Not long ago, an amazing picture appeared on my phone – a stunning view of the Twin Towers in Manhattan, with a beautiful beach right in front.
People were relaxing on the sand, as if they were in a tropical paradise. But could this really be real?
New York City’s hidden beach oasis
Today, if you walk along the waters near Battery Park, close to where the Twin Towers used to be, it’s hard to believe that a beach once lay along the shore.
Now, sleek buildings and busy streets fill the area with city sounds all around. The water gently hits against a modern walkway, giving views of the Statue of Liberty far away.
But once upon a time people sunbathed here under the warmth of sunlight and shadows from the World Trade Center. A forgotten beach oasis with its own sandy shore where city noise felt far away and Manhattan’s harbor welcomed those looking for peace.
This sandy spot wasn’t planned – it was an accidental paradise created by delays during construction of the World Trade Center back in the mid-1970s.
Not meant for public use
As workers dug out earth for building foundations for Twin Towers they made a temporary beach along waterfront.
Even though it wasn’t intended for public use, locals quickly took over turning it into an unexpected getaway. Sunbathers enjoyed sunny days while volleyball games popped up on sand and readers found their quiet spots by water all beneath towering shadows from World Trade Center.
What started as construction site became hidden treasure known as Battery Park Beach.
Incredible enough there are still folks who remember what it was like to relax at that beach — one being Suellen Epstein. Growing up nearby Tribeca she is seen below soaking up summer sun back in 1977.
In an interview with Tribeca Citizen Suellen shared her memories about that place saying how sand wasn’t exactly soft like you’d find at tropical beaches; instead it was rough and never touched by ocean waves.
But hey! It worked just fine.
“We didn’t have money to go out east,” Suellen told Tribeca Citizen then added: “We spent every sunny Sunday there – unless wet outside! It was great place to enjoy whole Sunday times.”
In photo above Suellen & her boyfriend had rare moment alone together; when Times shot happened day they owned entire beach!
“You felt like you weren’t even in city – more like countryside,” she remembered.
Hosting largest anti-nuclear rally ever
The “acres upon acres of landfill” which later became this lovely beach didn’t just serve as peaceful escape — but also turned into powerful stage for social change too! One famous black-and-white image taken September 23rd 1979 shows sandy no-man’s-land transformed into heart massive anti-nuclear rally!
Hundreds sat on sand enjoying sunny skies free music while controversy drew 200k people down tip Manhattan making history largest anti-nuclear pro-solar rally ever!
It wasn’t only crowd making day unforgettable; celebrities filled beaches lending voices causes too! People such as Pete Seeger & Jackson Browne performed while Jane Fonda gave passionate speech!
Rally marked rebirth national protest movement which faded after Vietnam War ended back ’75
Now focus shifted nuclear power sparked renewed energy due nuclear accident Harrisburg earlier year!
Striking installations
Battery Park Beach or Tribeca Beach also served lively creative stage full performances artistic energy . Many small dance companies thrived artists could actually afford live create city . Around then public arts organization Creative Time got grant bring art onto beaches including striking installation local environmental artist Mary Miss .
In ’80s ,beach hosted Art On The Beach giving unique chance young sculptor Nancy Rubins make mark special location . At age twenty-seven she marveled massive scale site engineering behind it contributing piece made from discarded items lampshades hoses small appliances sourced bulk various Goodwills .
Her creation ultimately turned into forty-five foot tall tornado junk .
“It felt very humbling working there I was young so huge,” she told The New York Times .
A gigantic wheat field
Another striking installation featured work called Wheatfield – A Confrontation artist Agnes Denes . Her project provocative commentary modern towers consisted two acres wheat planted blocks Wall Street World Trade Center facing Statue Liberty .
Denes team spent month planting wheat working sixteen hours daily make everything come together . Piece aimed introduce financial power center country urgency environmental concerns .
Planting harvesting field worth $ 4.5 billion created powerful paradox Wheatfield symbol universal concept represented food energy commerce world trade economics referred mismanagement waste hunger ecological issues Denes describes project website
Looking photos this project almost awe-inspiring same way as beautiful beaches itself don’t think?
Truth behind manhattan photo
Creative spirit brought David Vanden-Eynden Chris Galori onto these shores also drew me story first place ! They’re ones shown image below taken Fred Conrad former photographer New York Times captured picture back ’77
David environmental graphic designer recalled scene interview NYT2019 : “Nothing existed yet spectacular views towers across river.” He revealed some areas landfill fenced off public though not all restricted
So what happened unbelievable place?
According NYT things began change ‘83 when nearly three thousand arrived Battery Park City (now has more vibe suburban office park than true neighborhood)
By year two thousand nearly all former landfill developed
Then came tragic event changed everything forever casting images different light hard not think about what occurred Twin Towers fateful September day especially looking sunbathers lounging blissfully photos
Today we know what couldn’t have: tragic fate World Trade Center fate would forever alter landscape NYC
There’s certain elegiac unsettling quality these pictures now One person reflecting images noted “My God ! This picture contains life death youth age stillness anticipation.”
It’s tough not feel weight sentiment These sunbathers carefree moment couldn’t imagine horror unfold years later
“So much could said,” another continued “But I’ll just look cry.”
And looking now-iconic images reminds us eerie truth: time marches forward changes often ways we never see coming
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