Three busy streets converged in the Hudson Heights neighborhood, creating an unsafe crossing for school children and no safe place for seniors to stop while crossing streets. The residents organized and developed a proposal to convert this intersection into a pocket park. The park, named the Paterno Trivium, is a gathering place for community residents to meet, sit and enjoy the vista of the Palisades across the Hudson River on the Jersey shore.
The Paterno Trivium has become a highly visible fork in the road, calming traffic, safely channeling cars through the intersection, and increasing pedestrian safety with the addition of curb ramps and clearly marked crosswalks.
The triangle park, created by an resident architect, is near a block-long commercial hub making it an ideal location. The park boasts unique features such as special planters, a radiating sun embossed in the concrete and a curved customized bench that has become the park's signature element.
The Friends of Paterno Trivium was organized and raised $12,200 from private donations to implement the plan and provide ongoing stewardship for the park's unique features. The park has become a neighborhood asset enjoyed by both teenagers and seniors.
Goal
Convert traffic triangle into neighborhood park