Everything about Union Square New York City totally explained
Union Square Park (also known as
Union Square) is an important and historic intersection in
New York City, located where
Broadway and
the Bowery came together in the early 19th century; its name doesn't celebrate the federal union but rather denotes the confluence of several trolley lines, as in the term "union station." Today it's bounded by
14th Street to the south,
Union Square West on the west side,
17th Street on the north, and on the east
Union Square East, which links together
Broadway and
Park Avenue South to
Fourth Avenue and the continuation of Broadway. The park is under the aegis of the
New York City Department of Parks and Recreation.
Neighborhoods around the park are the
Flatiron District to the north,
Chelsea to the west,
Greenwich Village and
New York University to the south, and
Gramercy to the east. Also nearby is
The New School. The eastern side of the square is dominated by the Zeckendorf Towers.
Union Square is noted for its impressive equestrian statue of
George Washington, created by
Henry Kirke Brown and unveiled in 1856. Other statues in the park include the
Marquis de Lafayette, created by
Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi,
Abraham Lincoln, created by
Henry Kirke Brown and
James Fountain, donated by
Daniel Willis James and sculpted by
Adolf Donndorf. A newer addition, added in 1986, is a statue of
Mahatma Gandhi in the southwest corner of the park.
In April 1861, soon after the fall of
Fort Sumter, Union Square was the site of a patriotic rally that's thought to have been the largest public gathering in
North America up to that time.
Union Square lies over
14th Street–Union Square, a
New York City Subway complex served by the,,,,,,, and trains.
In March 2008, an 18-month renovation began to the north side of the park, which will result in a restaurant and improved playground facilities. The Farmers Market has been relocated on the west side of the park.
Site of social and political activism
The park has historically been the start or the end point for many political demonstrations. It is — and was in the past — a frequent gathering point for radicals of all stripes, whom one will often find speaking or demonstrating. On
September 5,
1882, in the first
Labor Day celebration, a crowd of at least 10,000 workers paraded up Broadway and filed past the reviewing stand at Union Square. Although the park was known for its union rallies and for the large 1861 gathering in support of Union troops, it was named in the 18th century for its location at the "union" of Bloomingdale Road (now Broadway) and
Eastern Post Road (now extinct) decades before these gatherings.
It was named a
National Historic Landmark in 1997 primarily to honor it as the site of the first Labor Day parade.,
In the days and weeks following the
September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Union Square became a primary public gathering point for mourners. People created spontaneous candle and photograph memorials in the park and
vigils were held to honor the victims. This was a natural role for the Square as
Lower Manhattan below 14th Street, which forms Union Square's southern border, briefly became a "frozen zone," with no non-emergency vehicles allowed and pedestrians sometimes stopped and asked why they were venturing south by police and national guardsmen. In fact, for the first few days following the attacks, only those who could prove residency below 14th Street could pass. The Square's tradition as a meeting place in times of upheaval was also a factor.
Greenmarket
In 1976, the Council on the Environment of New York City established the Greenmarket program, which provided regional small family farmers with opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products at open-air markets in the city. The most famous is the
Union Square Greenmarket, held Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between 8 AM and 6 PM year round. 250,000 customers a week purchase 1,000 varieties of fruits and vegetables at the market. The variety of produce available is broader by perhaps a factor of ten than what is found in a conventional supermarket.
Union Square is also known for the Union Square Holiday Market, which is held
November 23 through
December 24. Temporary kiosks are filled by over 100 artisans, who sell items ranging from candles and perfume to knitted scarves and high-end jewelry.
Union Square is a popular meeting place, given its central location in Manhattan and its many subway lines. There are many bars and restaurants on the periphery of the square, and the surrounding streets have some of the city's most renowned (and expensive) restaurants.
S. Klein's department store promoted itself in the middle 20th century as an "On the Square" alternative to higher prices uptown, and late in the century several big-box chain stores established a presence, including
Barnes & Noble,
Babies "R" Us,
Staples and
Circuit City. In addition, the
W Union Square Hotel opened at the park's northeast corner, in the landmark building that formerly housed the Guardian Life Insurance Building.
Union Square Partnership
The
Union Square Partnership
(USP), a
Business Improvement District (BID) and a
Local Development Corporation (LDC), was formed in 1984 and became a model for other Business Improvement Districts in New York City. It had, as of 2006, a US$1.4 million budget.
Jennifer E. Falk became its executive director in January 2007.
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