Battery Park and the Freedom Tower

For anyone who makes a trip to New York, I would highly recommend visiting Battery Park in TriBeCa. Recently, a classmate and I decided to walk from the dorm toward the water on the west side of Manhattan. I've been to a handful of parks since I arrived in New York about three weeks ago, but most are in the center of the city. This place had a different feel entirely. And I could actually envision being able to sit there on a bench and read in peace.

We wound up in the park just around the time the sun began to set.  With traffic noise dispersed by the wind and tall buildings standing only in the background, it almost felt as if the city had melted away. The area was far from deserted, with bicyclists, joggers, and others on foot, but it was never busy enough to feel crowded.

Ferry boats zipped past anchored sailing vessels and the sun sank slowly behind Jersey City across the Hudson. The colors seemed to change with each passing second.

 

In the background, the One World Trade Center (also colloquially known as the Freedom Tower) stood in partial construction. The completion date is anticipated for sometime in 2013. You can find more information about it here and here. I think it's beautiful- for what it stands for and for the hard work of those behind it who have persevered in making something meaningful out of tragedy. It's good to be here in Manhattan.