City Hall Park

City Hall Park is a public green space in Lower Manhattan with landscaped gardens, walking paths, and monuments spread across roughly 10 acres next to City Hall. The grounds include shaded areas with trees, benches, and open lawns suitable for strolling and sitting.

The site dates back to 1647 when it was part of the New Amsterdam City Hall grounds. The location gained significance in American history as the place where George Washington read the Declaration of Independence aloud.

The park serves as a gathering place where New Yorkers attend concerts, art shows, and community events throughout the year. These occasions bring different groups together and highlight how the space functions as a social center for the city.

The area is accessible by subway and bus, with park entrances on Broadway, Park Row, and Chambers Street. Visitors can arrive at any time since the grounds are open during daylight hours and the neighborhood has restaurants and shops nearby.

The park was redesigned in the late 1800s by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who added curved pathways and carefully positioned trees throughout. This thoughtful layout remains visible today and continues to shape how visitors move through the space.