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Please note: On March 18, the dog run will be closed at times for regular tree pruning, we thank you for understanding
Please note: On March 18, the dog run will be closed at times for regular tree pruning, we thank you for understanding
Lawns Open Today
  | Open 10 AM – 5 PM | visit >
Lawns Open    Lawns Closed

Madison Square Park Conservancy is responsible for the maintenance of the park’s lawns. Lawns are open daily for public use starting at 10 AM through 5 PM, weather permitting. Lawns are closed on Parade Days.  Learn more about park hours and rules by visiting our FAQ page.

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London plane

London plane

Platanus x acerifolia
London Plane

It’s rare to walk through any park in New York City and not see a London plane tree. They account for more than 15% of New York City’s tree population, and more than 50% of the trees in Madison Square Park. Acting as a natural air filter, London plane trees are one of the most efficient trees at removing pollutants around them. They grow to between 60–100 feet tall, and occasionally to over 130 feet. Their bark is greenish gray that peels away to show tan splotches. 

The London plane is a cross between the American sycamore and the Oriental plane tree. This happened when the two parent trees found themselves sharing the same space at Vauxhall Gardens in London. The accidental new species was discovered by the owner John Tradescant, while in his nursery garden during the mid-17th century. There weren’t many London planes in New York City prior to the 1930s, before the well-known Parks Commissioner Robert Moses, made it his mission to plant them in every New York City park.

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Abigail Deville: Light of Freedom
Abigail Deville: Light of Freedom, Narrated by Brooke Kamin Rappoport
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