Socrates Sculpture Park New York City

"This was such a peaceful park. The views here was amazing. A lot of people lying down and it’s very quiet. Perfect place for babies and dogs. My 2 year old is almost never calm and he had such a great time here. James the security guard was also amazing. He was really kind in getting people out of the park safely and on time without making it feel like he was kicking you out. I will definitely be coming back. 100% recommend for artist looking for a quiet spot to strike inspiration."

Kiki Horsford

"Checked this space out and was left desiring more. Got to see a couple pieces and the office building so not much currently on view.

The coolest thing I learned from a staff member maintaining the site was about the founder and initial creator Mark di Suvero who built the massive i-beam sculptures as a paraplegic. Pretty impressive!"

Stinson Parks III

"Socrates Sculpture Park is an outdoor museum and public park where artists can create and exhibit sculptures and multi-media installations. It is located one block from the Noguchi Museum at the intersection of Broadway and Vernon Boulevard in the neighborhood of Astoria, Queens, New York City. In addition to exhibition space, the park offers an arts education program, artist residency program, and job training.

Socrates Sculpture Park is located atop the mouth of the buried Sunswick Creek.  In 1986, American sculptor Mark di Suvero created Socrates Sculpture Park on an abandoned landfill and illegal dumpsite in Long Island City. The four-acre (1.6 ha) site is the largest outdoor space in New York City dedicated to exhibiting sculpture. The former landfill was renovated into the current park by a team of contemporary artists and local youths. The park operated for 14 years with only a temporary city park status. In 1998, the park was given official status by then New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani as a permanent city park after a developer attempted to erect luxury apartments and a marina on the site after the park's lease had expired.

In 2005, the park was among 406 New York City arts and social service institutions to receive part of a $20 million grant from the Carnegie Corporation, which was made possible through a donation by New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg.

At the Socrates Sculpture Park's main entrance hangs a 10-by-28-foot (3.0 by 8.5 m) billboard structure that has been an ongoing installation since 1999. The original billboard was a mirror image of the street created by artist Mathieu Borysevicz built by ongoing volunteer Ross H. Radtke, a mechanical engineer and neighbour.

New billboards are installed once or twice per year. Artists work with printmaking and photography to create an image that greets visitors as they enter the park and sets the tone for the current show. The billboards are in conjunction with each spring exhibition. The park has numerous workshops and public programming. Many artists lead tour programs of current exhibitions, there are summer art projects, and various free public events, such as yoga and capoeira on Saturdays and outdoor movie screenings on Wednesdays that begin in mid-July and end in mid-August. GrowNYC runs an Astoria Farmer's Market in the park every Saturday during the summer months.

In January 2019, the Park announced its plan to construct and install permanent staff offices made out of shipping containers. This would be the park's first permanent on-site structure."

Buster Got it