Union Square Park: A Lively Hub in the Heart of Manhattan
Union Square is a major crossroads in New York City. Beyond the bustling intersection, you'll find a charming park beloved by New Yorkers and squirrels alike.
What You Need to Know About Union Square Park
- Union Square is a major plaza in New York located in the heart of Manhattan, between the Flatiron Building and Greenwich Village. Broadway cuts straight through Union Square, just as it does through Times Square and Madison Square Park. One distinctive feature: Union Square marks the southern end of Park Avenue.
- Beyond being a major intersection of important streets and avenues in New York, Union Square contains a small park at its center: Union Square Park. The park opened in 1839 and was completely redesigned in 1872 by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the two architects who designed Central Park. Union Square Park could almost pass for a miniature Central Park.
- Why is it called Union Square? It has nothing to do with the United States as a union. Union Square simply celebrates the union of Manhattan’s main thoroughfares.
What to See in Union Square Park
- Between sightseeing, take a few moments to sit on a bench in the heart of the park. You’ll enjoy a quiet, green escape in the middle of Manhattan. You’ll also spot plenty of squirrels that have made their home here.
- The edges of the park are much livelier. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, you can visit the famous Union Square farmers market. The market sets up on the north and west sides of the plaza. It brings together producers from the surrounding area, upstate New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Every day, street performers rotate through the south side of the plaza. Union Square is a very lively place.
- As you walk through the park, you’ll encounter statues of several great figures in American history: George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the French general Lafayette. An interesting detail: Union Square Park also has a statue of Gandhi, the Indian lawyer who fought for India’s independence without ever resorting to violence.
