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For several years, anybody who has walked, run, or biked along the Hudson River trail in Hell’s Kitchen has had to squeeze past barriers and a shrouded fence. At last, the barriers came down on Tuesday.
The Pier 97 park, located across from West 57th Street, has been a long time coming. Empty since its reconstruction in 2013, renderings were unveiled in 2019, with plans to open the park in 2022. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and neither did the alleged spring 2024 opening. Finally, $47.5 million later, the park reopened this week.
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The park currently features a blue turf field where people can be seen playing soccer. There’s also a shaded pergola area with benches, which looks like a perfect lunch break spot. At the end of the pier, a variety of chairs and loungers offer a chance to relax while gazing out at the water or with skyline views. Given the park’s western Manhattan location, it boasts excellent sunset views.
Pier 97's upgrade has significantly increased waterfront access and public open space in the area.
You can also expect a playground with water spray features and a ship's hull, an all-ages slide, a bike repair station, a small concession stand, restrooms, flowers, and plants. A misting station will help cool down players on warm days (which probably won't come again until next year).
There are a few cool environmental features, too. A maintenance area for Hudson River Park includes a special distinctive metal louver system with an iridescent finish to reflect light. It'll also have solar panels to feed electricity back into the power grid, along with a hot water heating system to reduce natural gas consumption. Given its riverfront location, the design includes flood-proofing measures to help protect the structure during storm surges.
“Over 30 years ago, planners for Hudson River Park envisioned transforming 13 neglected Manhattan piers into a new public park that would reclaim our waterfront and enhance our city’s environment,” Noreen Doyle, president & CEO of Hudson River Park Trust, said. “As the northernmost of these piers, the completion of Pier 97 is a significant milestone, adding 2.5 acres of new public open space for New Yorkers to enjoy while connecting Hudson River Park’s scenic four-mile stretch with our neighboring Riverside Park.”
The park at Pier 97 is an expansion of the Clinton Cove Park area. The old pier was built between 1921 and 1934, then served for decades as the hub for the Swedish America Line. It even has some exciting movie credits to its name. The old Pier 97 terminal building was seen in the opening sequence of "Taxi Driver."
The park is notably missing a bathroom, which is expected to open, along with some concession stands, at some point this winter.