Hudson River Park

Hudson River Park is a public waterfront park along the west side of Manhattan, stretching for about 4.5 miles and including lawns, biking and walking paths, and sports facilities. The park connects former industrial structures with newly created gardens and plazas that open onto views of the water and the opposite shore of New Jersey.

The park was created in 1998 when the state of New York and the city of Manhattan decided together to open the old waterfront docks to the public. Before that, community groups had spent decades fighting a planned highway along the shore and pushing for green space and recreation instead.

The name honors the river explored by Dutch navigator Henry Hudson in 1609, when the region was still home to indigenous communities. Today locals gather for jogging, picnicking and sunbathing on the grassy lawns, and use the piers for open-air events and waterside relaxation.

Visitors can enter the park at several access points along the waterfront and explore the paths by bike or on foot. The park stays open throughout the year, with warmer months best for kayaking and beach volleyball.

Part of the park consists of former docking piers that now serve as floating terraces and viewpoints, allowing direct access to the river edge. Some of these piers have been outfitted with wooden decking and planted beds after decades of decay, so visitors can sit over the water.