New York, here's the first beach: it will rise above a landfill
Manhattan will have its first beach, a sandy stretch that is part of a major project that will totally change the landscape [...]
JFK
Manhattan will have its first beach, a sandy stretch that is part of a major project that will totally change the landscape of that stretch of the city. When we think of beach vacations, surely the first destination that comes to mind is not New York, but by 2022 there will be another place to visit and perhaps immortalize for social media.
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The Gensevoort peninsula project: the New York beach
The Hudson River Park Trust had announced plans to transform part of the Gansevoort Peninsula in Manhattan (near the southern end of the High Line) In a 5.5-acre public park, complete with waterfront. The project is signed by the architectural firm James Corner Field Operations and will also include the construction of sports facilities, a salt marsh and a place to bring one's dogs. The whole development will be built on the remains of a landfill site, after the land reclamation project to extend Manhattan in the 1830s. The site was formerly a depot for the city's sanitation department.
Obviously swimming will not be allowed, and the dubious water quality in the Hudson River should provide an additional deterrent. The renderings show an oasis of grassy knolls, lush tree tops, and plenty of room for sunbathing. The Gansevoort Peninsula will also include an art installation in collaboration with the Whitney Museum of American Art. According to the museum's website, the project (titled "Day's End") will be an open structure that follows exactly the contours and dimensions of the original Pier 52 shed, used by artist Gordon Matta-Clark for his own public art installation in 1975 and later demolished.
The area has recently been a parking lot for the sanitation trucks of New York City. The photos also include a full-size soccer field, picnic areas, walking trails, and, of course, the sandy beach. The latter offers direct access from the waterfront to the Hudson River, Complete with a rocky shoreline that also serves as a protective barrier against floods and storms. Waterfront access refers to water activities such as kayaking and canoeing. The first step in turning this area into a public park involves placing sand and gravel on the existing land. This will recreate the Thirteenth Avenue that ran from Bloomfield Street onto what is now the Gansevoort Peninsula. The area has been excavated to allow longer ships to dock without blocking the channel.
The rise of parks in New York City.
"The inspiration behind this concept is the idea of creating a habitat that references the estuary and connects people to the river and local wildlife," said Madelyn Wils, president and CEO of the Hudson River Park Trust. The Gansevoort Peninsula rightfully joins the conspicuous increase in parks and urban areas that has gripped the West Side. In September the Hudson River Park presented Pier 26, a $37 million park in Tribeca.
In the spring, the "Little Island" by Barry Diller, a $250 million 2.4-acre park and event space at Pier 52. A few blocks away at Pier 57, Google is instead building its own pier with three acres of public space. Governor Andrew Cuomo also announced an expansion of the High Line from 34th Street and the West Side Highway to 38th Street. Finally, Pier 76, the former NYPD pound, will become a park.
