Reposted with permission from Alliance for Downtown New York.

Wagner Park is reopening this summer, and it’s something to sing about. The park, which has been closed since March 2023 for resiliency improvements, will burst back to life on July 29 with a slate of free events for the rest of the summer, starting off with an “intimate” performance by Taylor Mac, the multi-talented artist, singer and MarArthur Fellow. Mac is known for elaborate, maximalist performances, such as last year’s four-hour Bark of Millions at BAM, so attendees are surely in for a treat.

The slate of events spans until early October and features a wide array of options to herald the 29-year-old park’s return, from jazz, salsa dancing and comedy to Zumba and sunset yoga. Music headliners include Grammy-winning artist Bilal performing August 7, the Klezmatics on Sept. 14, and Grammy-winning Flor de Toloache on September 18. Events go beyond music, too: comedian Hari Kondabolu is performing on August  23 and the Moth will hold a Storyslam at the park on September 4. On September 6, Broadway comes to the park as stars like Ana Gasteyer, Richard Kind, Ethan Slater and Mary Louise Parker headline a night of showtunes celebrating New York City.

Renderings courtesy Battery Park City Authority.

It’s an appropriate celebration for Wagner Park, which has been undergoing upgrades as part of the overall South Battery Park City Resiliency Project. This massive undertaking across all of Lower Manhattan aims to fortify the southern edge of Manhattan island against the catastrophic flooding that wallopped much of the city during Hurricane Sandy. The park’s lawns have been raised in elevation, while maintaining great views across the river. The pavilion at the park has been upgraded, with a classroom for education and events, a rooftop with outdoor seating and plans for a new restaurant in 2026. See the full line up — which includes even more activities for families, kids and fitness buffs — here. No tickets required; just show up ready for a good time.