Little Island May be New York City’s Coolest Park
May 21, 2021 marked the opening of Little Island—New York's latest park and community oasis. But this is not just any park; it's 2.4 acres of rolling lawns, flowers and trees that sit on 132 tulip-shaped concrete pillars on the Hudson River.
Little Island Park, New York City
Image: @littleislandnyc
Little Island, also referred to as Pier 55, is an architectural marvel designed by Thomas Heatherwick and landscape architect Signe Nielsen. The concrete pillars that lay the foundation of the park range from between 15 and 62 feet to create what feels like a natural, undulating landscape. Winding pathways, over 400 species of trees, plants and enchanting city and water vistas make the Little Island an outdoor sensory experience.
Image: Little Island
But it is not all about nature; the park has a 687-seat auditorium and smaller 200-seat stage for cultural performances and education workshops set to begin this month. It also has a plaza space called the PlayGround, where visitors can grab a bite or drink from food and beverage trailers while catching up with friends under colourful canopies.
The site sits where Pier 54 previously stood, a historic dock that saw the arrival of Titanic survivors after the disaster in 1912. Over a century later, billionaire Barry Diller, in partnership with Hudson River Park Trust leadership, "embarked on a unique opportunity to envision a solution for the repair and reactivation" of the dilapidated pier. And so, the idea for Little Island was conceived.
Image: @littleislandnyc
This is not the first time Barry Diller has been involved in a project to reshape New York’s urban landscape, bringing nature and culture to city dwellers. The media mogul and wife, designer Diane von Furstenberg, played a key role in shaping the famous High Line as one of the first major donors to the redevelopment.
Image: The High Line
The foundation contributed a generous US $260 million to build Little Island and are also set to fund its operation for the next 20 years.
The island's opening comes at the perfect time, as restrictions begin to ease, and the city starts to come alive once more. New York was one of the US cities worst hit by COVID-19 and as the pandemic swept through the city, so too did the need for parks, nature, and good old-fashioned fresh air.
In a social survey conducted to gauge the use and importance of urban green spaces to New Yorkers, the results showed that "respondents continued to use urban green spaces during the pandemic and consider them to be more important for mental and physical health than before the pandemic began." Judging by these results, the months of uncertainty and isolation have left New Yorkers feeling disconnected.
As summer begins and the city starts to recover from a turbulent 2020, Little Island will undoubtedly provide the perfect overwater platform to reconnect New Yorkers with nature and their community.
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