Downtown Raleigh, N.C. Part II: Nash Square Park

Nash Square Park is an urban oasis in downtown Raleigh, one of two full-block-square parks that sit about three blocks south of Union Square, which hosts the North Carolina State Capitol. 

Nash's partner park, Moore Square Park, is four blocks east of Nast. While I made it to Nash on my three-hour walk-around on March 5, I did not make it to Moore. I arrived at Nash near the end of my self-guided tour. I left Moore for another day, another time.

It was just shy of 3 p.m. by the time I arrived at Nash, so there were a lot of interesting tree and tree-branch shadows on the ground to behold and exploit for making photo compositions. 

One of the main attractions in the park is the Fallen Firefighters Monument, dedicated in 2006, that intended to be a tribute to first responders. Given the idea for the monument was hatched in 2001, I had to wonder if it might have been inspired by the tragic events of 9/11. But I could find no information online to confirm that definitively, but there is some to suggest that the events of 9/11 served as an influence. 

The bronze sculpture, which is situated in the center of the park, depicts four life-size firefighters, including one who is trapped beneath a steel beam. Each individual faces a different angle so that at least one of their faces can be seen from any angle. One such angle is shown in the photo leading off the post. Others appear below. 

Interestingly, there was some resistance to the memorial's concept in the very early stages. Some people didn't like the large size of the monument (again, the firefighters depicted are life size) or that it would hold such a prominent position in the park. But the opposition wasn't enough to sideline the project. 

The park has plenty of trees and some interesting views of the downtown skyline, both of which I attempt to illustrate with the pictures included here. 

Photos above and the first six below show the interesting trees and/or shadows and shadow formations I came across in Nash Square Park.

Above and below: There are places to sit and relax, including one (above) with a view of a sculture depicting a large squirrel grasping an acorn.  

Above is a view looking southeast from the monument in the center of the park, with the PNC Bank Building in the background. The building bears an enlarged superimposed image of a player for the Carolina Hurricanes franchise in the National Hockey League. I don't know for sure, but I'm presuming it is a remnant of PNC's promotion of the team franchise's first-ever outdoor game in mid-February. When the Hurricanes aren't playing outdoors, their home ice is in PNC Arena elsewhere in Raleigh. You'll see closer shots of the superimposed image in a future post. 

Above: Looking northeast from the park, one sees a building bearing the ATT corporate logo. I could not tell whether AT&T actually still uses any portion of the building. 

Next Up: Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts

Previously in the series: 

Part I: The North Carolina State Capitol at Union Square