6. A Futuristic New Park has Opened at Hudson River Park
After much political drama, a futuristic new park at Pier 55 designed by Thomas Heatherwick, who is also behind The Vessel at Hudson Yards, is open! The undulating park sits atop modern piers and includes rolling lawns, a public plaza, and a 750-person amphitheater. The paths reach as high as 62 feet, making this a sure destination for views of the city and the river.
Pier 55’s design was selected through a competition by Hudson River Park and philanthropist Barry Diller with the requirements to create a public park with a world-class performance space. The design idea takes inspiration from the wooden pilings that remain of the old pier and extend 280 concrete piles out of the water, serving as large planters, and allowing for a landscape of different elevations. More than 100 species of trees are were planted on the new Pier 55, offering a haven from the busy highway just adjacent.
