Threat

As landscape architect Ken Smith noted during his consultations in 2001, “most people didn’t understand the park and the ideas that formed its original design. While many people had fond memories of the park when the fountain was still functioning, most people admitted that they didn’t use the park today.”

Smith also noted at that time that the observation tower had been closed for many years and the lighting system on the space frame had not been maintained. Today, a strong association with urban renewal and the failed Southeast Loop Plan, a general lack of appreciation of the aesthetic of the 1970s, and a recent history of abandonment and vandalism have limited the use of the park as well as support for the preservation of the original design. Without new public investment in the park, its unique signature elements may continue to deteriorate and, over time, will be lost.

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Boston City Hall Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts

Estates Drive Reservoir
Oakland, California

Heritage Plaza
Heritage Park
Fort Worth, Texas

Kaiser Roof Garden
Kaiser Center
Oakland, California

Lake Elizabeth
Allegheny Commons
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Manhattan Square Park
Rochester, New York

Mill Creek Canyon
Earthworks
Kent, Washington

Miller Garden
Columbus, Indiana

El Monte
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico

Pacific Science
Center Courtyard
Seattle, Washington

Parkmerced
San Francisco, California

Peavey Plaza
Nicollet Mall
Minneapolis, Minnesota

education partners

Additional Sponsors

American Society of Landscape Architects’ Indiana, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Minnesota, Northern California, Texas, Upstate New York, and Washington Chapters • Astorino • Charles Butt • Design Within Reach • Topher Delaney • Sandy Donnell & Justin Faggioli • Fathom • Tom Fox • Hillman Foundation • Indianapolis Museum of Art • Lorraine Osmundson • Richard T. Murphy • National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Northeast, Southwest, and Western Offices- with funds from the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation of New York, Dodge Jones Foundation Intervention Fund, and Eastern Massachusetts Preservation Fund • James Richards • Seibert & Rice • Diana & Bruce Shuman • Ann Stack • SWA Group • TBG Partners • Michal and Jeffrey William Tincup • Unilock Inc. • The Woltz Charitable Trust


Rochester, New York Manhattan Square Park Intro history threat help learn Threat Photo © Rick McKee Hock As landscape architect Ken Smith noted during his consultations in 2001, “most people didn’t understand the park and the ideas that formed its original design. While many people had fond memories of the park when the fountain was still functioning, most people admitted that they didn’t use the park today.” Smith also noted at that time that the observation tower had been closed for many years and the lighting system on the space frame had not been maintained. Today, a strong association with urban renewal and the failed Southeast Loop Plan, a general lack of appreciation of the aesthetic of the 1970s, and a recent history of abandonment and vandalism have limited the use of the park as well as support for the preservation of the original design. Without new public investment in the park, its unique signature elements may continue to deteriorate and, over time, will be lost. back \| next	Boston City Hall Plaza Boston, Massachusetts Estates Drive Reservoir Oakland, California Heritage Plaza Heritage Park Fort Worth, Texas Kaiser Roof Garden Kaiser Center Oakland, California Lake Elizabeth Allegheny Commons Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Manhattan Square Park Rochester, New York Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Kent, Washington Miller Garden Columbus, Indiana El Monte Hato Rey, Puerto Rico Pacific Science Center Courtyard Seattle, Washington Parkmerced San Francisco, California Peavey Plaza Nicollet Mall Minneapolis, Minnesota Home \| Map \| Exhibit \| Artists \| Press
education partners Additional Sponsors American Society of Landscape Architects’ Indiana, Pennsylvania/Delaware, Minnesota, Northern California, Texas, Upstate New York, and Washington Chapters • Astorino • Charles Butt • Design Within Reach • Topher Delaney • Sandy Donnell & Justin Faggioli • Fathom • Tom Fox • Hillman Foundation • Indianapolis Museum of Art • Lorraine Osmundson • Richard T. Murphy • National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Northeast, Southwest, and Western Offices- with funds from the Charles Evans Hughes Memorial Foundation of New York, Dodge Jones Foundation Intervention Fund, and Eastern Massachusetts Preservation Fund • James Richards • Seibert & Rice • Diana & Bruce Shuman • Ann Stack • SWA Group • TBG Partners • Michal and Jeffrey William Tincup • Unilock Inc. • The Woltz Charitable Trust