HUDSON RIVER PARK A WATER FRONT IN MAKING
HUDSON RIVER PARK A WATER FRONT IN MAKING
PLACE REPORT Course Title: Landscape Architecture and Place Course Number: UPM-723 Department: Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment Program: Urban Placemaking and Management Instructor: William Hart Study by: Aamir Ansari
INTRODUCTION Hudson River Park is located on the Hudson River in New York City in the borough of Manhattan. It is a join collobaration between city and the state. The whole park spans upto 550 acre streching upto 4.5 miles which makes this park second biggest in Manhattan after Central park. There are bicycle and pedestrian paths along with waterfront access for recreational use. The park is filled with various different activities both active and passive. Some prominet features include soccer fields, children;s playground, dogrun, tennis. It is the longest waterfront park in the United states which attracts 17 million visits each year. The landscape in the Hudson River Park is both beautiful and functional. There are various shade structures to increase the usability of piers in summer as well as in winter. There has been a lot of benefits due to the constuction of park. This park has generated different kinds of economic benefits for the city and state thus improving the quality of life in the region and for the neighbourhoods as well.
HISTORY Before the park was even proposed the land use of the hudson river park was completely different from what it is now. Previously there were industrial usage for the piers which was occupied by the fishing industry. It was a hunting and fishing site for native americans before the barges and piers were constructed. There were steam boat operations which used to carry passengers and hudson piers were really busy at times. The surroudning neighbourhoods of hudson river park were also occupied with industrial usage. There was increasing number of oyster barge industry which opened on the hudson shores which declined due to unsustainable way of harvesting. The oysters were sold in high volumes and as a result the oysters died due to over farming and pollution. The fishing industries declined leaving the barges in terrible condition and unmaintained creating more polluting environment to the neighbourhood.
CHELSEA PIERS http://www.nyc-architecture.com/MID/hrpark7.jpg
HUDSON RIVER PARK MAP SOURCE: https://davisla5.files.wordpress.com/2015/05/hudson-river-park-pier-46-new-york-usa-map.jpg
CHANGE OF SHORE LINE OVER TIME 1995
2002
2012
2016
source: google earth imagery
INITIAL PROPOSALS The initial concepts and proposals for the formation of hudson river park was coined during the early 90’s, and when the west highway was closed the space was envisioned for revitalizing the neighbourhood as due to previous industrial land use the neighbourhoods and the environment were in very bad shape. This resulted in the planning the bike ways which paved way for a masterplan for hudson river park. Intial proposals included continous park land laid on the top of Westway Highway Proposall with four water side park, tree lined promenade and bike track. This proposal was abandoned dude to environmental and political objection. A new plan was proposed during the term of Mayor David Dinkins which initially targeted the current Jacop Javtis Center, Chelsea Piers and Pier 40 which resulted in the formation of Hudson River Park Corporation today known as Hudson River Park Conservancy. This park is really complex in terms of its implementaion due to its various political, economic and environmental aspects, hence has been streched to really long time underconstruction. The masterplan for the Hudson River Park was designed by Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects and Quennell Rothschild & Partners, in Joint Venture The development plan for the rest of the park was signed in September 1998 by Governor George Pataki, dividing ownership of the land between New York State (the southern half, from Battery Park to 35th Street) and the City (the northern half, from 35th Street to 59th). Both halves were leased to the joint entity now known as the Hudson River Park Trust. The plan also guaranteed that half of several locations, including Piers 40, 76, and 84, would be reserved for parkland.[1]
HUDSON RIVER MASTERPLAN
[1]
source: Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects.
Martin, Douglas (July 30, 1998). "Hudson Park Draws Closer To Reality; Proponents Celebrate Approval by Albany". nytimes.com. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/30/nyregion/hudson-park-draws-closer-to-reality-proponents-celebrate-approval-by-albany.html?pagewanted=all
KEY FACTS The Hudson River Park Trust divided the land into different segments, which later had different designers but share cohesive design features which made the park feel like one all together. After 20 years the park still has not yet completed. As of today the park is 72 percent finished with the cost of $500 million. IT has been a shaky for the hudson river park quite many times, since it has been in debt too many times which resulted them to charge passengers more to board the cruise sightseeing ships in the park. It has 550 acre land area with a length of 4.5miles Notable designers who participated in designing the Hudson River Park: Mathews Nielsen Landscape Architects.
