Explore the New Eco-Friendly Pier 26 in Hudson River Park

New Yorkers have a beautiful new space to stretch their legs as the Hudson River Park unveiled a vibrant, eco-friendly public pier in Tribeca last week. In a city where green spaces are in short supply, residents and visitors can enjoy this little oasis in a multitude of ways. The pier features lounge chairs for sunset viewing, a sports field for games, guided ecological tours for all ages, and a science-themed playground for children.

There are nice little nooks and crannies along Pier 26 where people can get cosy and watch the sunset ©Max Guliani

Designed by the award-winning landscape architecture firm OLIN, Pier 26 is a new recreational space that promotes biodiversity in the heart of the city. Its shining glory is the 15,000 sq ft Tide Deck, which is planted with native shrubs, trees, and grasses – the first of its kind in Manhattan. The Deck features a habitat walk that runs through woodland forest, coastal grassland, maritime scrub, a rocky tidal zone, and the Hudson River, and hosts guided ecological and wildlife tours for all ages.

The Deck will bring visitors closer to nature with guided tours ©Max Guliani

An elevated walkway above the Deck offers stunning city views. If visitors are fortunate, they can secure a spot on one of the lounge chairs to enjoy a picturesque sunset or find a cozy seat in one of the wooden huts. Additionally, there’s a lawn and sports play area for games, alongside picturesque boardwalks for walking, running, or jogging. In the future, the area will feature a science-themed playground showcasing larger-than-life play features based on local native and endangered species.

Native shrubs, plants, and trees have been planted along the Tide Deck ©Max Guliani

“By designing a pier that brings New Yorkers closer to the city’s natural wildlife and habitat, we hope to offer critical hands-on learning opportunities for students, places to play, and plenty of quiet spots for people to take in the nature around them,” said Madelyn Wils, President and CEO of Hudson River Park Trust. “Moreover, while Pier 26, like the rest of Hudson River Park, was initially conceived as a way to help New York City recover from 9/11, we hope this new pier will play a vital role as we once again look ahead to recovery.”

Loungers will give people front-row seats to some of the best sunsets in Manhattan ©Max Guliani

Pier 26’s upland area is already home to Downtown Boathouse, an all-volunteer nonprofit organization providing visitors with free kayaking (currently on hold), and the popular City Vineyard restaurant and wine bar. To learn more about the Hudson River Park and its various recreational spots, see here.

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