled quickly 135 By the first decade of the 21st century nearby buildings and businesses were also using names that referred to the park 147 This was shown by the then new Bank of America Tower skyscraper at the park s northeast corner using the address One Bryant Park as well as the growing trend of Bryant Park vanity addresses including 3 4 5 and 7 Bryant Park 10 National Public Radio located just south of the park also named a now defunct talk show the Bryant Park Project upon the show s 2007 launch 148 Such enthusiasm to use the Bryant Park name would have been nonexistent in the 1980s when the area was described as the Wild West 149 New real estate developments were also built in the park s vicinity starting in the 21st century which together added over 13 000 new workers to the area immediately surrounding Bryant Park These included the Bank of America Tower an expansion to 1095 Avenue of the Americas immediately to the south Eleven Times Square a block west of Bryant Park and 505 Fifth Avenue at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street Several hotels were also built including a conversion of 485 Fifth Avenue at 41st Street a Residence Inn by Marriott at Sixth Avenue and 39th Street 150 By the early 2010s investors were purchasing buildings around Bryant Park south of 42nd Street as part of a small real estate boom Rents per square foot in buildings south of 42nd Street had historically been lower than rents in buildings north of 42nd Street Conversely 1095 Avenue of the Americas and 452 Fifth Avenue were able to attract comparatively high rental rates despite both being south of 42nd Street 151 Later in the decade the area around Bryant Park started growing into a residential neighborhood with the construction of new developments in the area Within a two block radius of the park or roughly 500 feet 150 m units routinely sold for millions of dollars 152 Description EditBryant Park is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues and between 40th and 42nd Street and covers 9 6 acres 3 9 ha Although technically the main branch of the New York Public Library is located within the park in design it forms the eastern boundary of the park s green space making Sixth Avenue the park s primary entrance Bryant Park is used mostly as a passive recreation space and lacks active sports facilities 153 Bryant Park is several steps above the surrounding streets enclosed by a retaining wall Granite stairs at several locations provide access from the surrounding sidewalks 1 2 The surrounding area contains numerous structures including the Bank of America Tower and 1095 Avenue of the Americas to the northwest 154 270 271 the Bryant Park Studios American Radiator Building Engineers Club Building and 452 Fifth Avenue to the south 154 268 270 461 Fifth Avenue and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library to the southeast 154 269 and 500 Fifth Avenue the Aeolian Building and the W R Grace Building to the north 154 271 One of the park s largest features is a large lawn located slightly below the level of the surrounding walkways 1 2 Besides serving as a lunchroom for office workers 155 the lawn serves as the seating area for some of the park s major events such as Bryant Park Movie Nights 156 Broadway in Bryant Park 157 and Square Dance 158 The lawn s season runs from February until October when it is closed to make way for Bank of America Winter Village 159 Numerous walkways surround the central lawn The northern and southern sides are each flanked by two flagstone walkways Each of these walkways is bordered by London plane trees Platanus acerifolia which contribute to the park s European feel In addition numerous statues are scattered throughout the park 1 2 A raised terrace on the eastern side of the lawn which dates to the construction of the library s main branch is paved with gray flagstones and red brick Its centerpiece is the William Cullen Bryant Memorial which is raised on a pedestal of its own 2 4 A restroom structure is located at the northern border of the park along 42nd Street 145 146 A carousel installed in 2002 is located at the park s southern border 140 The park is served by the New York City Subway s 7 lt 7 gt B D F lt F gt and M trains at 42nd Street Bryant Park Fifth Avenue station entrances to which are located on the northern and western borders of the park 160 as well as MTA Regional Bus Operations M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M7 M42 M55 and Q32 routes 161 Art and monuments Edit The statue of Gertrude Stein installed in 1992 Street sign for Nikola Tesla Corner Sculptures Edit Notable sculptures in the park include or have included 162 163 Statue of William E Dodge 1885 a standing figure located on a pedestal at the park s northern border 164 Statue of J Marion Sims 1894 removed in the 1930s 165 Washington Irving 1894 166 removed in the 1930s 165 William Cullen Bryant Memorial 1911 a standing figure located on a canopied pedestal at the park s eastern border 167 Josephine Shaw Lowell Memorial Fountain 1913 located at the park s western border 168 the fountain collects about 3 000 to 4 000 in coins each year from dozens of countries 169 Bust of Johann Wolfgang von Goethe 1932 a bust located at the park s southern border 170 Statue of Jose Bonifacio de Andrada 1954 dedicated 1955 a standing figure located on a pedestal at the park s southwestern corner 171 Statue of Gertrude Stein 1992 a sitting figure located at the park s southeastern corner 172 Statue of Benito Juarez 2002 a standing figure located on a pedestal at the park s