Editing Rockefeller Center (section)

===<span class="anchor" id="Gardens"></span>Rooftop gardens===
[[File:Rockefeller Center Rooftop Gardens 2 by David Shankbone.JPG|thumb|Gardens on the roofs of Rockefeller Center's International Complex, as viewed from the International Building]]
The gardens atop Rockefeller Center's roofs were designed by [[Ralph Hancock (landscape gardener)|Ralph Hancock]] and Raymond Hood.<ref name="NYTimes-Gardens-1934">{{cite news | title=Gardens of the World Atop Radio City; New York Watches the Growth of a New Venture in the Realm of Horticulture | work=The New York Times| date=September 2, 1934 | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1934/09/02/93765284.pdf | access-date=November 20, 2017}}</ref><ref name=ATU-Hanging-Gardens-1934>{{cite news | title=New York's "Hanging Gardens" | work=Albany Times-Union| date=1934 | url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252018%2FAlbany%2520NY%2520Times%2520Union%2FAlbany%2520NY%2520Times%2520Union%25201934%2FAlbany%2520NY%2520Times%2520Union%25201934%2520a%2520-%25201291.pdf | access-date=November 20, 2017}}</ref> They came about because both Hood and Todd believed that rooftop gardens would enhance the complex's beauty;{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=183}}{{sfn|Weisman|1959|p=58}} in particular, Hood compared the presence of rooftop gardens to the plants around a house.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=185}}<ref name="NYTimes-Gardens-1931"/> Originally, the gardens were supposed to be all interconnected via bridges between the roofs of each building.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=51}}{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=62}}{{sfn|Weisman|1959|p=57}}<ref name="NYTimes-Roof-Bridges-1932"/> However, after Hood's death in 1935, the garden plan fell apart, as most of the complex's final buildings were built without provisions for gardens.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=52}} The Associated Press Building's 15th-story roof, as well as the isolated location of the International Building and the high cost of these gardens, made this system infeasible.{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=94}}{{sfn|Weisman|1959|p=59}} Ultimately, gardens were installed on 10 Rockefeller Plaza;{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=52}}<ref name="NYTimes-Gardens-1939">{{cite news | title=3 New Rooftop Gardens; Rockefeller Center Unit Will Open Terrace Displays | work=The New York Times | date=September 28, 1939 | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/09/28/167826492.pdf | access-date=November 28, 2017}}</ref> 30 Rockefeller Plaza;<ref name=NYPost-Gardens-1935/> the four International-themed retail buildings;{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=186}}{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=52}}{{sfn|Weisman|1959|p=58}} the Center Theatre;<ref name=NYTimes-2Theatre-Gardens-1937/> and Radio City Music Hall.<ref name=NYTimes-2Theatre-Gardens-1937>{{cite news | title=2 Radio City Theatres To Build Roof Gardens | work=The New York Times | date=January 30, 1937 | url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1937/01/30/94330744.pdf | access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name=SRW-Radio-City-1937/>{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=52}} The gardens started running a $45,000-per-year deficit by 1937 due to various expenses as well as a lack of interest among tourists.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=356}}

The largest and most grand of the gardens was the {{convert|0.75|acre|ha|adj=on}} "Garden of the Nations" (alternatively "Gardens of the Nations"), which was installed on the eleventh-floor roof of 30 Rockefeller Plaza and opened in April 1935.<ref name=NYPost-Gardens-1935>{{Cite news|url=http://fultonhistory.com/highlighter/highlight-for-xml?altUrl=http%3A%2F%2Ffultonhistory.com%2FNewspaper%252011%2FNew%2520York%2520Evening%2520Post%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Post%25201935%2520Grayscale%2FNew%2520York%2520NY%2520Evening%2520Post%25201935%2520Grayscale%2520-%25202418.pdf%|title=Babylon Outdone by RCA's Gardens|work=New York Post|page=7|date=April 16, 1935|access-date=November 20, 2017|via=[[Fultonhistory.com]]}}</ref>{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=61}}{{sfn|Balfour|1978|pp=125–137}} The construction effort involved {{convert|3,000|ST|LT}} of soil; {{convert|100|ST|LT}} of rock from as far as England; 100,000 bricks; 2,000 trees and shrubs; 4,000 small plants; and 20,000 [[Ornamental bulbous plant|bulbs]] for flowers.<ref name=ATU-Hanging-Gardens-1934/> They were originally composed of thirteen nation-specific gardens whose layouts were inspired by the gardens in the respective countries they represented. Each of the nation-themed gardens were separated by barriers.<ref name=NYPost-Gardens-1935/> There was an "International Garden", a [[rock garden]], in the center of the thirteen nation-themed gardens,<ref name="NYTimes-Gardens-1934"/> which featured a meandering stream and 2,000 plant varieties.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=53}} The Garden of the Nations also contained a children's garden, a modern-style garden, and a shrub-and-vegetable patch.{{sfn|Balfour|1978|p=52}} Upon opening, the Garden of the Nations attracted many visitors because of its collection of exotic flora,{{sfn|Krinsky|1978|p=91}} and it became the most popular garden in Rockefeller Center.{{sfn|Okrent|2003|p=355}} In its heyday, the Center charged admission fees for the Garden of the Nations. However, all of the nation-themed gardens were eventually removed, and the rock garden was left to dry up, supplanted by flower beds that were no longer open to the public.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=186}}