TRIBECA PIER 26
Abel Bainnson Butz
GREENWICH VILLAGE- PIER 45 46, 51
Michael Van Valkenburgh
CHELSEA - SEGMENT 5
Miceli Kulik Williams
CLINTON
Richard Dattner & Partners.
source: https://www.hudsonriverpark.org/
INFERENCES FROM SITE VISTS Site Visit 1 : 2/11/2017 Weather conditions limited the use of the space. Prominent walkers, joggers, runners but they restricted themselves to the running/cycling track. The park is dotted with seating, not only along the trails but on strategic lookouts. Soothing contrast of landscape features resembling a taste of a modern riverfront. Major activities: Walking, Jogging, seating
Site Visit 2 : 3/26/2017 A lot of cyclists and joggers since the weather was better,. Increased number of tourists and people at the piers since the spring is near and land scape starts to show its colors. People talking a stroll on the promenade and pier proved that the piers are really calm and relaxing for a Busy city like New York Major activities: Running, cycling, sightseeing
Site Visit 3 : 4/23/2017 Increased number of kids and diverse users giving an idea that the park is activating its programming as summer approaching. As you walk, you feel mesmerized by the beauty the park has to offer with its lush green landscape. There is a different type of beauty during the starting of the spring unlike in the winters where it feels mostly dry and underused. Major activities: Site seeing, playing, cycling, relaxing, picnicing
an evening at the pier 62, the wooden deck complementing the sunlight and greenery creating a beautiful environment
No benches, dont worry the rock can be used for relaxing!
DESIGN FEATURES Waterfronts are a place to get away from the chaos of the city, silent soothing, and minimal atmosphere but still have something to do for everyone. Hudson River Park is representing the same in a really beautiful way. Although it is not perfect, the park is amazingly designed to suit the needs of everyone who comes to enjoy the calmness in the bustling New York City.
CALM AND RELAX DESIGN The Hudson River Park has really strong design focus towards how a waterfront in the busy city should be. If someone has come there he will most probably remember the contrast of the space being very different from what a typical NYC park is about. With this public piers designed to take you far away from the streets in the river, keeping the identity of the pier by using wooden decks. This is somewhere where people would stay and enjoy the picturesque view of Manhattan and New Jersey. The idea to open up the waterfront at certain areas removes the strong and strict design into a relaxing informal seating area to relax.
FEATURES AND FLEXIBILITY The rocks, the wooden benches, deck, are somewhat natural aspects which brings closer to the nature. It’s very important since people feel welcome in the park and interact with the park elements without being discouraged. This is when the design has some flexibility and people make ways to enjoy and create for themselves. There are different types of seating in the park suiting everyone’s needs. This customized visual experience is possible to the flexible conditions of these spaces intentionally or unintentionally. It’s the setting of the place that adds an amazing experience of the user in this park. The timely opening up of the waterfront to create a seamless way to experience the water of Hudson River. This would be a nostalgic memory to sit at these places and socialize or just watch the scenery and enjoy the nature.
COHESIVE SYHMPHONY OF SPACE AND PLACE The park’s constantly changing landscapes and hardscapes make it exiting to jog, walk, run and cycle. Even if you are not an avid runner, you would feel to run in this park seeing ot er people running along the river. I think there is a connection between the design elements (seating, landscape, railings, etc.) but the same time it doesn’t feel boring and monotonous. It’s because the surrounding ties the things together. There is level of change as you go from bottom to the top of the park but that change is not haphazard to make you feel that this is a different park at different points that is there is a sense of continuity.
