March 1, 2007
Bethesda Fountain Terrace Arcade Reopens Tomorrow
The Parks Department is opening up the arcade at Bethesda Fountain Terrace tomorrow. The Terrace Arcade had a Minton tile ceiling and the the tiles were removed for cleaning in 1984. Now, after a $7 million effort funded by the Central Park Conservancy, the 16,000 tiles are ready to be seen by New Yorkers again.
The ribbon-cutting is tomorrow at 10:30AM at the Bethesda Terrace Arcade (in the middle of Central Park at 72nd Street). After the opening remarks, there will be guided tours and restoration demonstrations between 11AM-2PM. There are no future plans to have tours or demonstrations on a weekend, but we can hope!
There is another beautiful photograph of the restored arcade after the jump, and it does look quite magnificent with its tiled ceilings and walls. On January 1, the NY Times had a cool interactive detailing the restoration (it's still accessible!). And did you know that many city fountains are maintained by the Central Parks Conservancy?
Photographs by Daniel Avila / NYC Parks & Recreation
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Wow. Spectacular doesn't quite seem to cut it. The CPC has done such a fantastic job with the park. They really need to be applauded. Bethesda Fountain is an especially amazing place to be at any time of year or day or night and it's going to be even better now.
What an amazing space; it's just begging for some vandalism street art.
But will The Splasher strike?
Will SK Thoth be there?
Bravo, bravissimo! These beautiful tiles have been out of public view far too long.
Now if only we could bring back the delightful cafe which once occupied this space....
Hate to sound sentimental, but this is where the deal was sealed with my Long Time Companion in 1970.
I'll be going to the ceremony. This has been a long time coming.
BTW, please proofread. "There another beautiful photograph..." reads like Cookie Monster.
...no cafe, but you can get a hot dog and a snapple at the quaint vendor parked next to the fountain
It looks nice, but will the place still (soon) smell like pee? Those restrooms in the arcade were truly foul.
CONGRATS!!! IT's magical!