The International complex's gardens fared better. Hancock developed the British Empire Building and La Maison Francaise's gardens, while [[A.M. van den Hoek]] designed the gardens atop the other two buildings. The British and French gardens both contain a lawn and pool surrounded by hedges, while the other two gardens atop the International Building's wings include ivy lawns surrounded by hedges. The Italian garden also contained a cobblestone walkway and two plaques from the [[Roman Forum]], while International Building North's garden has a paved walkway with steps.{{sfn|Adams|1985|p=188}} The roof gardens of the International Building's wings were restored in 1986 for $48,000 each, followed by the gardens on the British and French buildings, which were restored the next year.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1986/06/29/realestate/prospects-roof-garden-restorations.html|title=PROSPECTS; Roof-Garden Restorations|date=June 29, 1986|work=The New York Times|access-date=November 23, 2017|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In 2021, [[Tishman Speyer]] submitted proposals for a {{Convert|24000|ft2|adj=on}} rooftop terrace on Radio City Music Hall, as well as a pedestrian bridge to 50 Rockefeller Plaza. These plans dated from an original proposal for the theater that was never carried out.<ref>{{cite web|last=Holaday|first=Carsen|date=March 18, 2021|title=A public park atop Radio City Music Hall? Developers get approval for 'Spectacular' idea|url=https://www.amny.com/real-estate/a-public-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall-developers-get-approval-for-spectacular-idea/|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=amNewYork|archive-date=March 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210318191043/https://www.amny.com/real-estate/a-public-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall-developers-get-approval-for-spectacular-idea/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Weaver|first=Shaye|date=March 17, 2021|title=See the lush rooftop park and sky bridge coming to Radio City Music Hall |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-lush-rooftop-park-and-sky-bridge-coming-to-radio-city-music-hall-031721|access-date=March 19, 2021|website=Time Out New York|archive-date=March 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317171242/https://www.timeout.com/newyork/news/see-the-lush-rooftop-park-and-sky-bridge-coming-to-radio-city-music-hall-031721|url-status=live}}</ref> The garden opened in September 2021<ref>{{cite web | title=Radio Park, an Idyllic Rooftop Garden, Opens Above Radio City Music Hall | website=Rockefeller Center | url=https://www.rockefellercenter.com/magazine/arts-culture/radio-park-an-idyllic-rooftop-garden-opens-above-radio-city-music-hall/ | first=Emily | last=Sokolow | date=September 15, 2021 | access-date=January 26, 2022 | archive-date=January 26, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220126010437/https://www.rockefellercenter.com/magazine/arts-culture/radio-park-an-idyllic-rooftop-garden-opens-above-radio-city-music-hall/ | url-status=live }}</ref> and is formally known as Radio Park.<ref name="Conklin 2023 i240">{{cite web | last=Conklin | first=Emily | title=HMWhite designs Radio Park atop Radio City Music Hall | website=The Architect's Newspaper | date=November 6, 2023 | url=https://www.archpaper.com/2023/11/hmwhite-radio-park-atop-radio-city-music-hall/ | access-date=March 22, 2024}}</ref> Designed by the firm of HMWhite, the slightly sloped garden includes birch trees, a set of bleachers, and various pathways.<ref name="Conklin 2023 i240"/>