Recommendations

A small park that's rich in history, and home to an excellent Greenmarket.

Guide: Entrepreneur (Jack)
Location: Union Square/Flatiron

Strengths

• Union Square Park is a National Historic Landmark. It became a public park so long ago (1839) that it was actually on the Northern end of developed Manhattan when it was created. In 1872, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, architects of Central and Prospect Parks, redesigned the park. It was the site of the first Labor Day celebration in 1882. While it became a hangout for drug dealers in the 1970s, a multimillion dollar renovation in the 1980s restored the park and gave life to the neighborhood.
• Today Union Square Park is a popular meetings spot, because of it's proximity to NYU, its central location, and because many subways stop there.
• Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 8AM to 6PM, Union Square is home to the Union Square Greenmarket, where regional vendors sell a variety of products, including produce, pretzels, meats, cheeses, honey, beef, greens, cider, plants, and seafood. Much of it is organic, and/or grown by local farmers.

Shortcomings

• The concrete to grass ratio is pretty high.

Insider tips

• The Greenmarket hits its peak during the Spring, Summer and Fall. However, some vendors operate year-round, and there's a special Holiday Market with gifts and crafts, if you're into that sort of thing.
• Stop by Whole Foods if it's not a peak hour. It's one of the better food retailers in NYC.
• If the Greenmarket's not around (or at night) you can stop by the north side of the park and watch skateboarders showcase their moves.

Anecdotes

• I walk through Union Square Park every day, and I'm looking at it through my office window right now. It's a Wednesday, so the Greenmarket is open, and it's warm and sunny, so there are hundreds of people milling around - including both locals and tourists. Walking through the Greenmarket is delightful, even if you just want to stroll or browse. But it's also a great way to shop for flowers / plants and food. Some of my favorites are the Martin's Pretzels, Breezy Hill Orchard's apples and ciders, Ronnybrook Farm's dairy, and Artisan Farmstead's cheeses.
• I live in Greenwich Village, and watched the World Trade Centers go down on 9/11. After trying to give blood at St. Vincent's hospital (they didn't need any, sadly), locals didn't really know what to do, so many of us wandered over to Union Square Park. There was nothing formally organized, but it seemed like the most natural meeting spot. Some people lit candles, and it turned into a full-blown vigil. On occasions like that Union Square Park seems like the heart of the city.

Credentials

• On the Project for Public Spaces' list of the world's best parks and squares.