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The Labyrinth for Contemplation, Battery Park, New York.
Camino de Paz Labyrinths in collaboration with the Battery Conservancy and the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation created the Labyrinth for Contemplation situated in the Jerusalem Grove at Battery Park, Manhattan.
The Labyrinth for Contemplation enables the families of those who lost relatives and friends, visitors, local residents and workers, with an interactive tool for reflection, grieving, honoring, and healing. The Labyrinth transforms the existing Jerusalem Grove of 11 cedar trees into a place of pilgrimage by providing all visitors with the opportunity of actively offering respect through walking the path.
The views from the Labyrinth site in this setting include West Street to the North and the area where the World Trade Center once stood and visions for the future grow. To the West the glimmering waves of the tidal estuary of the Hudson River and New York Bay. To the East and South the beauty and history of Battery Park itself: tall trees, colorful flowers, monuments and memorials, intermingled with the persistent bustle of city life, commuters, joggers, street vendors, buskers and visitors from all over the world.
The natural setting of Historic Battery Park and its proximity to the former World Trade Center site amplifies the Labyrinth experience and increases consciousness of and connection to the life-changing events that occurred on September 11th 2001 and how we can heal and learn from the continuing experience.
The approach for creating the Labyrinth is one of relationship and partnership. The work was carried out by hand where possible with existing plants and trees preserved and in some cases becoming part of the Labyrinth. The paths of grasses, clover, plantain and mugwort are defined with recycled Belgian Block, a material that is used throughout New York City's parks, inlaid into the earth. Care, attention to detail, and focus of intention were important in the building process to create a harmonious experience for those walking the Labyrinth.
The surrounding the Labyrinth are flower beds with a selection of plants known for their healing properties; artemisia, lavender, sage and rugosa roses, a rose that is found along the Eastern shores from Rhode Island to Maine, they are a highly scented rose and in the Fall yield hips with a high Vitimin C content.
The Labyrinth for Contemplation is located in the park at the foot of West Street and is open to the public daily. Check the Calendar for regularly facilitated walks.
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