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See Photos of World Trade Center's Liberty Park On Its Long-Awaited Opening Day

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After 15 years in the making, the park is now officially open

By Ameena Walker
6 comments / new

After much anticipation,the World Trade Center’s Liberty Park has finally opened to the public. The one-acre elevated green space is located south of the plaza’s reflecting pools and contains over 50 planted trees along with a green living wall (which actually masks the servace entrance the park sits on top of.) Today’s weather combined with the park's long-awaited opening provided the perfect opportunity for New Yorkers to enjoy downtown’s newest green space. For those who couldn't make there way there, a flurry of Instagrams ensure there's nothing to be missed. Check out the park on its opening day, below.

Opening day at #libertypark #wtc

A photo posted by Stan (@stanfordf) on

Opening Day #LibertyPark #OneWorldTrade

A photo posted by Jessica Gil Chacón (@jesssology) on

#LibertyPark

A photo posted by Gonzalo Cruz (@gonzalocruz) on

It's #open /// #LibertyPark

A photo posted by Gonzalo Cruz (@gonzalocruz) on

Some walls protect people while others create boundaries. Some walls decay eventually and crumble into ruin. But the "Living Wall" at Liberty Park, designed as a piece of serenity in an urban public space, invites millions of people to come together from all walks of life to simply breathe fresh air and enjoy the beauty. Almost 15 years after 9/11, the opening of Liberty Park today marks another milestone in the revitalization of Lower Manhattan. The 336–foot wall promises to make the park an attractive destination for everyone in New York City. The wall, which is 25 feet high, was built with 826 panels to hold more than 22,000 plants. An 18-zone drip irrigation system is placed strategically to water the plants while small gutters catch extra water that may not be absorbed. The wall is planted with six types of plants: 3,849 Baltic Ivy, 3,657 Common Periwinkle, 3,490 Coral Bells, 5,782 Golden Star, 3,734 Japanese Spurge and 1,844 vines of Wintercreeper. This combined plant palette was chosen to thrive vertically in a partially shaded location. The plants are arranged in a staggered, horizontal grid to complement the 9/11 Memorial. From a landscaping perspective, the chosen plant species – each having a different color, leaf texture and size, and growth habit – work together to soften the scale and façade of the building, and to provide year-round visual interest. In addition to the wall, the park also features the Horse Soldier statue in honor of the troops who served in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom; a descendent of Anne Frank’s famous Horse Chestnut Tree, and more than 150 trees and shrubs. Construction of the Greek Orthodox Church continues on the park and will serve as both a church and bereavement center. The southwest corner of the park will feature the Liberty Street pedestrian bridge that crosses over West Street to Brookfield Place in Battery Park City. Learn more at http://bit.ly/wtclivingwall #wtc #lowermanhattan #NYC #LivingWall #LibertyPark #WorldTradeCenter

A photo posted by The Port Authority of NY & NJ (@panynj) on

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One World Trade Center Freedom Tower

72 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10006

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