Bowling Green (New York City)

Bowling Green is a small historic public park at the southern tip of Manhattan in New York City, established in the colonial era and known as the city’s oldest public space. The park occupies a compact triangular site facing the harbour and is framed by historic buildings.

Key features include the bronze equestrian statue of George Washington (installed 1856) and the park’s ornamental fence and paved plaza, which reflect its long urban history. The name derives from 18th-century recreational bowling greens that once occupied the space.

Historically the square functioned as a public commons and was the site of early civic events and military occupation during colonial conflicts; it later became a formalized park as the city developed.

The park sits at the foot of Broadway and Bowling Green, adjacent to Battery Park and the Financial District transit hubs.

• Oldest public park: Recognised as New York City's oldest public park with origins in the colonial period when the space was used for public recreation and as a commons.
• Central location: Located at the southern tip of Manhattan in the Financial District, immediately north of Battery Park and near Bowling Green subway station, making it extremely accessible by transit.

What to See #

• George Washington statue: An equestrian bronze statue of George Washington by Henry Kirke Brown, installed in 1856, stands within the park and is one of its defining monuments.
• Historic plaza: The surrounding paved plaza and perimeter iron fence mark the historic urban square that was used for outdoor pastimes such as bowling in the 18th century and has retained its small, formal layout.