Hudson River Park makes plans for Pier 97
BY MARK HALLUM
Pier 97 will never be the same, nor
will there be anything like it if
recently released renderings are
implemented by Hudson River Park
Trust.
The 680-foot-by-120-foot recreation
space was reconstructed in 2013 but remains
an empty concrete slab over the
water, parallel with West 57th Street,
but construction is now set to begin by
fall of 2020.
Architectural fi rm !melk rendered
the designs for the park, which Hudson
River Park Trust reps say will have a
children’s play area, a sports fi eld, water
play, an elevated “belvedere” with
river views, a sloped sun lawn for sunbathing
and a woodland area.
There will also be three structures,
one a comfort station and another
Parks operations as well as a small food
concession stand.
Bicyclists will be able to access Pier
97 from the Route 9A bikeway and the
build is expected to wrap up by the
spring of 2022.
PHOTO COURTESY OF RISA HELLER COMMUNICATIONS
The park will have a children’s play area, a sports field, an elevated “belvedere” with river views, a sloped
sun lawn and more.
‘Little Island’ heading to West Side’s Pier 55
BY SHAYE WEAVER
Pier 55‘s new futuristic public park
slated to open in the spring of
2021 has a new name.
The Diller-von Furstenberg Family
Foundation, which is funding the pier’s
development, announced on Wednesday
that its moniker is now “Little Island.”
When it opens, the 2.4-acre green
space within Hudson River Park at West
13th Street will be peppered with 100
species of trees and shrubs across “rolling
hills,” walking paths and open lawns,
but most notably, it will sit 15 feet above
the Hudson River on 132 concrete support
structures, which will give it an
“undulating” appearance, according to
the pier’s designer, Heatherwick Studio.
All year, it will host arts, educational
and community programming — some
on its planned waterfront amphitheater.
“It’s a joyous feeling to see Little Island
rise up in the Hudson River, and
now I can’t wait for New Yorkers and
its visitors to cross the bridge, leave the
boisterous city behind, and play, lay
back and be stimulated every which way
by the Island,” the foundation said in a
statement.
The project, which started with a
budget of $13 million has reportedly
ballooned $250 million.
COURTESY LITTLE ISLAND
The new park coming to Pier 55 is now called “Little Island.” Renderings of Little Island show tulip-shaped
support columns.
Schneps Media CNW November 21, 2019 3