Gramercy Tutors

About Gramercy

Gramercy, New York is the neighborhood that surrounds Gramercy Park; a prestigious and exclusive private park in the Manhattan area. Gramercy Park is one of two private parks in New York City, and one of only three in the state. While the sidewalks around the park are well used by joggers, walkers, and dog-walkers; the park itself does not allow public access. In fact, the park is gated and locked, and only those with a key are allowed in.

Gramercy Park was established in 1831, by Samuel B Ruggles. Ruggles noticed Manhattan’s rapid growth, and wanted to create an area to preserve open space. Ruggles spent $180,000 in landscaping, that transformed a nearby swamp into a park and sixty-six parcels of land. The development of the park and surrounding lots took several years; but once it was established, it saw very little change. In fact, John B. Pine wrote in his book, The Story of Gramercy Park, “Gramercy Park is unique in this City, and perhaps in this country, and represents the only neighborhood, with possibly one exception, which has remained comparatively unchanged for eighty years.” Gramercy Park could tutor others in longevity and unwavering consistency.

At one point, the park held an annual celebration called Gramercy Day and opened its gates to the public. But, this tradition ended in 2007, when trustees decided that the celebration had “turned into a street fair.” Now if you don’t have a key, the only chance to see the park is on Christmas Eve; the only day of the year that visitors are allowed in. Access comes with a stick code of conduct however, as visitors are not permitted to drink alcohol, smoke, ride a bike, walk a dog, play ball or frisbee, or feed the birds and squirrels. Gramercy Park has extremely high standards.

Today, the park is owned by the thirty-nine surrounding structures; and each holds a key to the park. Owners buy keys for $350, and pay a $1000 fine to replace it. If they lose their key again, it costs $2000 to get a new one. The keys are hard to duplicate, and each one in circulation is individually numbered and coded. Every year, the locks are changed and owners have to pay an assessment of $7,500 or their key privileges are revoked. In addition to those thirty-nine structures, members of the Players Club and the National Arts Club have access. The Gramercy Park Hotel also has twelve keys and is allowed to let guests into the park. If a guest of the hotel would like to visit the park, they are escorted to the park entrance, let in, and later picked up by a hotel employee. Gramercy Park has a unique role in the Manhattan community, and is now a designated historic district.

Gramercy tutors want every student to do well in school. If your student is struggling in school, a Gramercy tutor might be the answer. Every tutor deserves a chance for success.