Sharing a name with New York's legendary sports arena, Madison Square Park has become one of the city's well-known public gathering spaces. Even more recognized, perhaps, is chef Danny Meyer's addition to the park's southeast entrance, a California-inspired burger joint, Shake Shack, serving up an extensive menu of sizzling burgers, hotdogs, crispy fries, and milkshakes. If you can brave the regular hour-long lines, you won't be disappointed!
But there is more to this famous park than milkshakes. Intersecting Fifth Avenue and Broadway at 23rd Street, the 6.8 acre Madison Square Park was named after fourth U.S. President James Madison. Before opening to the public in 1847, the area was a hunting ground used by the United States army, and later was the site of a refuge house for juvenile delinquents. A vacant sandlot was used as the playing field for one of the country's first professional sports teams, the New York Knickerbocker Baseball Club. Today, however, Madison Square Park is full of blossoming gardens, ever-changing art installations, sculptures, yearly events, and free concerts.
Among the park's historical moments was the country's first community Christmas tree lighting in 1912, commemorated by the Star of Hope in the southern end of the park. To this day, there are still annual tree lightings here, sponsored by local businesses.
Several prominent buildings surround the park today, including the Flatiron Building, one of the oldest original New York skyscrapers, the Credit Suisse building (tallest in the world until the completion of the Woolworth Building in 1913), and the New York Life Building, built in 1928 and recognized for its golden, pyramid-style roof.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- 24 Hours daily
- Subway Stop:
- R, W, N trains to the 23rd and 28th Street Stations
- 6, F, V trains are a block away at 23rd Street
- Contact:
- Location: 10 Madison Ave New York, NY
- Website: www.madisonsquarepark.org