northwestern corner 173 Other memorials Edit The northwest corner of Bryant Park at Sixth Avenue and 42nd Street contains the Heiskell Plaza a stairway and entrance plaza paved with flagstones It was placed in 1993 in honor of Andrew Heiskell a cofounder of the BPC 174 The southwest corner of Bryant Park at Sixth Avenue and 40th Street is known as Nikola Tesla Corner Tesla an inventor lived in the nearby New Yorker Hotel in his later years and would feed pigeons in the park 169 The placement of the sign was due to the efforts of the Croatian Club of New York in cooperation with New York City officials and Dr Ljubo Vujovic of the Tesla Memorial Society of New York 175 Carousel Edit Le Carrousel designed by Marvin Sylvor Bryant Park contains a carousel called Le Carrousel Magique located in the southern section of the park 176 The carousel was designed by Marvin Sylvor created by the Fabricon Carousel Company and installed in 2002 The company was selected after a carousel installation in Bryant Park was approved in 1997 The carousel has a diameter of 22 feet 6 7 m weighs 12 000 pounds 5 400 kg and contains 14 animal casts of which 12 are capable of moving vertically In keeping with the French theme of the park it plays French music 140 It underwent a restoration in 2009 177 The carousel also has a ticket booth measuring 7 feet 2 1 m tall and 4 feet 1 2 m wide which was constructed in 1928 and was relocated from Paragon Park in Hull Massachusetts 140 Restrooms Edit Bryant Park contains a Beaux Arts granite restroom structure on the northern border along 42nd Street There are two facilities one for men and women both of which are 315 square feet 29 3 m2 These were built in 1911 along with the NYPL Main Branch but due to the park s landmark status they cannot be expanded 145 146 The exterior of each building contains a frieze with garland motifs 2 5 After being closed in the mid 1960s they were restored by Kupiec amp Koutsomitis 178 and reopened in 1992 179 The restrooms have been described as being among the city s best 145 146 A subsequent renovation in 2006 solidified their status as in the words of then New York City Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe the gold standard for park comfort stations 180 The restrooms were renovated again in 2017 Following the 2017 renovation the restrooms contained rotating artworks selected from a collection of 225 works as well as fresh flowers classical music attendants and automatic toilets and faucets 145 146 Reading room Edit The original Reading Room was founded in August 1935 to entertain unemployed workers during the Great Depression 181 Started as an initiative by the New York Public Library the Reading Room provided the jobless with a place to interact and share ideas without having to pay money or show identification Despite this the library was well used being used by 50 000 people by its first anniversary Theft was low with only 34 publications being lost in the library s first year 182 By its third year 400 books and 1 000 magazines were in circulation and were being perused by 70 000 people per year 183 Books from the NYPL and donations of magazines and trade publications from publishers contributed to the success of the open air library 184 The tradition of Reading Rooms halted in 1944 due to a staff shortage during World War II 185 The Reading Room tradition was revived in 2003 with HSBC as its first sponsor Oxford University Press Scholastic Corporation Mitchell s NY Conde Nast Publications Time Inc Hachette Filipacchi Media U S and Rodale Inc were among the companies who donated books and publications 141 In addition to the complimentary reading materials in 2004 programming was added to Reading Room s content The Reading Room features readings and book sales by contemporary writers and poets plus book related special events such as book clubs writers workshops and storytelling for kids 186 Bank of America Winter Village Edit The Rink at Bank of America Winter Village Modeled on Europe s Christkindlmarkt in 2002 Bryant Park introduced the Holiday Shops in an effort to liven up the park space during the winter Initially slow to gain traction 187 the Holiday Shops became a fixture of the Manhattan holiday scene in 2005 by expanding into an all encompassing seasonal destination with the addition of New York s only free admission ice skating rink 188 The Shops also include a Norway Spruce tree 189 190 as well as a standalone dining and event space 191 192 193 Sponsored by Bank of America Winter Village can be set up within two weeks 169 It has transformed the park into a year round destination In September 2016 Bryant Park Corporation announced market makers Urbanspace as the new operator for the Holiday Shops which grew from 80 boutiques in 2002 to over 170 in 2018 194 In 2018 Urbanspace also took over management of the rinkside eatery rebranding it as The Lodge 193 Private operation Edit The park from above a bit of green amid Midtown Manhattan s buildings The Bryant Park Corporation BPC formerly the Bryant Park Restoration Corporation BPRC 195 manages the park BPC also oversees the Bryant Park Management Corporation BPMC which was created to manage the Bryant Park business improvement district 196 Although Bryant Park is a public park BPC accepts no public funds It was initially supported by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund but now receives funding through tax assessments on surrounding property within the business improvement district fees from concessionaires and revenues generated by public events 197 To acquire accurate