After a two-year facelift, Grand Army Plaza South, the southeastern gateway to Central Park, is back in action. The Pulitzer Fountain is running once more, the bronze Pomona statue is back on her high perch, and the scaffolding that fenced off the plaza has given way to fresh bluestone paving, new plantings and restored lighting.
According to Time Out, the Central Park Conservancy wrapped a two-year, $16 million restoration that included conserving Pomona off site and reinstalling her on top of the fountain. The outlet reports that city officials joined Conservancy leaders at a ribbon cutting last week to officially reopen the plaza.
Historic Materials And Better Access
The Conservancy returned the plaza to its historic palette by relaying bluestone paving and installing period-accurate pedestrian lighting. At the same time, it removed interior curbs and regraded walks to create universal accessibility for strollers and wheelchairs. A double row of London plane trees and new evergreen hedges were reinstated to bring back the site’s original tree canopy, and the Conservancy lists the project as completed in June 2026, per the Central Park Conservancy.
What’s Under The Basin
Out of sight, the fountain received a heavy-duty upgrade. Engineers overhauled the mechanical systems and built a larger subterranean vault beneath the basin so operations crews can reach pumps and filtration equipment without having to take the fountain apart each time. Project documents from engineering firm LiRo describe a reinforced concrete tunnel along with mechanical, electrical, plumbing, civil and structural work that made this easier maintenance access possible, according to LiRo.
Funding And The Finish Line
Funding for the restoration came largely from private donations, including support from the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust, with the city helping cover remaining costs, according to Time Out. That blend of philanthropy and public backing is typical for major Conservancy projects and leaves the plaza both historically faithful and better prepared for heavy visitor traffic.
Why It Matters To The Neighborhood
The reopening completes a long-running effort to reunify the two halves of Grand Army Plaza, after the north side was reconstructed in 2015, and restores sightlines and materials that had been chipped away over decades of piecemeal fixes. With smoother, curb-free walks, refreshed benches and lighting selected to echo the plaza’s Gilded Age design, the Central Park entry is intended to feel more durable and more classic for the millions who pass through each year, according to the Central Park Conservancy.
The plaza is open now, and photos of the refreshed Pulitzer Fountain and Pomona statue are circulating from the Conservancy and local news outlets. Expect to spot the newly planted London plane trees and evergreen hedges at the southeast corner of the park as the landscaping settles in over the coming months.
