Plaza Lafayette

Plaza Lafayetteis a 0.09-acre (0.036 ha)pocket parkand surrounding streets in theHudson Heightsneighborhood ofWashington Heights,Manhattan,New York City.Named after theMarquis de Lafayette,the French hero of theAmerican Revolution,the park is roughlytrapezoidalin shape, and is bounded byRiverside Drive– originally called Boulevard Lafayette in this area – on the west, the westbound lane ofWest 181st Street– also called "Plaza Lafayette" here – on the north, the eastbound lane of West 181st Street/Plaza Lafayette on the south, and Haven Avenue on the east. The land was acquired by the city on February 23, 1918.

Plaza Lafayette
seen from the northwest on West 181st Street
location in New York City
Type	public
Location	Hudson Heights, Manhattan,New York City
Coordinates
Area	0.09 acres (0.036 ha)
Created	1918
Operated by	New York City Department of Parks and Recreation

The park itself has no amenities, but across what is now Riverside Drive is a small viewing area. This and the parklet itself are located near the highest natural point in Manhattan – about 5 block away inBennett Park– and the viewing platform has unobstructed views of theGeorge Washington Bridge,theHudson Palisades,and theHudson River.

The platform has stairs leading down to what is now theHenry Hudson Parkway,which was once Riverside Drive. The staircase is now gated off, but can still be seen from theHudson River Greenway,on the other side of the parkway, which is reachable by a pedestrian bridge about a block north of the Plaza.

Gallery

• 
  George Washington Bridgeas seen from the Plaza's viewing platform
• 
  Now-disused staircase leading down from the viewing area to what was onceRiverside Drive,but is now the northbound lanes of theHenry Hudson Parkway
• 
  Pedestrian bridge over the parkway to theHudson River Greenway,north of the Plaza, as seen from the Greenway; in the background is theCastle Villagecomplex.

External links

• Media related toPlaza Lafayetteat Wikimedia Commons