Manhattan doesn’t have many publicly-accessible beaches along its 32 miles of shoreline—there are some inlets along the Harlem River, but they’re not exactly suitable for splashing and wading—but that could soon change. The Hudson River Park Trust announced that it has selected landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations to revamp the Gansevoort Peninsula, a piece of land that’s the only remaining section of 13th Avenue, into a 5.5-acre public park, complete with its own beach (albeit one that will not likely be open to swimmers).
Last year, HRPT issued a request for qualifications as part of the process of picking a designer for the undeveloped patch of land. JCFO, which is known for its work on the High Line and Domino Park, among other urban green spaces, was ultimately the winner; its design will include “passive and active recreation areas,” according to a release, along with the beach on the southern side of the peninsula. Though it won’t be a swimming beach, the waterfront area will allow for environmental awareness programming with the park’s Estuary Lab.
The newly designed parkland will also incorporate Day’s End, a public art installation commissioned by the Whitney Museum and created by David Hammonds. The project, which was announced in 2017, will feature a stainless steel “ghost monument” that evokes the shape of sheds that once stood on the piers lining the Hudson River.
“Along Hudson River Park’s four miles, we’ve been able to showcase some of the best landscape architects in the field,” Madelyn Wils, president and CEO of HRPT, said in a statement. “I’m pleased that the exceptional design firm James Corner Field Operations will join the ranks of the talented teams that have helped make Hudson River Park one of the great waterfront parks in the country.”
HRPT is working with the landscape architecture firm Olin and starchitect Rafal Viñoly on a new section of parkland at Pier 26 in Tribeca; at Pier 55, meanwhile, Thomas Heatherwick and Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects are collaborating on the floating park that’s under construction.
The project was approved at an HRPT board meeting this afternoon; the public will get a chance to weigh in at a series of public meetings and workshops to be held in the near futue. Construction won’t kick off until 2020, with the whole thing due to be finished by 2022.
Comments
This is great news for the west side! The Hudson River park just keeps getting better. I hope JCFO can bring a little of their Domino Park magic to the Hudson River.
One minor correction to the article: Pier 55 is being built on pilings, so it is not "floating" as stated in the article above.
By nycgoose on 01.31.19 5:49pm
Wondering about the exact location of this new park. Could you add a link to a map?
By metleonia on 02.01.19 12:43pm
https://www.google.com/maps/@40.7401598,-74.0111944,17.5z
By nycgoose on 02.01.19 1:25pm
OMG, it’s the huge pier just south of the upcoming "floating island" park??!! Just how much more popular (and crowded!) can the meatpacking area get? On the one hand, I’m kinda psyched about having a "beach" a couple blocks from my apartment. On the other hand, it will probably be so mobbed I won’t be able to use it.
By NYCsince1983 on 02.01.19 3:02pm
This will be such an amazing addition to Manhattan’s west side. Between Hudson Yards, Pier 55 and now this beach, Manhattan’s west side will be booming with activity and economic growth!
By Views4Days on 02.03.19 6:17pm
OR, it will make the Meatpacking District so crowded, crass, and insufferably horrible that all New Yorkers will despise and avoid it. Just like Times Square! Yay!
By NYCsince1983 on 02.05.19 9:51pm
this is such great news, and to think, the people can listen to the tourist helicopters fly up and down the hudson all day, every day, except sunda, so they say..
here a buzz, there a buzz, so much for some tranquilty in the city, oh yeah, its a city so lets not try to mitigate noise where ever we can, we can recycle instead.
buzz all the way up on the jersey side, buss all the way down on the manhattan side
By Adrastos C on 02.03.19 7:48pm