CaVaLa Park in TriBeCa Evokes Manhattan's History of Acronyms

By Gabriela Resto-Montero

DNAinfo Reporter / Producer

TRIBECA — First there was SoHo. Then came TriBeCa and NoLita, and even WaHi and SpaHa. Now, Manhattanites have a new shorthand name to remember: CaVaLa.

The city officially opened a new $3.4 million park here last week that evokes the neighborhood and its history.  A 114-foot long fountain, for example, harkens back to when there was a canal at Canal Street. And its name — derived from the boundaries of Canal, Varick and Laight streets — reminds the park goer that they're in the Triangle Below Canal.

"It's a little kitschy for me but, whatever. The name is not important," said Judith, a TriBeCa resident who lives near the park. "It's if it serves the city and the people."