The rooftop of the famed Radio City Musical Hall has been transformed into a beautiful Park for tenants of the building to enjoy — with a skybridge in the works to connect it to Rockefeller Center. “Radio Park” opened this past fall, and provides ample space for meetings, lunches, events and more. Photos show a lush green space with plenty of trees, grass and relaxing pathways, their website shares.
The Park is divided into “garden rooms” from the Birch woodland garden at the entrance with overhanging branches, to the grove of white flowering cherry trees on the southern side. There’s even a quaint pathway with small seating nooks and hidden corners.
The main section is called the “Grand Lawn,” a central point “connecting the surrounding rooms to a series of elevated terraces which lead to a Belvedere terrace.”
And apparently this wasn’t actually a new idea. Photos presented to the Landmark Preservation Committee at a meeting last year showed the roof being used as a hangout spot for office employees in the ’30s and ’60s — featuring anything from a tennis court to shuffleboard to café-style seating with umbrellas!
It was only during the pandemic that building owners Tishman Speyer decided to renew the concept, when outdoor spaces were some of the only safe respites to enjoy.
The plans, by company G3 Architecture, were originally presented to the Committee since the Radio City building is landmarked on both the inside and the outside, and it will require construction for the skybridge to connect the buildings. The sky bridge was approved back in March 2021, and will be a future endeavor.
It is planned to sit on the 10th floor of 1270 Avenue of the Americas and connect through to 50 Rockefeller Center.
Interestedly enough, neither the park nor the bridge will be visible to pedestrians below, which was a important of the approval, according to 6sqft.
You can take a look at how it turned out yourself here if interested!
Remember: Radio Park is free and open to Rockefeller Center tenants, employees, and their visitors. Access is through the Radio Park entrance on North Plaza (between Anthropologie and 50 Rockefeller Plaza’s lobby entrance).