Bleecker Park
Encyclopedia
Bleecker Park is a small 0.37 acre (0.14973382 ha) urban park
in Albany
, New York
. The park is triangle-shaped, bounded by Madison Place to the south, Madison Avenue to the north, and Eagle Street to the west. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception is across Eagle Street from the park, while Madison Place, which is a only one block-long, consists of rowhouses primarily in High Gothic and Italianate architecture
, built in the mid-to-late-19th century. Across from the park on Madison Street is the Empire State Plaza
East Parking Garage, built in 1999/2000. The park features the oldest fountain in the city which is surrounded by a small circular garden, two circular beds are also in the park and each feature a shrub surrounded flowers, these small gardens make Bleecker Park "a most charming and restrained Victorian
public garden" according to an article in the Albany Times Union.
to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
, was built across Eagle Street from the park in 1852. In 1863 the first public fountain in the city was erected in the park, a gift from William Fleming. Prior to 1867 Madison Place was named Madison Avenue and the current Madison Avenue was Lydius Street, Madison Place receiving its current name in May, 1867 and Madison Avenue in July, 1867.
In 1986 as part of the 300th anniversary of the Dongan Charter
incorporating Albany as a city, the Bleecker Park fence enclosure received a new coat of paint thanks to inmate labor from the Hudson Correctional Facility. Bleecker Park was one of four places in the city to be awarded the Sense of Place award as part of fifth annual Albany History Fair in 2004.
Urban park
An urban park, is also known as a municipal park or a public park, public open space or municipal gardens , is a park in cities and other incorporated places to offer recreation and green space to residents of, and visitors to, the municipality...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. The park is triangle-shaped, bounded by Madison Place to the south, Madison Avenue to the north, and Eagle Street to the west. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception is across Eagle Street from the park, while Madison Place, which is a only one block-long, consists of rowhouses primarily in High Gothic and Italianate architecture
Italianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
, built in the mid-to-late-19th century. Across from the park on Madison Street is the Empire State Plaza
Empire State Plaza
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is a complex of several state government buildings in downtown Albany, New York....
East Parking Garage, built in 1999/2000. The park features the oldest fountain in the city which is surrounded by a small circular garden, two circular beds are also in the park and each feature a shrub surrounded flowers, these small gardens make Bleecker Park "a most charming and restrained Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
public garden" according to an article in the Albany Times Union.
History
Bleecker Park was established in 1835 by the erection of an iron fence. The Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, Mother ChurchMother Church
In Christianity, the term mother church or Mother Church may have one of the following meanings:# The first mission church in an area, or a pioneer cathedral# A basilica or cathedral# The main chapel of a province of a religious order...
to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
, was built across Eagle Street from the park in 1852. In 1863 the first public fountain in the city was erected in the park, a gift from William Fleming. Prior to 1867 Madison Place was named Madison Avenue and the current Madison Avenue was Lydius Street, Madison Place receiving its current name in May, 1867 and Madison Avenue in July, 1867.
In 1986 as part of the 300th anniversary of the Dongan Charter
Dongan Charter
The Dongan Charter is the 1686 document incorporating Albany, New York as a city. Albany's charter was issued by Governor Thomas Dongan of the Province of New York, a few months after Governor Dongan issued a similarly worded, but less detailed charter for the city of New York. The city of Albany...
incorporating Albany as a city, the Bleecker Park fence enclosure received a new coat of paint thanks to inmate labor from the Hudson Correctional Facility. Bleecker Park was one of four places in the city to be awarded the Sense of Place award as part of fifth annual Albany History Fair in 2004.