In 1986, artist Mark di Suvero found an abandoned landfill alongside the East River that was being used as an illegal dumpsite. Seeing the potential in this five-acre patch of land for something much more, he formed a coalition of community activists and artists and transformed the site into an outdoor gallery and artist studio. From the beginning, di Suvero sought to promote a cultural connection between the park and the greater community. The park was named after the ancient classical philosopher Socrates as a nod to the large Greek…