data about park usage BPC counts the number of patrons in Bryant Park twice per day at 1 p m and 6 p m 169 The number of events at the park grew significantly after its reopening causing some consternation by people who feared that the park would be dominated by private entities thus would be inaccessible to the public As a result BPC makes most events free and open to the public One exception was the New York Fashion Week shows that formerly took over the park for two weeks in the winter and late summer each year BPC cofounder Dan Biederman often publicly expressed his frustration that the fashion shows were not under BPC s control They pay us a million dollars It s a million dollars I would happily do without he told the Los Angeles Times 198 BPC was particularly frustrated that the fashion shows dominated the park during two crucial times in late summer when the weather is perfect for park visitors and in early February necessitating the early closure of the park s popular free admission ice skating rink 199 Programming EditNumerous events are hosted on the lawn at Bryant Park 200 Bryant Park Movie Nights begun in the early 1990s take place on Monday evenings during the summer 201 202 Various free musical performances are sponsored by corporations during months with warm weather including Broadway in Bryant Park sponsored by iHeartMedia and featuring performers from current Broadway musicals integrated with content provided by event sponsors 5 The park has various activity areas open all day long including board games chess and backgammon a putting green and Kubb area an Art Cart ping pong tables and Petanque courts The parks also offer free classes in juggling yoga tai chi and knitting 203 204 In the 40th Street plaza of the park there is a station called Bryant Park Games where visitors can borrow an array of games including Chinese chess and quoits In addition chess and table tennis can also be played at Bryant Park 205 Food and drink are served at four park operated concessionary kiosks 206 There are two additional kiosks on Fifth Avenue bringing the total of concessionaires near Bryant Park to six 207 Former programming Edit Formerly Bryant Park hosted New York Fashion Week NYFW shows which took over the park for two weeks in the winter and late summer each year NYFW which moved to Bryant Park in 1993 208 was forced to set fees for its shows after Manhattan Community Board 5 disapproved of a free fashion show on the grounds that three fourths of profits would go to BPC and only one fourth to NYC Parks 209 Dan Biederman of the BPC had called the profits from NYFW a million dollars I would happily do without 198 and lamented the fact that NYFW took over the park at two high traffic periods late summer and late winter 199 NYFW moved from Bryant Park in 2010 after disagreements with the BPC 210 Landmark designations EditBryant Park and the New York Public Library Main Branch were jointly listed on the National Register of Historic Places NRHP in 1966 Its listing on the NRHP is distinct from the New York Public Library on the same day which covered just the main branch building 2 In addition in 1974 the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated the park as an official scenic landmark 1 References Edit a b c d e f g h i Bryant Park PDF New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission November 12 1974 Archived PDF from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved July 28 2019 a b c d Historic Structures Report New York Public Library and Bryant Park PDF National Register of Historic Places National Park Service November 12 1974 a b c d e f g h Bryant Park History Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 a b c d e Bryant Park s Part In City s History Site Of Hudson Fulton Court Of Honor The Scene Of Washington s Defeat By The British The New York Times September 23 1909 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 a b c d e f g h i j Miller Lauren April 18 2011 History of Bryant Park in New York USA Today Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 a b Favoring the Name Bryant Park The New York Times March 9 1884 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2019 Retrieved August 6 2019 Eldredge Niles and Horenstein Sidney 2014 Concrete Jungle New York City and Our Last Best Hope for a Sustainable Future Berkeley California University of California Press p 137 ISBN 978 0 520 27015 2 Burning of the Crystal Palace Total Destruction of the Articles on Exhibition The New York Times October 6 1858 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2019 Retrieved August 5 2019 New York City A Configuration Destruction of the Latting Observatory 130 000 worth of Property destroyed Narrow escape of the Crystal Palace The New York Times September 1 1856 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b c Gray Christopher April 22 2007 An Enduring Strip of Green in an Ever Evolving City The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on September 13 2021 Retrieved August 13 2019 The Seventh Regiment and Reservoir Square The New York Times February 11 1873 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 Looking for a Building Site the Historical Society s Committee and the Reservoir Park The New York Times June 15 1881 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 On the Old Reservoir Site Tilden Trust s Suggestion to Use the City Hall for a Library The New York Times January 25 1893 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 Bryant Park as a Post Office Site The New York Times January 27 1903 