Nestled on either side of John Street Church are two little alleyway “parks,” located near Fulton Street in Manhattan. I found them yesterday while attempting to burn some time before meeting a friend. A plaque, hanging on the surrounding fence, stated that the parks were open from dawn to dusk, so I decided to enter and explore a bit.
I was immediately blown away. Usually, alleyways are forgotten urban spaces, where trashcans and dumpsters are placed. Yet, this church has transformed them into rather spacious public parks that can be shared and enjoyed by the public.
The parks are particularly charming because they contrast sharply with the rest of the city infrastructure that surrounds the area. In fact, my favorite view was this:
Standing inside one park, I could see three separate walls of the surrounding buildings whenever I looked up. I could also hear characteristic city sounds nearby: cars were passing, people were talking and construction was occurring. Yet, I somehow felt at peace. I was inside a small city haven.
