Mind the Sewer! New York's Epic Alligator Myth Comes to Life with Spectacular Statue

New York City has recently revealed a sculpture that commemorates an enduring urban legend associated with the city - the presence of Alligators in the sewer system. Furthermore, authorities have reported that an Alligator retrieved from a lake in NYC had swallowed a bathtub stopper.

The bronze statue, designed by Swedish artist Alexander Klingspor, depicts a life-size alligator embracing a New York City manhole cover. It is currently being showcased at Union Square Park in Manhattan, as stated in a news release by the Union Square Partnership.

On his website, the artist explains that the sculpture is a tribute to the city he loves and an artistic representation of the legendary alligator in the NYC sewers. Having lived in Manhattan for over ten years, he aimed to honor one of the city's most renowned urban legends.

"This artwork explores two intriguing elements of our world: the universal human inclination towards gods, myths, and legends throughout history, and our tendency to introduce non-native species into new environments by displacing them from their natural habitats," he explained with emphasis.

Aptly named "N.Y.C Legend," this sculpture will remain on exhibit until June 2024 as confirmed by the Union Square Partnership. The project was a collaboration between the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the Union Square Partnership, and funded by the Swedish Mollbrinks Gallery, according to the press release.

Owning alligators is prohibited by both state and city laws in New York. These cold-blooded reptiles naturally inhabit warmer regions and can be typically found in the wild across the southeastern United States.

Even so, alligators are occasionally discovered in New York City, such as the incident in which a gator was rescued from a lake in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. This particular reptile was identified as an escaped pet, and unfortunately, despite attempts made to rehabilitate it at the Bronx Zoo, it did not survive.

According to The New York Times, rumors of alligators in the sewer first emerged in the 1930s. An incident was reported where young individuals in Harlem found an alligator and tragically killed it.