New York City is home to nearly 600 hidden oases, including small plazas, rooftop gardens, and patches of greenery tucked away in private developments. These spaces, known as privately owned public spaces (POPs), are legally open to the public, though they often remain obscure.
For years, developers have carved out these spaces in exchange for zoning benefits, yet many are difficult to locate or access. Now, a newly developed app, NYC Public Space, is shining a light on these elusive retreats, helping New Yorkers reclaim their right to the city’s lesser-known public spaces.
A Digital Guide to the City’s Hidden Gems
Chris Whong, a mapping software developer and former city planning department employee, is the force behind NYC Public Space. The app, launched last fall, compiles around 2,800 public spaces across the city, including POPs.
“To me, it comes down to, ‘Can I just be there?’” Whong said. “There’s lots of wide sidewalks that have benches and seating and stuff that function as a place where you could go relax and hang out. But they’re not on anybody’s list.”
Available for free on both Apple and Android devices, the app consolidates information on public spaces, many of which private owners have historically kept underutilized. The platform encourages user feedback, making the public the ultimate arbiters of which spaces are truly accessible.
A Creative Push to Raise Awareness
To generate interest in Whong’s project, political strategist Matthew Wing, a former aide to Mayor Bill de Blasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo, took an unconventional approach. Wing, a native New Yorker, runs the Instagram account “Hack NY,” where he produces short, offbeat videos promoting unique city experiences.
Inspired by a LinkedIn post from Whong, Wing decided to create a video about POPs, capturing the contrast between the city’s relentless energy and its hidden quiet corners. With a $2,000 budget, he teamed up with two friends, Julian Klepper and Adam Janos, to produce a cinematic short featuring a wandering New Yorker discovering these overlooked spaces. “For he knows we can discover new spaces without paying a cent,” the video’s narrator intones.
Wing’s goal is to make public space awareness entertaining and engaging. While he’s currently self-funding his projects, he hopes city and state governments will eventually invest in similar promotional efforts.
The Debate Over Privately Owned Public Spaces
The concept of POPs dates back to the 1960s when the city began allowing developers to build taller or larger buildings in exchange for incorporating public space into their designs. However, these spaces have long faced criticism for being difficult to find or effectively privatized through design choices that discourage public use.
Real estate developers have often benefited from these arrangements while leaving the public with little knowledge of their rights to the spaces. While some argue that cities should rethink these deals, Wing believes the energy is better spent on reclaiming what already exists.
“We could sit and we could complain,” he said. “Or we could just say, ‘Let’s take it back for the public in every way we can,’ and that’s what Chris did.”
A City Embracing Public Access
City officials see value in these grassroots efforts to enhance public awareness. Ya-Ting Liu, New York City’s first-ever public realm czar, recognizes the challenge of connecting residents to existing public resources.
“There’s endless maps and information available,” she said. “The issue is, is it being used? Do people know about it?”
Initiatives like Whong’s app, Liu noted, offer new ways to bridge that gap.
Finding Serenity in the Concrete Jungle
On a recent morning, Whong and Wing visited one of the many spaces cataloged in the app: a rooftop plaza at 50 Water St. in the Financial District. Nestled above the bustling streets, the green space provided a rare moment of tranquility.
At a nearby table, a man sipped his coffee as a ferry cut across the glistening water below. Whong, recalling his time as a planning student, realized he had once learned about this very space but had never actually visited.
“I probably walked within a block of this, you know, hundreds of times,” he said. “But I’ve never had the occasion to actually come here. And it’s beautiful.”
With NYC Public Space now available, more New Yorkers may soon discover these hidden gems they’ve unknowingly passed by for years.
