Park51 Islamic Center Opens Community Space

The organizers of an Islamic community center and mosque near ground zero are opening a temporary space at the site.

The newly remodeled community space on the ground floor of the building owned by Park51 is scheduled for a grand opening on Wednesday. A photo exhibition will be the first public program.

The rest of the Park Place building has yet to be renovated. The developer has said it will be years before the project, envisioned with a mosque, health club and theater, is fully realized.

The photographs, by artist Danny Goldfield, are of children from around the world now living in New York.

Park51 Chief of Staff Katerina Lucas says the exhibit will hopefully show those opposed to the Islamic center what kind of space it's meant to be.