In design, as in life, patience is a virtue. Plenty was required, to be sure, in the case of New York City’s Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. Progress on the presidential memorial—located on Roosevelt Island and named for FDR’s 1941 State of the Union address—halted shortly after its architect, Louis Kahn, completed the design in 1974, at which time financial turmoil crippled the city. Only following an unexpected resurgence of interest some 30 years later did Kahn’s final work regain momentum.

“Few had confidence it would ever happen,” says Sally Minard, president of the completed park, which will be dedicated October 17 and opened to the public a week later. Twin allées of linden trees now flank the triangular four-acre plot, drawing the eye to a dramatic bronze bust of FDR by sculptor Jo Davidson. Beyond it, 36-ton blocks of granite have been assembled into a sublime pavilion, affording stunning views of the United Nations, which Roosevelt played such a pivotal role in establishing. fdrfourfreedomspark.org