The Battery, formerly known as Battery Park, is a 25-acre public park located at the southern tip of Manhattan Island in New York City facing New York Harbor. It is bounded by Battery Place on the north, State Street on the east, New York Harbor to the south, and the Hudson River to the west. The park contains attractions such as an early 19th century fort named Castle Clinton; multiple monuments; and the SeaGlass Carousel. The surrounding area, known as South Ferry, contains multiple ferry terminals, including the Staten Island Ferry's Whitehall Terminal; a boat launch to the Statue of Liberty National Monument (which includes Ellis Island and Liberty Island); and a boat launch to Governors Island.
The area was originally occupied by the Lenape Native Americans. Dutch settlers populated the area as part of the settlement of New Amsterdam in the early 17th century. Sited on the historic southern tip of Manhattan, The Battery takes its name form the 'battery' of cannons erected by Dutch settlers in the 1600s. What was a worn, formal Moses-era park a mere twenty years ago is now a lush destination for the seven million people who come here each year to board a ferry, visit the memorials and urban farms, stroll the Bosque Gardens and waterfront promenade, and take in the magnificent views of New York Harbor.
Located at the southernmost tip of Manhattan, The Battery is one of New York City's oldest public open spaces. It is where Dutch settlers landed in 1623, and where the first "battery" of cannons was erected to defend New Amsterdam. Encompassing 23 acres of waterfront parkland, The Battery is the largest public open space downtown. Over 350,000 people work within walking distance of The Battery, and over 20,000 residents live in the surrounding area. After 22 years, the redesign of the Battery, one of the city’s most historic and dramatic public spaces, will be complete by October. Quennell Rothschild and Partners was part of the team leading the transformation from a worn, formal Moses-era park into a world-class destination. The Battery Conservancy and the New York City Parks Department are the clients. The Battery Green, a two-acre oval lawn shaded by mature trees, will open on June 24, and will accommodate up to 10,000 people. Also to be completed by Archtober is the Monument Walk. Previously scattered haphazardly around the park, ten of the 23 have now been restored and moved to positions of dignified prominence along the perimeter Monument Walk. The pastoral bikeway, a missing link in Manhattan’s greenway, is flanked with colorful plantings by Piet Oudolf; cyclists also benefit from a shady café and upgraded comfort station. Sustainable features include the replacement of mown lawn in the Woodland with native grasses; the reduction of impervious areas; and new paths that minimize risk to the 250 old trees. Along with existing attractions like the urban farm and the lush Bosque Gardens, visitors now have even more ways of enjoying the breathtaking harbor views.
