Where is Collect Pond Park located?

Collect Pond Park is located in Manhattan on Leonard Street between Centre and Lafayette Streets.

What is Collect Pond Park known for?

The park occupies the site of the eighteenth-century Collect Pond, a sixty-foot deep pool fed by an underground spring that was historically used for ice-skating and picnics.

What is the history of the park's name?

The park was formerly known as Civil Court Park due to the surrounding judiciary buildings, including the Criminal, Civil, and Family Courts. It was later renamed Collect Pond Park by Commissioner Stern to restore the site's historical character.

What features can be found in the park?

The park includes a reflecting pool intended to acknowledge the historical importance of the Collect Pond. During the summer months when it is filled, passersby often toss pennies into the water for good fortune.

What should I check before going?

Use Gyde for context, then check official sources for current hours, tickets, construction, and closures.

Collect Pond Park in New York City

What to know

Collect Pond Park is situated on Leonard Street between Centre and Lafayette Streets in Manhattan. The park occupies the eighteenth-century site of Collect Pond, also known as Fresh Water Pond, which was a large pool fed by an underground spring and reached depths of approximately sixty feet. During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, this area served as a popular destination for ice-skating and picnics. As New York City grew, the pond's fate shifted. By the early nineteenth century, industrial activities including breweries, slaughterhouses, and tanneries contaminated the water, effectively turning the pond into a polluted open sewer. The city eventually filled in the pond, and the resulting unstable, waterlogged ground became part of the infamous Five Points area. The modern park was placed under Parks jurisdiction on April 28, 1960. It was originally named Civil Court Park because it is bordered by the Criminal Court, Civil Court, and Family Court. To restore the site's historical character and evoke 400 years of city history, Commissioner Stern later renamed the space Collect Pond Park. Today, the one-acre green space features a reflecting pool designed to acknowledge the historical importance of the original body of water. This pool serves as a quiet focal point where visitors often toss pennies for good fortune during the summer months when the basin is filled.

Visitor tips

Visit during the summer months to see the reflecting pool filled with water.
Bring a penny to toss into the reflecting pool for good fortune.
Look around the park perimeter to see the surrounding Civil, Criminal, and Family Court buildings.

Nearby context

The park is located in the Civic Center area of Lower Manhattan, positioned on a block bordered by Lafayette, Leonard, Centre, and White Streets. It sits in a high-density judicial hub, surrounded by the city's primary courthouses and adjacent to the edges of Chinatown.