Flanked By The Apple Store, Bergdorf Goodman, And The Plaza Hotel, The Grand Army Plaza Finally Reopens

Sep 19

About The Renovation

After years of renovations including scaffolding, cordoned-off pathways, and extensive subterranean work, Grand Army Plaza South at Fifth Avenue and 59th Street has officially reopened. The reopening alleviates difficult to navigate sidewalks and streets in the area and follows a $16 million restoration led by the Central Park Conservancy.

“Grand Army Plaza is the most prominent entrance to Central Park and an essential part of the Park’s historic fabric. Yet many people do not realize it is part of the Park itself,” said Betsy Smith, President and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “This restoration honors the original vision for the plaza while repairing and upgrading its materials, infrastructure, and horticulture, all of which will create a better, more elegant space for millions of New Yorkers to enjoy. Every detail of this project, from the paving patterns and plantings to the conservation of the Pulitzer Fountain and Pomona statue, reflects the extraordinary craftsmanship, care, and long-term vision that define the Conservancy’s work.”

The completion of the two-year project reunites Midtown Manhattan with one of its most iconic civic gateways, fully restoring the historic design originally conceived for New Yorkers and visitors at the southeast corner of Central Park.

Revitalizing a Historic Entrance

The two-year undertaking focused heavily on repairing aging infrastructure while returning the south plaza to its original 1916 Beaux-Arts aesthetic designed by Carrère and Hastings. Key highlights of the completed work include:

Pulitzer Fountain & Pomona Conservation: The centerpiece bronze statue of Pomona, goddess of abundance, was removed, professionally conserved off-site, and returned to its perch atop the fountain. The fountain's mechanical and water supply systems received complete modern overhauls, backed by an expanded subterranean vault beneath the structure to streamline long-term maintenance.
Universal Accessibility: Step barriers and interior curbs were removed across the plaza, with the site regraded to provide smooth, step-free access throughout the entire public space.
Paving & Masonry: Crews reset and restored historic bluestone paving patterns in-kind, while resetting and replacing granite curbs and recreating historic granite bench seating.
Landscape & Canopy: The Conservancy re-established the historic double row of London plane trees around the perimeter to expand the shade canopy, complemented by restored evergreen hedges, formal parterre plantings, and upgraded irrigation systems.

A Unified Vision Realized

While renovations to the north side of Grand Army Plaza—featuring the restored equestrian monument of General William Tecumseh Sherman—were completed back in 2015, the southern half had not seen a major overhaul since 1990.

While the north side of the plaza still has some gates and construction materials, there is no news surrounding whether renovations will move forward there or if they are just temporarily storing materials from completing the south side of the plaza there.

Street carts and food carts have already repositioned themselves around the plaza to offer meals for tourists tired from walking up and down 5th Avenue. With the south plaza now reopened, the entire dual-island promenade stands fully restored for the first time in decades, pairing modern accessibility standards with classic New York architecture.