New York—The final stretch of a beautiful new strip of parks and boardwalks opened on Tuesday, August 19. The 3.5 acre park starts at 59th Street on the west side of Manhattan, and is the last waterfront section of the park and one of the last remaining links in a continuous Hudson River Greenway running the length of Manhattan.
Now you can walk uninterrupted by streets or buildings, along the beautifully restored waterfront from 59th Street to 83rd Street. Also currently being worked on is a section of park from 83rd to 91st Streets. Another strip of park is scheduled to open in two or three weeks from 125th Street up to 135th Street. One day, as envisioned, a person can walk or ride around all of Manhattan, with out leaving the greenway.
The city however, did not build this park. They are going to own and maintain it, but it was constructed at a cost of $10.9 million by private developers Hudson Waterfront Associates and is being deeded to the City of New York at no cost as part of the requirements of the City’s 1992 approval of the Riverside South development.
Hudson Waterfront Associates is required to spend more than $62 million on park construction and landscaping, and the total 27.5 acre park is expected to be completed within the next decade. The section of the park that opened on Tuesday is phase four of a seven phase plan. The last three projects will involve more interior spaces of the city.
The view from the park is the perfect spot to catch the sinking sun in the evening and be refreshed by a cool river breeze. The area is surprisingly serene, considering it is basically below the West Side Highway; the open space seems to absorb the sounds of traffic above.
82 year old Monette Holec, who has lived in the neighborhood for a little over 40 years, at 69th and West End Avenue, was enjoying the refreshments at the opening celebration with a friend.
“I think it’s a beautiful park, and we’re all very grateful for the fact that so many people came together to create such beauty for all of us to enjoy.” She gushed. “Now I’m going to take full advantage of this wonderful area,” she continued.
All Aboard
“Today’s historic ribbon cutting connects Riverside Park with Hudson River Park in the same way the railroads connected the nations’ two coasts and creates a continuous greenway from Battery Park to 83rd Street,” said Parks and Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe.
The site was once the New York Central Railroad’s 60th Street yard. Juxtaposing some of the more modern design elements, such as the deckchairs, benches and lampposts, just off the river edge are historical remains of the railway. The burnt-out, ramshackle old pier building has been kept, some see it as an eye-sore; some come out at sunset with a camera to catch it in its best light.
Central to the new stretch of park is the huge 1946 Locomotive 8625, a symbol of the past, with aspirations to be an inspiration for the future. Best of all, its a total kid magnet, you can board the old engine, honk the horn, play with the switches; and the working part of the engine is fitted with a glass window and a light. Children from the local Daycare were buzzing with excitement.
“It’s really fun because we get to play on it. We beeped the horn and touched all these (controls),” said seven-year-old Lauren with her little brother, who were visiting the park with their uncle who lives in the neighborhood.
Parks Commissioner Adrian Benepe insisted on this eccentric addition to the park. His eyes lit up when he saw the kids running in and out of the engine room and tooting the horn.
