The Battery Oval

The Battery Oval is a two-acre lawn that provides a gathering space for leisure and enjoyment. Located directly adjacent to the historic Castle Clinton National Monument, this grand oval of green with its stately trees is a central focus of the park and can accommodate up to 8,000 people.

Three hundred Battery Chairs designed by Andrew Jones were created specifically for the space. Jones drew his inspiration from the scilla, an early spring bulb which blossoms with delicate blue flowers before most other spring bulbs.

When creating the Oval, The Battery Conservancy established a turf team to develop expertise in root development, soil mix, irrigation levels, grass varieties, seeding blends and staffing for turf management. We aim to open the Oval in early spring. Reseeding begins in mid-March. A perfect combination of sun and rain will allow the grass to establish strong roots for public use. If the spring is too wet, we have to delay the Oval opening to ensure you have the best lawn. We thank you for your support.

Everything that goes in and on our lawns is organic.  The Oval, along with all of the other Battery lawns, is toxin-free—safe for chubby knees learning to crawl and for grown-up feet enjoying a rare chance to go barefoot in the city.

Donate a Battery Chair