Home to 11 performing arts organizations presenting an array of programming, Lincoln Center is recognized around the world as a cornerstone of New York City, known for its iconic Revson Fountain, open plaza, and the famous facades of its performance halls—all oriented to the east. But for those approaching from the Amsterdam Avenue side, the view of Lincoln Center is far less inviting, with little to no direct access to the campus.
In an effort to make our physical environment more welcoming to all, we are undertaking an ambitious participatory planning process with local community members and stakeholders across New York City to reimagine the Amsterdam Avenue side of the Lincoln Center campus.
Among the goals of the initiative are to:
• Physically transform Lincoln Center’s Amsterdam Avenue side to be more welcoming to communities approaching from the west
• Better serve close neighbors, including residents of New York City Housing Authority campuses at Amsterdam Houses and Addition, and students of LaGuardia High School of Music and Performing Arts and the six high schools at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Educational Complex
• Create an improved performance park to meet artistic and community goals
• Commemorate the history and public memory of San Juan Hill and historic Lincoln Square
The campus was originally developed as part of a series of “urban renewal” projects in the 1950s that razed the nearby San Juan Hill community. To honor the communities of that neighborhood, LCPA has invested in several major projects that shine a light on this important history and celebrate its significant cultural impact. These include the Legacies of San Juan Hill digital hub, a collaboration with the Center for Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College (CENTRO) and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, as well as a series of events and exhibits that engage with this history from a multitude of perspectives.
Years in the making, Legacies of San Juan Hill features scholarly essays, articles, multimedia, and a series of live events from a diverse slate of contributors. It is a resource that will grow over time.
This initiative is a continuation of Lincoln Center’s Commitment to Change, actioning bold projects across the campus—including the expansion of free artistic programs, designing and implementing a new Choose-What-You-Pay ticketing model, the reopening of a newly redesigned David Geffen Hall, and working with partners across the city to host blood drives, food banks, graduations, naturalization ceremonies, and more—that marry artistic work and civic service, all with a commitment to expanding equity.
We are collaborating closely with neighbors, partners, and constituents to ensure a broad array of stakeholders have a voice in the process. Together, we will explore how the Lincoln Center campus can be made more accessible, welcoming, and inclusive to create a greater sense of belonging for all.
