Historic Foley Square in the middle of some of Manhattan\u2019s most storied public institutions is filthy with signs of neglect \u2014 from destroyed public art to defective street lamps and \u201cdangerous\u201d broken pavement.<\/p>\n
Part of the city-maintained green space \u2014 the site of a series of high-volume protests from Occupy Wall Street to anti-ICE demonstrators \u2014 scored an \u201cunacceptable\u201d rating last year in a Big Apple audit after years of good marks, and even Mamdani administration officials admit it still remains in unsightly condition months later.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are aware of the needed upgrades in this park and are seeking solutions to upgrade and restore this site,\u201d a rep for the city Parks Department recently told The Post. <\/p>\n
A historic lower Manhattan plaza is in abysmal condition, with dangerous broken pavement and overflowing trash. Ella Morrison<\/p>\n
Locals couldn\u2019t agree more while navigating the abysmal conditions surrounded by municipal buildings and state and federal courthouses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt could use a lot of help,\u201d said a 26-year-old Manhattan dog-walker named Alex, pointing to piles of litter, animal waste and crumbling chunks of pavement missing from the square\u2019s sun-shaped mosaic walkway.<\/p>\n
Overturned NYPD barriers at Foley Square are left out of place for days, parkgoers told The Post. Ella Morrison<\/p>\n
City inspection records show the Big Apple gave the square\u2019s Thomas Paine Park \u201cunacceptable\u201d ratings as far back as June. Ella Morrison<\/p>\n
A makeshift steel oil drum-turned-trash can overflowed with garbage during a recent Post visit to the square \u2014 and there were multiple overturned NYPD barricades and defective street lamps at night.<\/p>\n
The public site\u2019s apparent neglect has led to several fellow dog-walkers tripping and \u201cbust[ing] their face open\u201d because of the uneven ground, Alex said.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids can trip and fall, dogs can step on glass if the walkers aren\u2019t paying attention,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThings like that are very dangerous, especially since this is supposed to be clean [and] safe for the public.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Parks representative said department employees work to regularly clean up Foley Square, including during scheduled trash removals twice a day.<\/p>\n
The public site\u2019s neglect has led to several fellow dog walkers tripping and allegedly \u201cbust[ing] their face open\u201d because of the missing pavement. Ella Morrison<\/p>\n
The entire site was last renovated with an $18 million facelift in 2000, complete with upgraded pavements, new benches, improved fountain drainage, enhanced lighting and plantings, the agency said.<\/p>\n
The square, named after Tammany Hall-era district leader Thomas Foley, also contains Thomas Paine Park, which has racked up a handful of similar litter, sidewalk and homeless assistance complaints in recent years, according to 311 complaint data.<\/p>\n
The plaza has been the site of raucous Occupy Wall Street rallies as well as protests over the Dakota Access Pipeline and the police-involved death of Staten Island dad Eric Garner.<\/p>\n
The square\u2019s street lamps don\u2019t always function, either. Ella Morrison<\/p>\n
Last summer, the square played host to a massive anti-ICE protest that saw over 80 protesters arrested<\/a>.<\/p>\n At least some New Yorkers say the increased attention to the area from the protests has only spotlighted the negligent conditions, not exacerbated it.<\/p>\n \u201c[The protests] actually bring more recognition to the park because when people see it they\u2019re like, \u2018Hey what\u2019s going on over there?\u2019 \u201d Alex said.<\/p>\n