New York has experience with unusual parks. The last section of the High Line Park on an old railway linewhich has long since blossomed into one of the most important sights. But the planned “Pier 55” project is likely to be even more spectacular: a park built on the Hudson River. See the designs in our too photo-show an.
That is a big number even for New York: A new park is to be built in the middle of the Hudson, 11,000 square meters in size, planted with trees and grass, as a new attraction in the city, which is not poor in attractions. The park will be a green oasis in the concrete desert of West Manhattan, with walking paths and areas for sitting. In the evenings it can get a little louder: the New York Philharmonic and Lady Gaga could host an open-air stage.
A Hudson River Park has been around for a long time and receives 17 million visitors each year. But it is where a park usually belongs: on land. The new one should now go straight into the water, on stilts and planks. The supports will stand in the water like large mushrooms. Then a park, right next to the ocean liners that dock only a few dozen meters away. The design for the park comes from the architecture firm Heatherwick Studio.
Pier 54 has to give way to the new project
For “Pier 55”, that is the project name, Pier 54 has to give way. And that’s a place steeped in history. Here at Chelsea Piers is Manhattan’s only brewery and studio that has made many famous films. The troop transports carrying American soldiers left Pier 54 70 years ago.
Before that, the rich and famous arrived here on the Atlantic liners – the less rich had to disembark five kilometers beforehand on the immigrant island of Ellis Island.
Construction will probably start in 2016
“Pier 55” will cost 130 million dollars (105 million euros), and the city and state of New York are adding 35 million. Most of the money comes from the von Fürstenberg family of German descent, partly from the Diller family – Diane von Fürstenberg and Barry Diller have been married since 2001.
“We’re so happy that we can do that as a family,” said Diller. Realizing the project exceeded his wildest expectations. Von Fürstenberg even thinks of Europe: “New York has always reminded me of Venice. That’s why I’m happy that we can now appreciate its water,” said the fashion designer. “And what’s better than a park on the west bank to rest and watch a performance or just the sunset?”
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