Socrates Sculpture Park

Sculptor Mark di Suvero cleared an illegal dumpsite on Gibbs Point in 1986. He put up his own sculpture there, invited artist friends to add theirs, and the informal show grew into Socrates Sculpture Park. The city didn't grant the site permanent park status until 1998, after a developer tried to put luxury apartments and a marina here once its lease expired. It's been free and open from 9 a.m. to sunset ever since, hosting rotating exhibitions, an emerging-artist fellowship, and a GrowNYC farmers market on summer Saturdays.