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Plaza within Athens Square Park opened Friday

Sept. 2. 2014 By Michael Florio

The plaza within Athens Square Park finally opened on Friday.

The plaza features many items that pay tribute to Greece—including paving stones inspired by an ancient Athens theater.

The Parks Department broke ground on the project last summer and has reconstructed the plaza and its surrounding seating area.

The project took much longer to complete than many residents had expected. Several residents hoped that it would have been ready by the beginning of summer—as opposed to the end.

However, a spokeswoman for the Parks Department, said that there were no delays and “it opened on schedule.”

The plaza, located on the corner of 30th Street and 30th Avenue, is frequently used to host summer concerts and is a popular hangout for residents.

The site has been repaved and the performance area has taken the shape of the Sun of Vergina, a common symbol in ancient Greek art. In the sunken portion of the park, the pavers have been arranged in a diagonal checkerboard pattern, inspired by Athens’ Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater, which dates back to 161 AD.

The plaza joins a park already heavily influenced by Greek history, featuring a seated figure of Socrates, a standing figure of Athena, a bronze bust of Aristotle, and three Doric columns.

The project has come with new plantings, lights, fencing and recycled plastic lumber benches to the plaza, according to the Parks Dept. The cost was $850,000

“We are excited to see Athens Square Plaza open to the public with its upgraded spaces,” said Councilman Costa Constandinides in a statement. “The park serves as a community cultural center with its beautiful Ancient Greek architecture and neighborhood events.”