Drumgoole Plaza
Encyclopedia
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...
public park sitting under the shadow of the Brooklyn Bridge
Brooklyn Bridge
The Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the New York City boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River...
, located on Frankfort Street connecting Park Row and Gold Streets, adjacent to the main building of Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
at One Pace Plaza.
Part of the New York Department of Parks & Recreation, it was constructed to revitalize Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan
Lower Manhattan is the southernmost part of the island of Manhattan, the main island and center of business and government of the City of New York...
after the attacks of 9/11. Drumgoole Plaza, the first of the thirteen public open spaces that were renovated or newly created with funds granted by Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation
The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation was formed in July 2002, after the September 11 attacks to plan the reconstruction of Lower Manhattan and distribute nearly $10 billion in federal funds aimed at rebuilding downtown Manhattan....
to develop green spaces, was officially opened on November 5, 2003.http://appserv.pace.edu/execute/page.cfm?doc_id=10125
The Department of Parks & Recreation and Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
reconstructed Drumgoole Plaza, transforming this empty lot into a new sitting area complete with the 1964 New York World's Fair
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964/1965 New York World's Fair was the third major world's fair to be held in New York City. Hailing itself as a "universal and international" exposition, the fair's theme was "Peace Through Understanding," dedicated to "Man's Achievement on a Shrinking Globe in an Expanding Universe";...
benches, colorful decorative paving, architectural lighting
Architectural lighting design
Architectural lighting design is a field within architecture and architectural engineering that concerns itself primarily with the illumination of buildings. The objective of architectural lighting design is to obtain sufficient light for the purposes of the building, balancing factors of initial...
, and lush landscaping with horticultural elements such as flowering trees and ornamental shrubs. The park’s fall hues are Pace colors – blue flowers and gold-edged leaves; over 20 new trees including Goldenrains, Honey Locusts and Hollies along with 1100 shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses such as winter hazel, hydrangea
Hydrangea
Hydrangea is a genus of about 70 to 75 species of flowering plants native to southern and eastern Asia and North and South America. By far the greatest species diversity is in eastern Asia, notably China, Japan, and Korea...
, blue star
Blue star
A blue star is a type of star.Blue star or bluestar may also refer to:The Blue Star Is Kind Of Shiny It Is All Of Stars To Protect The Moon-Music:* Bluestar Entertainment, record label* "Blue Star" , first recorded 1955...
, and striped ribbon grass surround the colorful new park and pathway that connect Frankfort and Gold Streets. The area has been completely re-paved and new granite and concrete curbs have been constructed. A comprehensive bird netting system has been installed to improve the public's enjoyment of the area.
Pace University
Pace University
Pace University is an American private, co-educational, and comprehensive multi-campus university in the New York metropolitan area with campuses in New York City and Westchester County, New York.-Programs:...
provided new spotlights along the property to preserve public safety in the evening. They also provided electrical connections for the decorative lights that illuminate the bridge structure. Pace maintains Drumgoole Plaza park under the management of the Department of Parks & Recreation.
The park is named Drumgoole, for John Christopher Drumgoole
John Christopher Drumgoole
John Christopher Drumgoole was an Irish Roman Catholic priest. He emigrated to the United States at the age of 9 from his native Ireland. He became an ordained priest at the age of 52...
(1816-1888), a hero of the newsboys who thronged the area when Park Row was the headquarters of New York City’s major newspapers (including The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, in the building Pace now occupies at 41 Park Row
41 Park Row
41 Park Row, often called the New York Times Building is located near New York City Hall in the New York City borough of Manhattan, was the longtime home of The New York Times, until it moved to Longacre Square, now known as Times Square...
). Drumgoole joined the priesthood in midlife and worked tirelessly to help homeless youth.