Greenacre Park is a privately owned, publicly accessible vest-pocket park located on East 51st Street between Second and Third Avenues in the Turtle Bay neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It was designed by Hideo Sasaki, former chairman of Harvard's Department of Landscape Architecture, in consultation with architect Harmon Goldstone. The park, which is owned by Greenacre Foundation, was a 1971 gift from Abby Rockefeller Mauzé, the philanthropist, the daughter of John D. Rockefeller Jr. and the granddaughter of John D. Rockefeller.
The park is a small oasis in the middle of Midtown Manhattan. It is only 60 feet wide by 120 feet deep, but it is packed with features that make it a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. There is a waterfall, a trellis with heat lamps for chilly days, chairs and tables, as well as honey locust trees, azaleas, and pansies. The park is open from 7am to 11pm daily.
Greenacre Park has a rich history. It was originally the site of a mansion owned by William Waldorf Astor. The mansion was demolished in 1929, and the land was left vacant for several years. In 1969, Abby Rockefeller Mauzé purchased the land and donated it to the Greenacre Foundation. The foundation commissioned Hideo Sasaki to design the park, and it opened to the public in 1971.
Greenacre Park has been praised for its design and its contribution to the community. It has won numerous awards, including the American Society of Landscape Architects' Honor Award and the New York City Parks Council's Frederick Law Olmsted Award. The park is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Greenacre Park is a beloved New York City landmark. It is a place where people can come to relax, enjoy the outdoors, and escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
