A spacious underground oasis may soon be coming to New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood! The proposal by James Ramsey, principal of
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- Abandoned underground station could become neighborhood park
A spacious underground oasis may soon be coming to New York City’s Lower East Side neighborhood! The proposal by James Ramsey, principal of RAAD, and his two partners envisions transforming the defunct train station beneath Delancey Street into a relaxing park environment for residents to enjoy.
This station, the Williamsburg Bridge Trolley Terminal, has lain abandoned for the past sixty years and spans approximately 2 acres, larger than many New York City aboveground parks. However, its underground location represents somewhat of a challenge in terms of providing sufficient lighting for natural plant growth and an enjoyable, relaxing atmosphere.
Ramsey and his team plan to solve the problem by placing solar collectors along Delancey Street and using them to channel natural light into the park via fiberoptic cables and mirrors. This advanced solar technology offers the added benefits of filtering out harmful ultraviolet and infrared rays while allow the wavelengths necessary for photosynthesis to penetrate, ensuring plant growth.
Residents were largely receptive to the idea when it was presented last Wednesday, and we hope to see this unique urban revitalization project come to life in the near future!
