Paley Park is a small, privately owned public space on East 53rd Street. Its water wall, trees, movable chairs, and raised entrance create a compact retreat from Midtown’s traffic, demonstrating how a tiny urban site can be designed for both quiet and sociability.
Guide preview
The sound reaches you before the park’s full depth does. At the back of Paley Park, a 20-foot water wall masks some of Midtown’s street noise and gives this small space a steady acoustic presence.
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UpgradeQuick facts
- Paley Park opened to the public in 1967.
- It was established as a memorial to Samuel Paley.
- Its water wall is 20 feet high.
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