6. Wizard of Oz Courtyard

 

People call it the Wizard of Oz Courtyard, but the art suggests that the theme is inspired by the Russian version of Oz – The Wizard of Emerald City. Written by Alexander Melentyevich Volkov in 1939, Emerald City is a retelling of L. Frank Baum’s classic tale from 1900. Volkov changed most of the characters’ names and a few plot points, and today his version is popular in the former Soviet States, China and Germany.

In the courtyard, a children’s jungle gym is designed to look like the Emerald City and a yellow-brick road is painted on the ground. But the real gems are the sculptures.

There’s the Tin Man and the Scarecrow (above), two witches:

… And an ogre – a character from Volkov’s tale who captures Ellie (Dorothy) in between her meetings with the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion.

Next, check out 13 pocket parks in New York City and 6 hidden alleys and small private streets in Greenwich Village.