UWS Nonprofit Begins Quest For Major Redesign Of Verdi Square

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — A nonprofit that has helped manage Verdi Square Park on the Upper West Side for years is beginning a push for a major redesign of the public space.

Friends of Verdi Square, which oversees the park outside of the West 72nd Street subway station, has already reached an agreement with the LaGuardia Design Group on an "exciting" pro-bono plan for a redesign of the space.

That redesign will include new flowering plants, shrubs, grasses, sedges, trees, a new seating area, and more.

"These comprehensive plans will reinvigorate the Meadow with added color and texture, enhance the Woodland with increased plantings and a proposed seating area in front of the Verdi monument, add planters within the plaza, and introduce flowering trees and plants in the rose bed area," Friends of Verdi Square wrote on its website.

But, the work can't get started until the nonprofit raises $50,000.

With that number in mind, Friends of Verdi Square have put out the call for help.

"This is the most ambitious fundraising we have ever done – we hope you will help us reach our goal so that we might elevate the Verdi Square Park gardens to a new level of beauty," reads the nonprofit's website.

Everyone who donates $500 or more, will get sent a signed, limited edition print of "Verdi Square" of the Guiseppe Verdi statue within the park by local artist Robert Beck.

The LaGuardia Design Group designs have already been created, and feature a detailed breakdown of the specific flowers and plants, along with where the new seating will go.

You can check out the plans on the ILoveTheUpperWestSide website, which was the first publication to report on the fundraising for the redesign.