Overlooking the World Trade Center in New York City, Liberty Park is intrinsically connected to one of the most defining moments for the city and the United States. By being so closely tied to the legacy of New York City, Liberty Park highlights what it can mean for a landmark to define a space in a way that is meaningful to a community and an entire country.
Created in the Aftermath of 9/11
Liberty Park exists on account of the redefinition of the entire World Trade Center area after the 9/11 attacks on New York City. Opened in 2016, it was built on top of a security-screening center overlooking the original footprint of the World Trade Center. Designed by landscape architect Joseph Brown and constructed by Steven Dubner Landscaping, Liberty Park transformed the space in a landmark but was also seen as an ideal spot to showcase numerous landmarks that connect to a larger legacy of the city.
“America’s Response Monument” represents the American Green Berets who rode horseback into combat in Afghanistan and honors all U.S. Army Special Forces, Special Operations Forces, Central Intelligence Agency, and other inter-agency teams called to serve following 9/11. Nearby is the Anne Frank Tree, which is a sapling from the original chestnut tree that grew outside the Secret Annex where Anne Frank and her family hid from 1942 to 1944 during the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam.
The Sphere is a large cast bronze sculpture by German artist Fritz Koenig that is the most prominent sculpture in Liberty Park. The only remaining work of art to be recovered mostly intact from the ruins of the collapsed twin towers after the attacks, it serves as an icon of hope and the indestructible spirit of the United States.
These monuments are set amidst a one-acre green space that overlooks the entire World Trade Center campus. Featuring numerous trees, shrubs and other plants along with space for visitors to reflect and relax, it connects to and embodies a larger legacy for all of New York City.
A Legacy in Both Form and Function
Numerous landmarks are connected to the legacy of the space they reside in as well as their wider city and community, but few exist as a direct result of both. The legacy that Liberty Park represents and directly reflects highlights what it can mean for a legacy to come to life in both form and function to appeal to residents and visitors from across the eras.
