Work is complete on Pier 97, a 2.5-acre public park along the Hell’s Kitchen waterfront in Manhattan. The park was designed by !melk Landscape Architecture and Urban Design and developed by the Hudson River Park Trust and celebrated its official opening on October 15 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Originally built between 1921 to 1934, Pier 97 served as a shipping hub for the Swedish America Line until the 1970s and later as a parking lot for the City of New York Department of Sanitation. The pier is located directly off West 57th Street.
The most notable design features include a 5,900-square-foot children’s playground with a 26-foot-tall rope-climbing tower, a ship’s hull, and a water spray zone; a 120-foot-long artificial turf athletic field; and a sunset deck at the far end with tables and chaise lounges that will offer panoramic views of the Hudson River. The park also features more than 16,000 square feet of garden beds landscaping, a 7,600-square-foot grassy hill, and an overlook point with an adjacent all-ages granite slide with a curved staircase.
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Photo by Michael Young
Work on the park kicked off in 2013 with the reconstruction of the pier’s dilapidated infrastructure, spearheaded by $16 million in City funding secured through Friends of Hudson River Park. Plans for the park were unveiled in 2019, and portions of the plaza began to open in December of 2023.
Below is an image showing an aerial perspective of Pier 97 in 1992, when it served as parking for garbage trucks.
Photo by Michael Young
The project’s total cost of $47.5 million was largely funded by the New York State’s Capital Budget of $40.8 million, with another $6.7 million of supplemental funds from proceeds of a Transferable Development Right sale completed by the Hudson River Park Trust in 2018.
Pier 97 will open an additional building this winter housing public restrooms, a food concession, and maintenance space. The structure will feature a rooftop photovoltaic array. The Hudson River Park Trust is also seeking to acquire a historic ship for the berth on the south side of the pier.
Access to Pier 57 can be reached via West 55th or West 59th Streets. Temporary metal fencing and construction equipment still surround the entrance as part of an improvement to the bicycle and pedestrian paths between West 57th and West 59th Streets. This project is being funded through a Transportation Alternatives Program grant and will create a seamless link to the Empire State Trail between Hudson River Park and Riverside Park South.
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A nice escape from Hell..
Another great space on the west side to enjoy the beautiful riverfront, well done!
Very nice.
Beautiful park and photos ❤️
Photographer Michael Young had a field day, literally and figuratively. Good work as usual.
Another great addition to Hudson River Park and successful reuse of the old pier
As a chance to relax while gazing out at the water, or with skyline views from open spaces: Thanks to Michael Young.
“Seeking to acquire a historic ship” ? What about the UNITED STATES currently in Philadelphia, about to be made into a reef in Florida?
What fantastic pictures! And such a wonderful park! Glad it’s open and being used