The 2.5 Acre Pier 97 Park Finally Opens After More Than A Decade In The Making
After more than a decade and a $47.5 million price tag, the Hudson River Park Trust officially celebrated the opening of The Pier 97 Park, a 2.5 acre public open green space featuring a large playground, athletic field, sloping lawn, sunset deck with tables and chairs, walking promenades, and gathering space.
And you’ll truly feel as if you’ve been transported to a whole new world, as the barriers and fences that had surrounded the park for the past few years have been replaced with 16,000 square feet of flowers and plants.
New Yorkers had been waiting over a decade for the park to open–it had been empty since 2013 before planning for the design of the park began in 2018. Renderings were released back in 2019 with an initial 2022 opening date, though it wasn’t until December 2023 that portions of the pier began opening to the public. The opening date was then pushed back to the spring of this year, though it didn’t open until earlier this week, Tuesday, October 15th, 2024.
The Pier 97 Park is located opposite West 57th Street in Hell’s Kitchen. Comprised of a unique mix of recreational and lounging space for visitors to enjoy, including:
- A playground with a 26-foot-high rope climbing structure, ship’s hull, and seasonal water spray features
- A 120-foot-long synthetic turf field that can host a variety of sports and activities
- A 7,600-square-foot sloping sun lawn offering lush green space for relaxing and sculptural structures for shade
- An all-ages granite slide connecting the elevated overlook and shaded belvedere on the pier’s northern edge
- A sunset deck complete with bistro tables, chaise lounges, two-tiered walls with seating, and stunning views
- Flexible gathering areas surrounded by flowers and plants
- A walking promenade along the southern edge of the pier
A new park building immediately north of Pier 97 is also expected to open this winter, with construction nearly complete. The building will house public restrooms, a concession, and a small park maintenance area.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine stated, “Pier 97 is a dream come true for Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson River Park, and anyone who enjoys spending time along the river. There’s something for everyone at Pier 97,” while Congressman Jerrold Nadler added:
With new open public spaces for New Yorkers and visitors alike to gather and play on the river, complete with concessions, playgrounds and restrooms, Pier 97 will be a premier destination here in New York.
Beyond the park, the Trust is working with the NYS DOT to improve the existing bicycle and pedestrian paths between W 57th Street and W 59th Street. Once complete, these improvements will create a seamless link to the Empire State Trail between Hudson River Park and Riverside Park South.
More information about Pier 97 can be found here.
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