Manhattan’s Secret Sky-Meadow: The Elevated Acre

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The park was originally created in 1972 as part of an urban renewal plan and zoning incentive. In exchange for establishing public plaza spaces, the building developers, the Uris brothers, were permitted to add extra height to the 53-story main skyscraper. However, the original 1970s plaza was a barren, windswept brick deck. To remedy this, a complete redesign was completed in 2005 by the architectural firm Rogers Partners alongside Ken Smith Landscape Architect, transforming the space into the multi-use park seen today. Structurally, the park is built directly on top of a four-story parking garage that forms the eastern annex of the 55 Water Street commercial office complex, sitting roughly 30 to 40 feet above street level.

The center of the park features a 3,400-square-foot synthetic turf lawn, which was chosen over natural grass to remain resilient during freeze-thaw cycles and heavy public use without turning to mud. Another prominent feature is the Beacon Tower, a 50-foot geometric glass tower that serves multiple functions. It acts as a visual landmark visible from the FDR Drive and across the East River, contains programmable LED light arrays, and holds mechanical and support equipment for the park's operations. Additionally, a semi-circular concrete amphitheater faces the lawn and river, specifically designed to host public film screenings, lunchtime concert series, and private corporate events.

The 55 Water Street property occupies a 3.7-acre superblock bounded by Water Street to the west, Old Slip to the north, Coenties Slip to the south, and South Street and the FDR Drive to the east. The primary entrance is located on the Water Street side of the complex, marked by a large glass-and-steel canopy over an escalator bank positioned next to the main building facade. Because the platform is elevated and backed by the massive 53-story tower, the physical mass of the skyscraper acts as a natural sound barrier against the ambient traffic noise of Lower Manhattan, creating a sudden, noticeable drop in decibel levels once visitors reach the top.