La Plaza Cultural

La Plaza Cultural is a community garden located at East 9th Street and Avenue C in Manhattan that combines green space with an outdoor performance venue. The grounds feature an amphitheater, a geodesic dome structure, and various areas for beekeeping, rainwater collection, and composting.

The garden was established in 1976 when neighborhood residents and CHARAS members transformed vacant lots during New York City's financial crisis into a community space. The amphitheater was designed by architect Gordon Matta-Clark, who shaped the site's permanent character.

The space carries cultural meaning as a gathering place for the neighborhood, shaped by decades of community activism and artistic expression. Visitors can see how residents use it daily for performances, meetings, and celebrations that reflect the area's identity.

The garden is open to visitors and offers different areas to explore, from planted sections to the central dome structure. Check ahead for events or closures since the space may occasionally be reserved for scheduled activities.

The geodesic dome was constructed with guidance from renowned architect Buckminster Fuller and stands as a rare example of his design philosophy in New York. This distinctive structure attracts architecture enthusiasts who come to explore its unusual shape and construction methods.