Editing Fort Tryon Park (section)

=== Late-20th and early-21st century improvements ===
[[File:Fort Tryon Park by Matthew Bisanz.JPG|thumb|upright=1.2|alt=A park entrance, flanked by stone posts|One of the park's entrances]]
In 1983, the [[New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission]] made Fort Tryon Park an official [[New York City scenic landmarks|scenic landmark]]. The next year, a plan for the park's complete renovation was unveiled.<ref name="timeline" /> The Greenacre Foundation, an organization created by John Rockefeller Jr.'s only daughter [[Abby Rockefeller Mauzé]], donated $10 million toward the restoration in advance of the park's 50th anniversary in 1985.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/14/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-fort-tryon-park-turns-50.html|title=New York Day by Day; Fort Tryon Park Turns 50. . .|last1=Anderson|first1=Susan Heller|date=October 14, 1985|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 26, 2019|last2=Rimer|first2=Sara|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926142106/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/10/14/nyregion/new-york-day-by-day-fort-tryon-park-turns-50.html|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Among the first features to receive improvements was the Heather Garden, which was restored over three years by a partnership between the [[New York City Department of Parks and Recreation]] (NYC Parks), the Greenacre Foundation, and volunteers.<ref name="timeline" /><ref name="Martin 1998">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/01/nyregion/making-it-work-going-back-to-the-past-at-fort-tryon-overlook.html|title=Making it Work; Going Back to the Past At Fort Tryon Overlook|last=Martin|first=Douglas|date=November 1, 1998|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 13, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513155210/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/01/nyregion/making-it-work-going-back-to-the-past-at-fort-tryon-overlook.html|archive-date=May 13, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NYC Parks Heather Garden">{{cite web|url=https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-tryon-park/highlights/12337|title=Fort Tryon Park Highlights|date=June 26, 1939|publisher=New York City Department of Parks and Recreation|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190421174846/https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/fort-tryon-park/highlights/12337|archive-date=April 21, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The concession building was restored beginning in 1995 by the [[New York Restoration Project]] (NYRP), a [[nonprofit organization]] operated by [[Bette Midler]], which started operating a cafe there in 2001.<ref name="New Leaf Website">{{cite web | title=New Leaf & Fort Tryon Park |publisher= New Leaf Restaurant & Bar | date=January 8, 2015 | url=http://newleafrestaurant.com/about/new-leaf-fort-tryon-park/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150108233236/http://newleafrestaurant.com/about/new-leaf-fort-tryon-park/ | archive-date=January 8, 2015 | url-status=dead | access-date=September 25, 2019}}</ref> The Anne Loftus Playground at the park's northeast corner was also restored between 1995 and 1997,<ref name="NYC Parks Loftus" /><ref name=nyt-1997-04-20>{{Cite news|last=Lii|first=Jane H.|date=April 20, 1997|title=Freshening Up Ft. Tryon Park|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/20/nyregion/freshening-up-ft-tryon-park.html|access-date=December 26, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925204815/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/04/20/nyregion/freshening-up-ft-tryon-park.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and the Javits Playground at the southern border was restored around the same time.<ref name="NYC Parks Javits" /> The nonprofit [[Fort Tryon Park Trust]] was founded in 1998 to help maintain the park.<ref name="timeline" /> In 2001, the trust raised $200,000 toward the further restoration of the Heather Garden.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/02/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-greenery-washington-heights-residents-wake-up-smell.html|title=Neighborhood Report: New York Greenery; In Washington Heights, Residents Wake Up, Smell the Roses and Save a Garden|last=Kugel|first=Seth|date=December 2, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 29, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929160414/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/12/02/nyregion/neighborhood-report-new-york-greenery-washington-heights-residents-wake-up-smell.html|archive-date=September 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> The Sir William Dog Run opened the same year.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/nyregion/neighborhood-report-inwood-now-that-fences-are-gone-about-steak-for-dinner.html|title=Neighborhood Report: Inwood; Now That the Fences Are Gone, How About a Steak for Dinner?|last=Kugel|first=Seth|date=November 25, 2001|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 29, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929201125/https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/25/nyregion/neighborhood-report-inwood-now-that-fences-are-gone-about-steak-for-dinner.html|archive-date=September 29, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

The park was still the site of crimes, despite being much safer than in previous years. After an incident where a jogger was raped in the early morning in 1997,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/20/nyregion/jogger-raped-in-quiet-park-near-cloisters.html|title=Jogger Raped In Quiet Park Near Cloisters|last=Sengupta|first=Somini|date=October 20, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=September 26, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926150721/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/20/nyregion/jogger-raped-in-quiet-park-near-cloisters.html|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> NYC Parks considered proposals to close the park's roads at night. Met officials opposed the move because it would block access to the Cloisters, but NYC Parks eventually agreed to place wooden barriers to allow Met staff access at night. ''The New York Times'' stated that the park had gained the perception among local residents and park officials "as something of a nighttime haven for vandals, drug users and even car thieves", and had seen eight abandoned cars in 1997 alone.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/16/nyregion/neighborhood-report-washington-heights-how-cloistered-the-cloisters.html|title=Neighborhood Report: Washington Heights; How Cloistered the Cloisters?|date=November 16, 1997|work=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926150725/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/11/16/nyregion/neighborhood-report-washington-heights-how-cloistered-the-cloisters.html|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Following additional crimes in the 2000s, cameras were installed in the park in 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/parks-department-mounting-cameras-parks-thwart-after-hours-crime-not-pleased-article-1.145469|title=Parks Department mounting cameras in parks to thwart after-hours crime, but not all are pleased|last1=Feeney|first1=Michael J.|last2=Kappstatter|first2=Bob|date=April 1, 2011 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926150721/https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/parks-department-mounting-cameras-parks-thwart-after-hours-crime-not-pleased-article-1.145469|archive-date=September 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

