5. Zuccotti Park Was Used for Emergency Storage Directly After 9/11

Located one block east of the World Trade Center, Liberty Plaza Park was severely damaged during the 9/11 attacks. Directly following the tragedy, it was used to store emergency vehicles and cleaning equipment, which eventually cracked the park’s foundation due to the weight of all the vehicles.

In light of the damage, the park underwent an $8 million renovation. It was excavated and received newly compacted soil as well as a new design and a new name, which came from John Zuccotti, the U.S. Chairman of Brookfield Properties; it subsequently became a site for several 9/11 anniversaries and memorial services.