Project Details Page

synopsis

Named after Newburgh resident Andrew Jackson Downing, a renowned American horticulturist and landscape architect, Downing Park opened in 1897. The 35-acre park was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1894 and was one of the final landscapes they planned together. Their sons, John Charles Olmsted and Downing Vaux, respectively, assisted and completed the project

Named after Newburgh resident Andrew Jackson Downing, a renowned American horticulturist and landscape architect, Downing Park opened in 1897. The 35-acre park was originally designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in 1894 and was one of the final landscapes they planned together. Their sons, John Charles Olmsted and Downing Vaux, respectively, assisted and completed the project in the 1890s when the acquisition of additional land made the design concept feasible. The plans in 1894 featured a large pond called “The Polly” and a hilltop observatory along with space for a memorial terrace.

Andrew Jackson Downing brought Calvert Vaux from England to join his practice, but after Downing’s untimely death in 1852 at 36 years old, Vaux would then go on to team with F.L. Olmsted and undertake their debut at Central Park. Downing had been a strong and early advocate for Central Park.

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