CPC:
Shaping Public Memory in NYC Public Parks

Public parks are some of our most used civic spaces, and the memorials and monuments within them shape how we remember the City’s past. Behind each commemorative project in New York City parks is a public process—spanning design, review, and long-term stewardship—that influences what stories are told and how they are experienced over time.

In this kick-off discussion of a three-part series, we’ll explore how these processes can help create commemorative spaces that are more inclusive, transparent, and reflective of New York City’s communities.

We’ll begin with an introduction on the history of public monuments in New York City by the Conservancy’s Director of Public History Jessica MacLean, followed by a panel discussion with special guests.