Architecture

Pier55 will be a new public park floating above the Hudson River

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Pier55 will new park public in New York built on the Hudson River
Pier55 will new park public in New York built on the Hudson River
Pier55 will be a 2.7-acre public space and events venue
Pier55 will be located in the lower west side of Manhattan
Pier55 will feature a variety of different environments, including trees, secluded trails and open grasslands
Pier55 will provide visitors with a place to relax
Pier55 will be built on piles drilled into the Hudson River bed
A view of southern part of Pier55 looking north from Gansevoort Peninsula
A view of the Pier55 amphitheater looking southwest at sunset
A view of the Pier55 amphitheater at night
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It seems that new green public spaces are being unveiled for New York every week. No sooner had the final section of the High Line recently opened, than plans for a similar space in Queens were announced. Now, New Yorkers can look forward to a new public park quite literally on the Hudson River.

Pier55 will be a 2.7-acre (1.09-hectare) public space and events venue. Designed by Heatherwick Studio, which has also designed the proposed and similar London Garden Bridge, it will provide spaces for relaxing, walking and enjoying "lush lawns and pathways."

Design renderings show the park slightly offshore in its lower west side of Manhattan location. Visitors will be able to access the park via piers that reach out to what will be an island built on piles. A variety of different environments will be available to visitors, including trees, secluded trails and open grasslands. There will be spaces for exercising and other actvities, as well as an amphitheater space overlooking the river.

Pier55 will be built on piles drilled into the Hudson River bed

The project will apparently cost in excess of US$130 million is being funded primarily by the Diller and von Furstenberg families. "New York has always reminded me of Venice, so I am happy the time has come to properly honor its waterways,” says Diane von Furstenberg. "What better than a park on the city’s western bank to rest, watch a sunset or a performance?".

Pier55 will replace the existing and deteriorating Pier 54 and will be run by a non-profit organization in partnership with the Hudson River Park Trust. Construction is expected to begin in 2016.

Source: Heatherwick Studio, Risa Heller Communications

View gallery - 9 images
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3 comments
zevulon
having grown up in manhattan and seen the beautification of the west side . i have to say. it's enough already. the highway has become an ongoing 'works project' costing extraodinary sums of money as contractors get fat and happy on new york city tax redistributions.
yes yes, lots of people enjoy the river but no, this is not acceptable any longer. enough money has been spent. it's time to admit the city needs to have structural limits for expenditures.
this 'park' is going to cost a massive fortune to build over many years. the west side greenway is nice enough. leave it alone.
windykites
zevulon, did you read about the funding for this project? It is good to see wealthy people putting their money into public amenities. It must make them feel good too.
It is not a floating island, as described in the article header, but never mind.
Stephen N Russell
Need one for SF Bay, Sausailito CA area alone, very crowded.