Gramercy Park
Located in between East 20th and East 21st street
Gramercy Park West and Gramercy Park East
New York NY 10003
In 1831, a swamp was bought for $180,000 and developed into "Gramercy Farm". Later renamed Gramercy Park, it is exactly 2 acres big and one of only two private parks in New York City, and one of only three in the state.
The park is fenced in and a key is required to enter. The exclusivity of holding a key is one of the most coveted in the city. There are rules. To have possession of a key, one must live in a building that surrounds the park and pay an annual fee, one must be a guest of the Gramercy Park Hotel or one is a member of the Players' Club - which is located at #16 Gramercy Park.
Speaking of the Players' Club, the founder was Edwin Booth - one of the most famous residents in Gramercy. Edwin was a one of the best Shakespearean actors in the 19th century. In 1916 the Players' Club placed a statue of their founder dressed as Hamlet and it wasn't until 1918 that a statue of Edwin Booth was dedicated to him. You may recognize his last name as his brother was John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated America's then President, Abraham Lincoln.
As the park is still private, you are welcome to walk around the perimeters and take a look through the gate to enjoy the beautiful flowers and walking paths. To let you in on a little secret, I heard the park is open only one day a year to the public, Christmas Eve.