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 Bryant Park News Before They Were Parks Part I New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 5 2019 Board of Commissioners of the NYC Dept of Public Parks Minutes and Documents May 7 1884 April 29 1885 PDF nyc gov New York City Department of Parks and Recreation 1885 p 47 PDF p 146 Archived PDF from the original on November 28 2020 Retrieved July 30 2019 The Old City Hall The New York Times February 19 1893 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2019 Retrieved August 6 2019 In Place of the Reservoir Property Owners Desire to Extend Bryant Park The New York Times March 26 1891 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2019 Retrieved August 6 2019 New York Public Library Main Lobby the North and South Staircases from the First Floor to the Third Floor and the Central Hall on the Third Floor PDF New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission November 12 1974 Archived PDF from the original on July 31 2020 Retrieved August 6 2019 Public Library s Home A Strong Feeling in Favor of the Fifth Avenue Reservoir Site The New York Times October 1 2018 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 18 2018 Retrieved December 17 2018 a b c City Beauty Spot Planned in Bryant Park The New York Sun April 7 1912 p 40 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 13 2019 via newspapers com New Library Ready Early Next Year That Is the Great Marble Structure Will Open if There Are No More Delays The New York Times May 2 1910 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 16 2018 Retrieved December 16 2018 Widening of Forty Second Street Will Begin Early this Summer An Additional Fifteen Feet for Road Traffic Will Be Acquired by Cutting Off 7 1 2 Feet on Each Side of the Sidewalk Entrance Columns to Manhattan and Knickerbocker Hotels to Come Down Bryant Park Also to be Curtailed The New York Times June 12 1910 ISSN 0362 4331 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Runs the First Official Train Big Crowds Ride At Night Average of 25 000 an Hour from 7 P M Till Past Midnight Exercises in the City Hall William Barclay Parsons John B McDonald August Belmont Alexander E Orr and John Starin Speak Dinner at Night New York Times October 28 1904 p 1 Archived from the original on May 18 2020 Retrieved November 6 2016 Stengren Bernard April 22 1964 Shuttle Is Short Except In History The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2017 Retrieved January 15 2017 via New York Times Archive M Adoo Extension To Be Ready In 1911 Head of Hudson amp Manhattan Road Promises It After the Board of Estimate Approves The New York Times June 5 1909 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on April 25 2018 Retrieved April 24 2018 By Hudson Tunnel to Grand Central New York Tribune February 11 1909 p 1 Archived from the original on January 26 2022 Retrieved August 13 2019 via newspapers com D Orazio Bernard April 23 2018 In 1874 a Daring Downtown Plan Build a Train Tunnel Under the Hudson Tribeca Trib Online Archived from the original on May 3 2018 Retrieved May 2 2018 Begin to Dig Tunnel Deep Under the City High Pressure Water Supply Bore to be Driven Through Solid Rock The New York Times July 23 1911 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 13 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 Bryant Park Restored With Traces of Aqueduct Work Removed Old Charm Returns The New York Times June 12 1915 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 Give a Thought to Bryant Park New York Tribune June 11 1891 p 11 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 14 2019 via newspapers com Dedicate War Garden Key to House in Bryant Park Formally Turned Over to City The New York Times June 28 1918 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 Centre for Enlisted Men Recreation Building Open to All the Allies to be in Bryant Park The New York Times May 11 1918 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 City Starts its Garden Crowds Cheer First Spadefull Turned In Bryant Park The New York Times March 23 1920 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 Bryant Park Restored Eagle Hut Site Sodded but Only Two Old Trees Remain The New York Times May 30 1920 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 a b To Beautify Bryant Park Many Plans Submitted for Restoration When Subway is Finished The New York Times January 1 1927 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 a b Bryant Park Busy Mine The New York Times July 30 1922 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 Fifth Av Station of Subway Opened The New York Times March 23 1926 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 New Queens Subway Opened to Times Sq The New York Times March 15 1927 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 a b c d e f Lynn R Morrone F Toran E A Hamill P 2013 Guide to New York City Urban Landscapes W W Norton ISBN 978 0 393 73395 2 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 15 2019 a b c New Bryant Park Ready By Summer The New York Times February 18 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Federal Hall in Bryant Park Estimated to Cost 85 000 The New York Times March 15 1932 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 Daily What A Temporary Replica of Federal Hall Once Existed at NYC s Bryant Park Untapped Cities March 19 2018 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 Missing Bryant Park Statues Are Found In Storage Yard Under Williamsburg Bridge The New York Times February 17 