Open Road Park

Open Road Park is a park with community gardens on the Lower East Side in Manhattan where residents grow plants and vegetables in the urban setting. The space also features playground equipment, walking paths, and a small soccer pitch.

The site served as New York City's third Roman Catholic cemetery from 1833 to 1848 and held thousands of graves. The land was later transformed into a public park for the community to use and enjoy.

Local residents and school students work together to maintain the gardens and green spaces, building connections through shared care of plants and nature. This hands-on involvement gives people a sense of ownership in their neighborhood.

The park is free to enter and sits in a walkable urban neighborhood, making it easy to reach on foot. Visitors should know that garden plots are maintained by volunteers and the space operates through community participation.

The park contains a memorial garden dedicated to those who died on September 11 and connects this tragedy to the local neighborhood. This tribute provides a quiet place for reflection within the urban landscape.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1992

GPS coordinates: 40.72944,-73.98306

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:41