[Unveiled 1929]
1820-1903 b. Worcester County, Ma., • d. New York, N.Y.
Sculpted: 1928
Architect: John V. Van Pelt
Hidden away in an isolated section of
greenery called Fort Fish stands a stone
bench in memory of Andrew Haswell Green,
Central Park comptroller during the 19th century.
Although the name Andrew Haswell Green
may not be as readily recognizable asOlmsted and Vaux, he actually played a
significant role in the Parks system. First
and foremost, he became known for his
influential role in the unification of
New York City, merging all five boroughs to
make up Greater New York.
For this achievement he was crowned the "Father of Consolidation," yet he was also
responsible for making the Parks Commission
an instrumental force in city planning.
The level of his commitment to beautifying
the City culminated with the beginning of
Central Park. In 1857, the Central Park
Commission was established and given
control of the Park. Led by Green, this
was the City’s first planning agency.
They decided to establish a contest to
determine who would design the Park.
The winners of course were Frederick Law
Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, who worked
together to create The Greensward Plan.
Green’s foresight of the Park system’s
relationship with the municipal development
of the City was integral in the successful
completion of Central Park.
Other significant institutions he helped
create are the New York Public Library
and the Bronx Zoo. He met his untimely
death in front of his home on Park Avenue
when he was shot and killed, by a murderer
who mistook him for someone else.
In November 1998, five Maple trees -
one for each borough were planted at
this site in honor of Green.