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on 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by City Federal Hall Demolition Cost to Be Charged to Bicentennial Group and Sears Roebuck The New York Times June 9 1933 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Delaus Bryant Park Plan Sheehy Says Funds Are Lacking to Act on Elaborate Designs The New York Times June 26 1933 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 Moses Is Commended On Bryant Park Plan Association Approves Program for Rehabilitation Hopes for Completion in Spring The New York Times February 26 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 Moses Orders Bryant Park Restored as Resting Spot New York Daily News February 18 1934 p 44 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 15 2019 via newspapers com 270 Trees Being Set Out To Shade Bryant Park The New York Times April 24 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 a b c d e f g Moritz Owen May 29 1989 The Little Park That Could New York Daily News pp 238 244 via newspapers com Bryant Park Reopening Postponed Until Sept 14 The New York Times August 18 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 New Bryant Park Formally Opened 2 000 at Exercises at Lowell Fountain Hear Praise for Transformers of Site The New York Times September 15 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 New Subway Line on 6th Ave Opens at Midnight Fete The New York Times December 15 1940 p 1 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 13 2021 Retrieved October 7 2011 The New Yorker New Yorker Magazine Incorporated 1936 p 12 Archived from the original on April 7 2022 Retrieved August 15 2019 Berger Meyer January 7 1944 Thousands Watch Sham Air Attack Set Midtown Fires Realistic Show in Bryant Park Is Awesome as Rooftops Blossom Into Flames The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Saxon Wolfgang November 29 1996 Philip Miller 90 Dies Headed Public Library Music Division The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Library Resumes Concerts in Park Many Listen From Noon to 2 P M The New York Times July 6 1950 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Review of Bryant Park Moratorium Rally Archived October 7 2010 at the Wayback Machine by Matthew Murphy September 20 2005 Millet Stanley South Vietnam vol 4 1969 1974 p 197 Indiana University ISBN 978 0 87196 236 2 Kramer Jane Moratorium in The New Yorker October 25 1969 3 Ring Battle Over Circus in Bryant Park New York Daily News April 19 1978 p 209 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 15 2019 via newspapers com Kleiman Dena May 6 1978 Bryant Park Is Denied to Group As Site for the Big Apple Circus The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Times The New York July 29 1946 City Will Survey Parking Facilities in Subway System Underpass That May Help Relieve the Midtown Parking Problem The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 3 Huge Parking Lots Underground Asked by Mayor New York Daily News July 29 1946 p 138 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 15 2019 via newspapers com Park Garage Plan Draws Moses Fire The New York Times July 21 1947 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Stengren Bernard September 1 1958 Bryant Park Gets New Garage Plan The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Parking Plan Revived City Urged to Build Garage Beneath Bryant Park The New York Times November 29 1959 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Crowell Paul November 21 1961 New City Building Backed By Mayor The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Crowell Paul November 29 1961 Garage Rejected For Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Lights Improved At Bryant Park 9 000 Spent to Brighten Area Behind Library New Lighting Brightens the Library s Backyard The New York Times June 19 1962 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 19 2019 Retrieved August 19 2019 Hoving Calls a Meeting to Plan For Restoration of Bryant Park The New York Times June 22 1966 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Burks Edward C June 24 1966 Hoving to Upgrade Bryant Park Area The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Treaster Joseph B June 26 1976 Bryant Park An Oasis Plagued by Crime The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Clurman Threatens To Shut Bryant Park The New York Times September 13 1973 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Clurman Bids Public Do Job at Bryant Park New York Daily News September 3 1973 p 180 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Fried Joseph P June 20 1976 Murder Scene in Bryant Park Is a Place to Drink and Gamble The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Gartner Jerome May 28 1978 The 42d St village green New York Daily News p 238 Archived from the original on May 8 2022 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Say Bryant Park Cleanup Fouled Up New York Daily News September 7 1977 p 8 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Breasted Mary May 10 1977 Fair to Help Fix Up Bryant Park Dampened by Rain The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Retrieved August 17 2019 Maitland Leslie July 1 1978 Bryant Park Is Showing Improvement but It Still Has Its Ups and Downs The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Won t keep off grass in Bryant Park New York Daily News May 11 1979 p 5 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Fraser C Gerald September 8 1982 Discount Tickets Booth Planned for Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 a b Goldberger Paul December 1 1983 The New Bryant Park A Plan of Pros and Cons The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 City s parks where there s smoke New York Daily News August 21 1980 p 37 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com a b Donahue J D Zeckhauser R J Breyer S 2012 Collaborative Governance Private Roles for Public Goals in Turbulent Times Princeton University Press p 177 ISBN 978 0 691 15630 9 Retrieved February 3 2020 About Us Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Chadwick Bruce August 9 1982 The re greening of Bryant Park New York Daily News p 97 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Fowler Glenn August 10 1982 Crime in Bryant Park down Sharply The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b Saunders D J November 24 1989 Bryant will be fine amp dandy New York Daily News p 801 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Johnston Laurie Anderson Susan Heller August 23 1983 New York Day by Day The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 a b Carmody Deirdre December 1 1983 Vast Rebuilding of Bryant Park Planned The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b Goldberger Paul October 4 1987 ARCHITECTURE VIEW A Simpler Way to Improve Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Carmody Deirdre May 27 1984 City Offers Legislation for Privately Run Restaurant in Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Purnick Joyce April 23 1985 Panel Approves Restaurant Plan for Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Carmody Deirdre May 16 1983 Proposal for Restaurant in Bryant Park Disputed The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b Anderson Susan Heller September 22 1987 New Restaurant Design Readied for Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Bryant Park Project Approved The New York Times January 13 1987 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on April 7 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Shepard Joan September 21 1987 Bryant Park restaurant New York Daily News p 117 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Dunlap David W December 15 1987 Plan for 2 Restaurant Pavilions For Bryant Park Wins Approval The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Dunlap David W December 13 1987 Landmarks Panel Declines to Endorse Bryant Park Restaurant Plan The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Operator for Bryant Park Restaurant Named The New York Times October 15 1988 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 a b c Goldberger Paul May 3 1992 Architecture View Bryant Park An Out of Town Experience The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on July 18 2009 Retrieved March 13 2010 Sorin Frannie November 22 2008 Bryant Park A Stunning Urban Garden Bryant Park Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved January 16 2020 Captivating Connecticut Garden Traditional Home Archived from the original on January 16 2020 Retrieved January 18 2020 How Bryant Park s Iconic Chairs Revolutionized Public Spaces Gothamist November 21 2019 Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Belmonte John April 8 1990 Bryant Park to bloom again New York Daily News pp 705 244 via newspapers com Saunders D J April 20 1990 Bryants polish up your image New York Daily News p 939 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Interview with Laurie Olin FASLA asla org www asla org Archived from the original on September 5 2017 Retrieved June 7 2017 a b c Ravo Nick June 13 1991 Bryant Park Journal After 3 Years a Park Awaits a Wary Public The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 a b c d Stephen A Schwarzman Building Facts The New York Public Library November 10 1902 Archived from the original on December 23 2018 Retrieved December 22 2018 a b Anderson Susan Heller October 27 1987 Library Starts Road to 84 Mile Shelves Under Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 23 2018 Retrieved December 23 2018 a b White Joyce October 16 1987 Library Bryant Park branching out New York Daily News p 155 Retrieved December 18 2018 via newspapers com Bryant Park to bloom again New York Daily News December 28 1980 pp 645 647 via newspapers com Weber Bruce April 22 1992 After Years Under Wraps A Midtown Park Is Back The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on December 23 2018 Retrieved December 23 2018 Weber Bruce April 22 1992 After Years Under Wraps A Midtown Park Is Back The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on April 7 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Moritz Owen April 21 1992 An urban oasis reopens today after 8 9M New York Daily News p 259 Retrieved August 18 2019 via newspapers com Best Example of Urban Renewal New York December 20 1993 Best Design of 1992 Time January 4 1993 a b Thompson J 1997 The rebirth of New York City s Bryant Park Washington DC Spacemaker Press ISBN 978 1 888931 05 1 OCLC 38008110 Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence History ULI Americas November 6 2017 Archived from the original on August 1 2019 Retrieved August 23 2019 See for instance In Praise of Bryant Park Curator Magazine July 3 2009 Archived from the original on May 20 2014 Retrieved May 19 2014 Naylor Donita August 31 2017 Kennedy Plaza plan envisions true civic heart The Providence Journal Archived from the original on September 1 2017 Retrieved September 1 2017 Mayor Jorge O Elorza unveiled a plan for transforming Kennedy Plaza into a true civic heart for our city something less