A public garden is defined by theAmerican Public Gardens Association as:

“An institution that maintains collections of plants for the purposes of public education and enjoyment, in addition to research, conservation, and higher learning. It must be open to the public and the garden’s resources and accommodations must be made to all visitors. Public gardens are staffed by professionals trained in their given areas of expertise and maintain active plant records systems.”

Madison Square Park is an American Public Garden. Where our public garden ends, the concrete jungle begins, and many local residents liken our park to their own backyard. For this reason, we tailor our gardens to accommodate those in search of respite from the urban chaos that surrounds us. We selectively curate our plants with the intention of creating a space that inspires reflection and creativity, while being mindful of how the urban environment shapes us and gives our public garden a special character.