The inaugural exhibition called "Building a Collection" displays a wide range of historical artifacts from treasures to trivia, including architectural models, photographs, drawings, films, maps and souvenirs to illustrate the evolving history of skyscrapers. Located six blocks from Ground Zero at 39 Battery Place, the museum is the first new museum to open in Downtown since Sept. 11 and is an important symbol of the revitalization of Lower Manhattan.

Among firms that contributed to the building of the museum are Millennium Partners and Battery Park City Authority, which donated the space; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, which donated architectural services; Tishman Construction Corporation, which donated construction services and Pentagram, which donated graphics.

The museum will be open from Wednesday through Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Admission is $5, $2.50 for students and seniors.

$3M Park Project Begins

Ground was broken on a $3 million project to restore Hester & Canal Street Field in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The project includes replacing the park's asphalt field with synthetic turf surrounded by a three-lane synthetic track.

The park entrance at Canal and Chrystie streets will be reconstructed and new paths, benches, park lighting and water supply will be added. The site's perimeter fence and wall will also be reconstructed and the lawn will be expanded. New trees, shrubs, perennials, and other landscaping will provide a green gateway to Lower Manhattan.

Middle school students from I.S. 131 helped the city Department of Parks and Recreation landscape architect Nancy Prince to design the new field. The department's resident engineer Mahmoud Gouda is overseeing construction which is expected to be completed in fall 2004.

LMDC Holds Small Business Conference

The Lower Manhattan Development Corporation held a conference aimed at bringing together Lower Manhattan's small businesses and large and medium-sized corporations to identify procurement opportunities.

The event, held in cooperation with the Downtown Alliance, Manhattan Chamber of Commerce, the New York City Department of Small Business Services, and New York City and State, took place March 16 at Pace University in Lower Manhattan. Information sessions were held on procurement, financing and technical assistance programs, and other areas of interest to the small business community.