like a commuter hub and more like New York City s Bryant Park Weber Bruce August 25 1995 Town Square Of Midtown Drug Dealers Turf Is Now an Office Oasis The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on October 2 2013 Retrieved March 13 2010 POSTINGS Fit for Bryant Park Two New Newsstands The New York Times December 27 1992 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 a b Deutsch Claudia H June 6 1993 Commercial Property Bryant Park Once Anathema Now a Midtown Marketing Tool The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Blau Eleanor May 28 1994 Pigeons on the Pill Bring Cleaner Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Blau Eleanor December 4 1993 Financing Finally Seals Deal for a Restaurant in Bryant Park The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Fabricant Florence May 17 1995 We d Like to Make a Reservation Table for 1 000 Please The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Zukin Sharon 1996 The Cultures of Cities Malden MA Wiley Blackwell pp 26 33 ISBN 1 55786 437 3 a b c d Collins Glenn April 4 2002 Lions Out Front And Now Ponies For the Backyard Carousel Will Soon Adorn Grounds of Public Library The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 14 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 a b Hanlon Patrick August 30 2011 HSBC s Social Media Plan Succeeds At Ground Level Forbes Archived from the original on June 24 2013 Retrieved April 1 2013 Begay Jason July 3 2002 Escaping to Bryant Park but Staying Connected to the Web The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Chan Sewell June 5 2008 Bryant Park Faces Onslaught of Visitors City Room Archived from the original on October 1 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Charles McGrath December 29 2006 Skating on a Gershwin Set Whatever the Tune The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on April 6 2018 Retrieved February 15 2017 a b c d e Video Curbed June 8 2017 Peek inside Bryant Park s spiffed up public bathrooms Curbed NY Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b c d e Hu Winnie April 5 2017 A Public Restroom Fit for Brooke Astor Gets an Upgrade The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Lee Denny April 27 2003 Neighborhood Report Bryant Park You re a Hot Park When Everyone Wants Your Name The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on March 22 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Learmonth Michael April 27 2007 NPR names duo for drive time Variety Archived from the original on October 13 2017 Retrieved December 10 2017 Vitullo Julia January 21 2004 The Fall and Rise of Bryant Park PDF New York Sun Archived PDF from the original on August 17 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 via Bryant Park Corporation Squarespace Collins Glenn June 5 2008 Bryant Park Braces for Midtown Building Boom The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on September 14 2021 Retrieved August 18 2019 Gregor Alison October 2 2012 Bryant Park Office Rents Outperform the Rest of Midtown The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 6 2021 Retrieved August 6 2021 Hughes C J November 8 2017 Bryant Park A Growing Neighborhood in Central Manhattan The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Bryant Park New York City Department of Parks amp Recreation June 26 1939 Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 14 2019 a b c d White Norval Willensky Elliot Leadon Fran 2010 AIA Guide to New York City 5th ed New York Oxford University Press pp 268 271 ISBN 978 0 19538 386 7 The Lawn Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Bryant Park Movie Nights Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on March 22 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Broadway in Bryant Park Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Square Dance Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park wintervillage org March 31 2014 Archived from the original on March 31 2014 Retrieved February 16 2020 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint unfit URL link MTA Neighborhood Maps 42 St Bryant Park B D F M Metropolitan Transportation Authority 2018 Archived from the original on December 16 2021 Retrieved September 13 2018 Manhattan Bus Map PDF Metropolitan Transportation Authority July 2019 Retrieved December 1 2020 A walking tour of Bryant Park monuments Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on June 25 2017 Retrieved June 19 2014 Bryant Park Monuments New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved July 29 2019 William Earl Dodge New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b Old Bryant Park Statues To Go to New Locations The New York Times March 6 1934 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 From the Archives Washington Irving in Bryant Park Bryant Park Corporation July 11 2006 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 William Cullen Bryant New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Josephine Shaw Lowell New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b c d Ruggiero Nina Secrets of Bryant Park am New York Archived from the original on October 3 2019 Retrieved August 13 2019 Johann Wolfgang von Goethe New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Jose Bonifacio de Andrada e Silva New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Gertrude Stein New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on October 28 2020 Retrieved August 17 2019 Benito Juarez New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on August 4 2019 