Address
32-01 Vernon Blvd. at Broadway, Long Island City, NY 11106
Phone Number
718 956 1819
Date Visited
10/07/2013
Website
Socrates Sculpture Garden
Description
The Socrates Sculpture Garden is a New York City park bordering the East River.One must find on street parking.
You enter the garden directly from the street.
The terrain is flat, but uneven. A flat pathway around the perimeter of the park allows wheelchair accessibility.
There is virtually no seating, just one bench near the water.
Portable toilets, including a handicapped accessible one, are available during the summer.
There is a green market on Saturday mornings from early spring through October.
- Terrain: uneven, grass and gravel
Places to rest: one bench
Paths and walkways: paved pathway around the perimeter
Places to sit: one bench
Location of restrooms: near main entrance
Type of restroom: single, handicapped accessible portable toilet
Ease of entry and exit: fair
Available food services: none
Friendliness of staff: no staff at time of visit
Notes: * Street parking seems to be plentiful on the weekend, not sure what you will find during the week.The park's website states that ""the portable toilets are available only during the warmer months.""
I found the Socrates Sculpture Garden quite an interesting destination. It is a New York City park bordering the East River, which means that there is a lovely view of Manhattan.
Parking has to be found on the street, which was not a problem on the Saturday I was there. I am not sure what you will find on a weekday.
The entrance to the garden is directly from the street. Just walk in. Once inside I found a large, open, grassy area that is somewhat uneven. There is a flat stone pathway around the perimeter of the park, making it wheelchair accessible.
The large installations on view that day seemed easy to see from any location. The only place for sitting appears to be one lone bench near the water.
The restrooms are portable toilets, including a handicapped one. Please note that the park’s website states that they are available “in the summer.” I was there in mid-October and they were still there.
The park’s website states that this is “the only site in the New York Metropolitan area specifically dedicated to providing artists with opportunities to create and exhibit large-scale sculpture and multimedia installations in a unique outdoor environment.” How lucky for those artists and for us. I found the park to be a unique environment indeed.
In checking online I found out that the exhibitions change. Shakespeare and opera are performed during the summer, and many annual festivals take place there as well. If you go on a Saturday morning (as I did), you will find the “GrowNYC Greenmarket,” as an added treat, through October.
As always, we at Destination Accessible advise you to check a venue’s website, www.socratessculpturepark.org, when planning a visit, to “know before you go.”
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