Union Square Park is one of the oldest parks in New York City. Originally designated in 1839, the park was redesigned into its current oval shape by Central and Prospect Park designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1872. Since that time, the park has served as a central meeting point for rallies and protests of every kind, including women's suffrage, civil rights, anti-war protests, parades and more.
Surrounded by 14th Street to the south, Park Avenue to the East, 17th Street to the north, and Union Square West to the obvious west, the square only occupies 9 acres, yet is packed with things to do and see.
The park sits directly atop the Union Square subway station, the 4th busiest in the system with nearly 100,000 passengers passing through each day. There is the City's busiest farmer's market setup 4 days a week on the north-side plaza. There are dozens of chess players daily on the south west corner. There is a small dog park, a kids playground, two grassy lawns for sitting, bench lined pathways, and even a few retail restaurants.
It's no surprise that this park is one of the busiest in City, with its central location, mass transit options, nearby restaurants and retail, and history. Check it all out from above in this short aerial video from our Above New York series.
Matt Coneybeare
Editor in Chief
Matt enjoys exploring the City's with his partner and son. He is an avid marathon runner, and spends most of his time eating, running, and working on cool stuff.
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