Grand Army Plaza

The Grand Army Plaza represents the main entrance to Prospect Park in Brooklyn, New York. The park is the result of a need for open public spaces in Brooklyn during the first half of the 19th-century as the city grew rapidly. The New York State Legislature authorized the creation of a public park in 1859, and construction began in the early 1860s. The Grand Army Plaza, known at the time as simply “The Plaza,” was one of the first features constructed for Prospect Park. Calvert Vaux, the original landscape architect who designed the park, considered the oval shaped space a vital design element for the property, as it was acted as the grand entryway to the rest of the park. The Plaza continued to be modified throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, including additions of fountain(s), statues, and other public art features. EverGreene has played a major role in the conservation of two main features of the Plaza: the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Arch and the Bailey Fountain.

The Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Memorial Arch was first completed in 1892 to honor those who fought and died in the Civil War. Several large statuary groups and a number of smaller bronze reliefs were subsequently added by Sculptor Frederick MacMonnies between 1892 and 1901. EverGreene was contracted by the City Parks Foundation to conserve the bronze statuary and the adjacent stonework. Work included performing historic research on patina and color to restore artist’s intent, detailed conditions assessments, and developing and implementing comprehensive treatment plans.

Bronze: cleaned surfaces to remove atmospheric and biological soiling, restored or re-created missing and damaged elements, overall re-patination, application of protective coatings.

Stone: cleaning surfaces to remove atmospheric and biological soiling

The Bailey Fountain was added to the Plaza between 1929 and 1932 to replace an older fountain, which was removed in 1915 due to subway construction. The Art Deco fountain was the work of sculptor Eugene F. Savage and architect Edgerton Swarthout. Several bronze statues are situated in the center, depicting nude figures of a man and woman riding the ship of Brooklyn surrounded by Nereids who trumpet the ship, a lounging Bacchus-like Neptune, and a mass of pink quartzite stones. EverGreene was contracted to conserve both the bronze statuary and the adjacent stonework. Work included performing historic research on to determine the sculptor’s original intent and display design, detailed conditions assessments, as well as the development of treatment recommendations, and implementation of comprehensive treatment plans. Treatments included:

Bronze: cleaned surfaces to remove atmospheric and biological soiling, graffiti, remaining wax, and corrosion product; recreated and recast missing elements; soldered open joints in the sculptures; overall re-patination; application of protective coatings.

Stone: complete disassembly and reinstallation of the stone base, installation of a new foundation, crack repair using epoxy and new stainless steel pins, cleaning surfaces to remove atmospheric and biological soiling, and the installation of a new waterproofing system.

Mechanical Systems: completely reconstructed in order to replicate the original appearance and function of the fountain works, while meeting contemporary standards for water usage and safety.