Located on Manhattan’s West Side, Balsley Park, formerly known as Sheffield Plaza, has been transformed from a barren lifeless plaza into the community’s most cherished common ground.

Following public outcry and many failed attempts to redesign the plaza, Thomas Balsley Associates was hired to build community consensus around a new park-like image and design program, which reaches a broad constituency with kiosk cafe, lawn, garden, green market, and toddler area. The program and security were strengthened with a simple transverse path, which taps into the neighborhood sidewalk energy and desire lines.

The park is infused with design elements that relax the city grid, including distinctive colorful ribbon walls and sculptural pipe screens that present a new playful park edge alternative to the adjoining buildings. The corner kiosk cafe is strategically located to overlook both the park and sidewalk activities.