The park's lawn and esplanade in 2007, prior to reconstruction
In 2022, the Battery Park City Authority announced plans to demolish and rebuild the park; the demolition attracted opposition from local residents.[6][7][8][9] The demolition was part of theLower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency flood-resiliency project.[10][11]Thomas Phifer andAECOM were hired to design the renovation.[12][13] In response to the public pressure, the Battery Park City Authority enlarged the area dedicated to lawns in the plans, although the rebuilt lawns would still contain 10 percent less green space.[14][15] The park was temporarily closed for reconstruction beginning in March 2023.[16] Wagner Park reopened on July 29, 2025,[17][18] after the $296 million renovation was complete.[13]
Compared with the original design, the rebuilt park has 48 fewer trees. It was raised from 11 to 20 feet (3.4 to 6.1 m), where 139 trees would be planted.[11] There are also gardens and a 63,000-U.S.-gallon (240,000 L) stormwater retention tank.[13][19] A 19,204-square-foot (1,784.1 m2) park pavilion was also built;[20] the pavilion is made of concrete and has a red facade, with archways and cylindrical protrusions on the roof.[12] There is aroof terrace, as well as educational facilities such as classrooms within the pavilion.[12][13] The rebuilt park uses material saved from the original design, such as wood and stone, and there are plantings and trails throughout the park.[12]
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Media related toRobert F. Wagner Jr. Park at Wikimedia Commons
