Consider this small triangle of green a testament to community spirit. This is Sheridan Triangle. It sits at the intersection of West 4th Street, Washington Place, and Barrow Street. Sheridan Triangle is more than just a garden. It’s a symbol of Greenwich Village’s history and the power of local action.
Once, this spot was just a traffic island. It was often filled with illegally parked cars. But in 1981, a group of Village residents decided to change that. Vera Schneider led the charge. They formed the Sheridan Square Triangle Association.
The NYC Department of Transportation helped prepare the site. Community Board 2, the NYS Urban Development Corporation, and the City Public Development Corporation provided grants. In 1982, the area was transformed. It was landscaped and planted. Then in 1989, it became part of the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. This ensured it would remain a garden for years to come.
Pamela Berdan designed the Garden. She was a Village resident. She designed many gardens in the area. The garden was created to be viewed from the sidewalk. A central mound provides varied terrain. There is a rock garden on West 4th Street. An area of blue-hued plants faces Washington Place. A shaded, wooded area faces Barrow Street.
Each spring, tulips bloom in the major beds. Azaleas, rhododendrons, and crabapples follow. In the summer, other perennials and annuals bloom. With autumn, the colors of asters and geraniums appear. The changing foliage adds beauty.
Hundreds of plant varieties thrive here. Many are rare. Some are not often seen in city gardens. Look closely in the rock garden and the wooded areas. You might spot something special.
General Philip Sheridan is the namesake of Sheridan Square. He died on August 5, 1888. He was a Civil War hero. In 1864, Ulysses S Grant appointed him commander of the Army of the Shenandoah. Sheridan’s tactics helped force General Robert E Lee’s surrender at Appomattox. He also helped designate Yellowstone as a National Park. In 1936, a bronze statue of General Sheridan was erected at nearby Christopher Park. This sometimes causes confusion between the two parks.
In 1982, an archaeological dig took place here. The Sheridan Square Triangle Association cooperated with the NYC Parks Department. Regina Kellerman, then Executive Director of GVSHP, planned the dig. The site hadn’t been used since the early twentieth century. Dr Anne Marie Cantwell, a professor at Rutgers, directed the excavation. Native American artifacts were found. Soil analysis revealed that a farmer had plowed the fields here in the 18th or early 19th century.
Today, Sheridan Triangle is a viewing garden. Volunteers care for it. They plant, weed, water, and pick up garbage. They also kill bugs and replace dying plants. New volunteers are always welcome. No experience is needed. Just a willingness to learn and get your hands dirty.
The garden receives no financial support from the City. It relies on membership contributions. These contributions pay for plants, tools, mulch, and soil. They also cover occasional professional services.
Sheridan Square has witnessed rallies and demonstrations. It has contributed to New York’s gay rights movement. The shape of Sheridan Square is a triangle. It has a few park benches. It has some trees. It is surrounded by an old-fashioned wrought-iron gate.