NYC Parks and the Fort Tryon Park Trust started restoring the park's eastern side in 2006.<ref name="Zanoni 2011">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20111107/washington-heights-inwood/fort-tryons-alpine-garden-stairs-grotto-could-get-140000-makeover|title=Fort Tryon's Alpine Garden Stairs and Grotto Could Get $140,000 Makeover|last=Zanoni|first=Carla|date=November 7, 2011|website=DNAinfo New York|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925143601/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20111107/washington-heights-inwood/fort-tryons-alpine-garden-stairs-grotto-could-get-140000-makeover/|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> The restoration of the overgrown Alpine Garden was completed in 2009 in advance of the park's 75th anniversary the following year.<ref name="DNAInfo-Alpine-2009">{{Cite web|url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20091124/manhattan/washington-heights-alpine-garden-gets-765k-makeover|title=Washington Heights' Alpine Garden Gets $765K Makeover|website=DNAinfo New York|date=November 24, 2009|access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925143602/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20091124/manhattan/washington-heights-alpine-garden-gets-765k-makeover/|archive-date=September 25, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> On June 15, 2010, the park celebrated its 75th anniversary with a [[fundraiser]] and [[fireworks]] display.<ref>{{cite web | last=Zanoni | first=Carla | title=Fireworks Light Up the Northern Manhattan Sky for Fort Tryon Park's 75th Anniversary | website=DNAinfo New York | date=June 16, 2010 | url=https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20100616/washington-heights-inwood/fireworks-light-up-northern-manhattan-sky-for-fort-tryon-parks-75th-anniversary | access-date=September 29, 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929201135/https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20100616/washington-heights-inwood/fireworks-light-up-northern-manhattan-sky-for-fort-tryon-parks-75th-anniversary/ | archive-date=September 29, 2019 | url-status=dead }}</ref> After the concession building was closed in 2014 for roof renovations, the operation of the restaurant was taken over in 2015 by [[Queens]]-based cafe [[Coffeed]].<ref name="NYDN-Coffeed-2015">{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/queens-based-cafe-replace-fort-tryon-park-restaurant-article-1.2069511|title=Queens-based cafe to replace Fort Tryon Park restaurant and bar|last=Ranson|first=Jan|date=January 7, 2015 |work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |location=New York |access-date=September 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150911095902/http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/uptown/queens-based-cafe-replace-fort-tryon-park-restaurant-article-1.2069511|archive-date=September 11, 2015|url-status=live}}</ref> A renovation of the Jacob K. Javits Playground started in July 2018<ref>{{cite web |last=Krisel |first=Brendan |date=July 17, 2018 |title=Renovation Begins At Washington Heights Park |url=https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/renovation-begins-washington-heights-park |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925204816/https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/renovation-begins-washington-heights-park |archive-date=September 25, 2019 |access-date=September 25, 2019 |website=Washington Heights-Inwood, NY Patch}}</ref> and was completed in March 2020.<ref name="Quinn 2020">{{cite web |last=Quinn |first=Anna |date=March 9, 2020 |title=Long-Awaited $3M Upgrade Wraps Up At Fort Tryon Park Playground |url=https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/long-awaited-3m-upgrade-wraps-fort-tryon-park-playground |access-date=March 15, 2023 |website=Washington Heights-Inwood, NY Patch |archive-date=March 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315180519/https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/long-awaited-3m-upgrade-wraps-fort-tryon-park-playground |url-status=live }}</ref> The Anne Loftus Playground was temporarily closed in August 2021,<ref name="Smith 2021">{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Gillian | title=Anne Loftus Playground To Close For A Year For Upgrades | website=Washington Heights-Inwood, NY Patch | date=August 3, 2021 | url=https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/anne-loftus-playground-close-year-upgrades | access-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226133735/https://patch.com/new-york/washington-heights-inwood/anne-loftus-playground-close-year-upgrades | url-status=live }}</ref> and it reopened in October 2022 after a $4.2&nbsp;million renovation.<ref name="City Life Org 2022">{{cite web | title=NYC Parks Celebrates $4.18 Million Reconstruction of Anne Loftus Playground in Fort Tryon Park | website=City Life Org | date=October 13, 2022 | url=https://thecitylife.org/2022/10/13/nyc-parks-celebrates-4-18-million-reconstruction-of-anne-loftus-playground-in-fort-tryon-park/ | access-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226133736/https://thecitylife.org/2022/10/13/nyc-parks-celebrates-4-18-million-reconstruction-of-anne-loftus-playground-in-fort-tryon-park/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Manhattan Times News 2022">{{cite web | title="Breath of fresh air" "Un respiro de aire fresco" – Manhattan Times News | website=Manhattan Times News | date=October 19, 2022 | url=https://www.manhattantimesnews.com/breath-of-fresh-air-un-respiro-de-aire-fresco/ | access-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-date=December 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221226133737/https://www.manhattantimesnews.com/breath-of-fresh-air-un-respiro-de-aire-fresco/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

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