Lincoln Square in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

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Septuagesimo Uno

.04 acre

Photographed by Larry Gertner, December 8, 2018

1. Septuagesimo Uno Marker

Inscription.

Septuagesimo Uno. .04 acre. , Septuagesimo Uno (meaning seventy-one in Latin) is located on 71st Street between West End and Amsterdam Avenues. The parkland lies within the area settled following the Commissioners Plan of 1811. New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) created the commission, which was charged with planning the orderly development of Manhattan north of Houston Street. Prominent New Yorkers, such as the politician Gouveneur Morris (1752-1816), the surveyor Simeon DeWitt (1756-1834), and the lawyer John Rutherford (1760-1840), filled the commission’s ranks. The planners agreed on a system, of rectangular blocks, extending from 14th Street through Washington Heights, designed to maximize the city’s efficiency and ease of use. Known as the “grid system”, the plan arranged 12 North-South avenues perpendicular to 155 East-West cross streets. The commission designed the avenues to be 100 feet wide and the streets to lie 200 feet apart. The plan provided for parks to be located on 53rd, 66th, 77th, and 120th Streets. Latter additions included Union, Tompkins, Stuyvesant, and Madison Squares as well as Lexington and Madison Avenues., The Commissioners Plan of 1811 astutely predicted the exponential residential growth that would occur during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the plan failed to include the park acreage necessary to provide adequate recreation for the growing population. By the 1960’s, land had become extremely scarce in New York City. Recognizing this scarcity, the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay (1921-2000) began the Vest Pocket Park campaign in New York City. Vest pocket parks, like Septuagesimo Uno, are most often constructed on small vacant lots between buildings. City, state, or federal governments fund the creation of these parks, which community residents uses until they are developed. In many cases, community organizations and charitable groups petition for the construction of these parks. Vest pocket parks are located in densely populated neighborhoods and characterized by sitting area, gardens, and playgrounds. , New York City acquired this property through condemnation on March 28, 1969. Mayor Lindsay’s Vest Pocket Park initiative supervised the landscaping of the parcel. In May 1981, The Department of General Services transferred jurisdiction of the property to Parks. Based on the agreement, Parks developed a sitting area and maintains the site in cooperation with Community Board 7. Suptuagesimo Uno boasts several benches that are surrounded by well-maintained gardens. , NYC Parks

Septuagesimo Uno (meaning seventy-one in Latin) is located on 71st Street between West End and Amsterdam Avenues. The parkland lies within the area settled following the Commissioners Plan of 1811. New York City Mayor DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) created the commission, which was charged with planning the orderly development of Manhattan north of Houston Street. Prominent New Yorkers, such as the politician Gouveneur Morris (1752-1816), the surveyor Simeon DeWitt (1756-1834), and the lawyer John Rutherford (1760-1840), filled the commission’s ranks. The planners agreed on a system, of rectangular blocks, extending from 14th Street through Washington Heights, designed to maximize the city’s efficiency and ease of use. Known as the “grid system”, the plan arranged 12 North-South avenues perpendicular to 155 East-West cross streets. The commission designed the avenues to be 100 feet wide and the streets to lie 200 feet apart. The plan provided for parks to be located on 53rd, 66th, 77th, and 120th Streets. Latter additions included Union, Tompkins, Stuyvesant, and Madison Squares as well as Lexington and Madison Avenues.

The Commissioners Plan of 1811 astutely predicted the exponential residential growth that would occur during the 19th and 20th centuries. However, the plan failed to include the park acreage necessary to provide

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adequate recreation for the growing population. By the 1960’s, land had become extremely scarce in New York City. Recognizing this scarcity, the administration of Mayor John V. Lindsay (1921-2000) began the Vest Pocket Park campaign in New York City. Vest pocket parks, like Septuagesimo Uno, are most often constructed on small vacant lots between buildings. City, state, or federal governments fund the creation of these parks, which community residents uses until they are developed. In many cases, community organizations and charitable groups petition for the construction of these parks. Vest pocket parks are located in densely populated neighborhoods and characterized by sitting area, gardens, and playgrounds.

New York City acquired this property through condemnation on March 28, 1969. Mayor Lindsay’s Vest Pocket Park initiative supervised the landscaping of the parcel. In May 1981, The Department of General Services transferred jurisdiction of the property to Parks. Based on the agreement, Parks developed a sitting area and maintains the site in cooperation with Community Board 7. Suptuagesimo Uno boasts several benches that are surrounded by well-maintained gardens.

NYC Parks

Erected by NYC Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Parks & Recreational Areas

Septuagesimo Uno Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, December 8, 2018

2. Septuagesimo Uno Park

The marker is the lowest panel on the gate.

• Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is February 2008.

Location. Marker has been permanently removed. It was located near 40° 46.727′ N, 73° 59.054′ W. Marker was in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It was in Lincoln Square. It was on West 71st Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 256 West 71st Street, New York NY 10023, United States of America.

We have been informed that this marker is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.

Regionally, this marker was in New York City.

It was also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: 240 West End Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker); 246 West End Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker); Matthew P. Sapolin Playground (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); The Dorilton (about 800 feet away); Verdi Square (about 800 feet away); Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (approx. 0.2 miles away); Central Savings Bank (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eleanor Roosevelt Monument (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Other markers no longer nearby. Septuagesimo Uno (has been replaced with this marker); Riverside Park

Septuagesimo Uno Park - inside the fence image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry Gertner, December 8, 2018

3. Septuagesimo Uno Park - inside the fence

(was about 700 feet away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Septuagesimo Uno. Wikipedia entry. (Submitted on April 12, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 8, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 524 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 8, 2018, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.