Chelsea Green

It's not often one gets to be present at the official opening of a new park. But on July 25, 2019, I attended the ribbon-cutting of Chelsea Green Park.

Finally a reality after almost a decade of activism by Chelsea locals, this onetime Sanitation Department facility is now a quarter-acre playground and mini-park beneath a huge brick wall (and potential movie screen) on West 20th Street in Manhattan.

Dignitaries spoke as children and their minders checked out the new facilities.

NYC Parks Commissioner Mitchell Silver


NYC City Council Speaker Cory Johnson

State Senator Brad Hoylman got in a political dig, noting that Republican control of the Senate had prevented him from securing state funding for projects like Chelsea Green in the past, but now that the Democrats were in charge that would change.

Many Manhattan residents have well-maintained parks near their homes. We've documented countless examples on this blog. But the densely packed island also has neighborhoods without parks. This part of Chelsea, with very little open space, is one. In fact, City Council Speaker Cory Johnson noted that Chelsea ranks next-to-last in public open space among all 59 New York City Community Board districts.

So back in 2010 local residents Matt Weiss and Sally Green formed a group to push for a park on this site, originally referred to as the 20th Street Park Project. After much tenacious effort, and slow buy-in from the community, city officials, and a private donor, the first new park in Chelsea in 40 years is now open. Weiss and Greenspan's joint statement said, as reported by Curbed (who, naturally, published their coverage the very next day): "This park is a testament to the power of grassroots activism and a can-do New York spirit."

Sally Greenspan (center) and Matt Weiss (right)

In addition to the play structures, Chelsea Green Park has shaded benches, plantings, trees, and space for performances and public art displays. There's also a "passive turf area," a circle of artificial turf that I thought might be a fountain or a wading pool when I peered through the fence the week before opening. But no, it's just a circle of green awaiting creative use. What did the designers picture happening in there? Sunbathing? Sumo wrestling? Witchy rituals? I suppose I could ask.

But it's nicer to just walk by now and then and see what's up. Today, for example: lunchtime, a pleasant weekday in early August. Activity: running and toddling. Good enough.

All photos © Jon Sobel, Critical Lens Media