Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Times Square: A River Runs Through It
By
John Del Signore
Published May 24, 2010
Modified May 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 3
By
John Del Signore
Published May 24, 2010
Modified May 24, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Grab your trunks and inflate your inner tubes, because Times Square is getting a "river." Brooklyn-based artist Molly Dilworth beat out 150 other artists for the commission to paint the pedestrian plazas on Broadway from 47th to 42nd Streets. Her "temporary" design, titled "Cool Water, Hot Island," is composed of a graphical representation of NASA's infrared satellite data of Manhattan. Here's why she won, according to the DOT:
The artist's concept focuses on the urban heat-island effect, where cities tend to experience warmer temperatures than rural settings. The proposed design's color palette of striking blues and lighter hues reflects more sunlight and absorb less heat - improving the look of these popular pedestrian plazas while making them more comfortable to sit in. The color and patterns evoke water, suggesting a river flowing through the center of Times Square, and they also provide a compelling visual counterpoint to the reds, oranges and yellows of the area’s signature marquees and billboards.
Dilworth's design was chosen by representatives from the DOT, the Times Square Alliance, the Mayor's Office and the Design Commission, plus "an outside artist" serving as an advisor. (She'll be paid $15,000 from the nonprofit Mayor’s Fund to Advance New York City.) Since Bloomberg decided in February to make the Broadway pedestrian plazas permanent, the DOT began moving forward with a design process for the area’s permanent capital reconstruction project. Construction on the permanent plazas is expected in 2012, but the interim river will begin flowing by mid-July, and is expected to run about 18 months. And for those of you just joining us on the Broadway pedestrian plaza saga, here's a handy video primer from the DOT:
Tagged
broadway pedestrian plaza
dot
Molly Dilworth
pedestrian plaza
river
Times Square
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Yes, Stevie Wonder is playing MSG. No, you can't afford tickets. See these shows instead.
LCD Soundsystem also uses synthesizers. Ok, maybe not the same thing. But it's still a great month for music in NYC.
By
Hank Shteamer
Published Nov 3, 2026
'The Muppets Take Manhattan' in Queens and more November films in NYC
'Remember, remember the 5th of November' - and also all those other days - in theaters this month.
By
Emma Stefansky
Arts & Entertainment
'The Muppets Take Manhattan' in Queens and more November films in NYC
'Remember, remember the 5th of November' - and also all those other days - in theaters this month.
By
Emma Stefansky
Why LCD Soundsystem's 'New York, I Love You' is still the city's most honest anthem
By
Sonia Rao
Would you live on a Halloween block? These Hackensackers live for it.
By
James Ramsay
Owl pellets and period equity: What's happening at NYC's public libraries this November
By
Alec Hamilton
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .