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UPDATED: 11:30 a.m.
Instead, organizers say visitors can drive through the site, passing by the the World Trade Center beam on display and the twin fountains, to pay their respects.
The park is open to visitors until 5 p.m.
“It’s just important to remember all the people who lost their lives, all the people who fought for them, and what was done to our country,” visitor Laura Kane said.
The phrase “never forget” comes up frequently.
John Burgfecthel was among those at the Garden who wishes we wouldn’t forget the spirit of unity in the days after 9/11.
“There’s gotta be something that turns this country in a positive direction, where people start thinking more about one another than themselves," Burgfecthel said.
"I decided to livestream my classes from here today," he said. "I’m trying to find new ways to bring history and sociology and have (students) interact with it."
His students were not even born when the attacks happened.
"It’s literally history to them."
"Because there’s so much adversity in our world right now, there’s gonna be a pretty heavy focus on what people did to come together," Hall said.
One of his students' assignments is to watch President George W. Bush’s post-9/11 speech and to write their own for today.
"Their assignment is to kind of look for some themes that will help pull us together," he said.
Maintenance crews have been making sure the place is spotless, but they had a mess on their hands earlier this week. According to the Garden’s Facebook page, someone played a prank and put soap in the fountains. There were a lot of soap suds to clean up but no serious damage.