Retrieved August 17 2019 Andrew Heiskell Plaza New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 A Day Of Science Around The World Nikola Tesla s Birthday on July 10 July 11 1937 Archived from the original on February 23 2015 Retrieved August 18 2019 Le Carrousel Magique Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on February 3 2020 Retrieved February 3 2020 Lee Jennifer 8 July 29 2009 Shiny Coat for Bryant Park Carousel Steed City Room Archived from the original on August 13 2018 Retrieved August 14 2019 Slesin Suzanne January 24 1991 Currents An Elegant Old Facility Will Gain a New Felicity The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Weber Bruce May 30 1992 About New York Public Toilets New and Improved for the Public The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Collins Glenn April 4 2006 A Resplendent Park Respite Mosaic Tiles Included The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on May 28 2015 Retrieved March 13 2010 Culture in Parks is Greeted Coolly Baltimore Sun August 18 1935 p 12 Retrieved August 14 2019 via newspapers com Open Air Library Marks Birthday Cake and One Red Candle Add Color to Celebration in Bryant Park The New York Times August 18 1936 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Open Air Library Goes Indoors Today Project in Bryant Park Ends Its Best Year With 72 000 Readers Gain of 7 000 The New York Times October 23 1937 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 Reading Room Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on May 22 2017 Retrieved April 1 2013 Public Library Abandons Outdoor Reading Room The New York Times June 21 1944 ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 15 2019 20th Anniversary The Reading Room Appears in 2003 Archived from the original on October 6 2016 Retrieved October 5 2016 Lee Jennifer 8 Holiday Business in Bryant Park Once Cold as Ice Heats Up Archived from the original on October 26 2015 Retrieved October 5 2016 Mcgrath Charles December 29 2006 Skating My New York The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on October 9 2016 Retrieved October 7 2016 Scherer Jenna December 4 2017 Where to find 14 of New York City s festive Christmas trees Curbed NY Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Our Beautiful Christmas Tree Bryant Park Corporation December 19 2018 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Muchnick Jeanne November 8 2018 Bryant Park Where to eat drink and be merry at Bank of America Winter Village lohud com Archived from the original on December 9 2018 Retrieved August 18 2019 a b Kis Eva October 25 2018 NYC s best holiday market Winter Village in Bryant Park is back Metro US Archived from the original on May 13 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Collins Glenn December 10 2004 Lions in Front and Ice Out Back The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on October 6 2016 Retrieved October 5 2016 License Agreement Between Bryant Park Corporation And City Of New York Department Of Parks amp Recreation For The Operation And Maintenance Of Bryant Park PDF New York City Department of Parks and Recreation May 2018 p 1 Archived PDF from the original on August 10 2019 Retrieved February 3 2020 Audit Report on the Financial and Operating Practices of the Bryant Park Corporation and Bryant Park Management Corporation comptroller nyc gov Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Private Oasis in Manhattan Mises Institute November 11 2002 Archived from the original on March 2 2021 Retrieved August 17 2019 a b Hotz Robert Lee February 11 2007 Public Parks Landing Private Owners Los Angeles Times p 77 Retrieved March 13 2010 via Los Angeles Times newspapers com a b Saul Michael October 13 2006 Fashion Shows Leave Bryant Park Skaters in the Cold New York Daily News p 18 Retrieved February 3 2020 via newspapers com Events Calendar Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on June 25 2014 Movie Nights Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Bryant Park Movie Nights NYCgo com June 10 2019 Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Bryant Park Events New York City Department of Parks and Recreation Archived from the original on July 29 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Things to Do Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Bryant Park Games Things to do in New York Time Out New York Archived from the original on August 16 2019 Retrieved August 16 2019 Eat and Drink Bryant Park Corporation Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Pristin Terry February 22 2002 Bryant Park Agency Replaces Kiosk Operators The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Spindler Amy M October 31 1993 Designers Turn New York Into a Fashion Big Top The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on February 19 2015 Retrieved August 18 2019 Howe Marvine September 26 1993 Neighborhood Report Midtown Setting Park Fees After a Fashion The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 18 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 Wilson Eric February 10 2010 Fashion Week Moves Tents Stays Upbeat The New York Times ISSN 0362 4331 Archived from the original on August 15 2019 Retrieved August 18 2019 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bryant Park New York City portalOfficial website Bryant Park Corporation Official NYC Parks website Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bryant Park amp oldid 1127100577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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