Grand Army Plaza Will Get $9M Restoration, Mayor Says

PROSPECT PARK, BROOKLYN -- Grand Army Plaza, the Soldier and Sailors Memorial Arch and the surrounding green spaces are getting a $9 million sprucing, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday.

The city will spend $8.9 million on a new roof for the arch, repairs for the interior iron stairs, and a thorough polish to the exterior stones, the Mayor said.

The city's investment will also fund new trees, fencing, pavement in the plaza.

“Grand Army Plaza welcomes us to Brooklyn’s most beloved park," said de Blasio. "With this funding, we can fully realize the beauty of this monument honoring those who have served.”

Grand Army Plaza, designed by creators Frederick Law Olmstead and Calvert Vaux, has served as Prospect Park's formal entrance since it was first constructed in 1869.

The Soldiers and Sailors Arch came later, in 1892, when it was installed and dedicated to Union troops who fought in the Civil War. It's topped by a statue of Columbia, who represents the United States, and two winged Victories trumpeting her arrival.

The arch was last restored in 1980 after it fell into disrepair and Columbia fell off her chariot.

Photo by Marc Torrence