PROGRAMMING Hudson River Park is really triangulated in terms of programming where activities complement each other. Though it is heavily programmed for summer, in winter, the uses limit to walking running, and cycling. Active uses is prominent in every time of the year. I have tried to see the complement activities by analyzing the area in terms of usages
PIER 62 and 63 It features wide water facing esplandes and large lawns for picnic and garden. It also includes a skate park and caruosel adding more diverse activity at the pier. The green lawn bowl is mainly used for sunbathing, picnics during summer. It seems to be in perfect position with the pedestrain flow all around the lawn making it the center of both the piers. There is a garden at the entrance of Pier 62 which is designed by Lyden Miller, who is wellknown for garden designs. IT has vegetation which is complimenting to all four seasons so as it does not become boring and monotonous. These activities present at the pier very well go with each other, also the pedestrian flow of the piers the spaces get the maximum usages. The destination spaces - whether be the green bowl lawn, carousel, skatepark, all are present complimenting the walkway.
sunbathing during summer
pathways to create curiosity
the activities towards scenic view of hudson river
unique rocks
these spaces are there with walkways around for the best possible usage
PROGRAMMING PIER 84 Pier 84 is more of programmed in a way to complement the maritime entertainment activities around the park. It has concession stands that includes restaurant, bike rental, kayak house. Its nature and activities programmed are more towards the tourist user group. But it doesnt leave the residents behind. It continues to provide green lawns, walkway with picturesque hudson river and dog park. It follows the same pedestrain flow to place activities around. The activities are very well triangulated. For eg. There is a water fountain for kids to play in front of concession and seatings where you can take children and let them play around, and sit in the shade of trees with your food or enjoy the beer at the open bar. This pier unlike pier 62 and 63 has a destination space at the dec away from the cluster of destination spaces. Which in turn gives an another opportunity for peaceful and calm environment. Adults and children can both play with water as there is also a interactive water sculpture which is interesting and drives towards that space which is surrounded by picnic steel 4 chairs and shade.
water features to attract children
international bar and restaurant
open plaza design to program large scale events
this plaza opens up for activities like yoga, music show
uses center to attract visitors with diverse activities
LANDSCAPE MANAGEMENT & MAINTENANCE Maintaining a big park like Hudson River Park is a challenge in itself. And sometimes the authority struggles with conditions like money, skilled labour and technology. The main Players for maintainance and planning are primarily. The Hudson River Park Trust and The Friends of Hudson River Park
The Hudson River Park Trust It is a partnership between New York State and New York City who were charged with responsibilities of design, construction and operation of the four mile Hudson River Park. It is a public benefit corporation.
Friends of The Hudson River Park It is an independent NPO which is dedicated to completion, care, and enhancement of the Hudson River Park. They do various fundraising events as well as create opportunities for the community to contribute in the Park’s operation. With most of the money coming from the reveune generating piers the park constantly develops new partnerships to increase the revenue generation for operation and planning of the park. Last year, the Trust negotiated and executed two important new leases with Circle Line/World Yacht and Con Edison that together will bring in over $2 million in much needed additional annual operating revenue for the park. The trust is responsible for cleaning during harsh weather conditions the bikeways and pathways. During the strom Irene some ot the parts of park were severly damaged and they had to remove public access. This is why the park needs more funding to become more stable in terms of infrasturcture.
HUDSON RIVER PARK EMPLOYS 60 MEMBER STAFF removing trash
safety
managing concessions
management
planning
large portion of bulkhead collapsed during Storm Irene
maintainace crew working to prepare for concessions as summer is approaching
The crabapple trees blooming in Chelsea
This year the park planted “Orange Emperor� tulips throughout the waterfront
CONCLUSION PIERS
It seems the over all master plan lacked design regulations for the revenue generating piers. Currently the reveune generating piers look like different part of the hudson river park. Though it was in the masterplan they failed to maintain the overall design around these areas.
Which resulted to
NON SEAMLESS TRANSITION
From going from pier 62&63 to pier 84 you will notice a considerable spaces not been designed. These individual spaces are very designed and functional but the spaces between them are disconnected creating and unpleasing environment.
WEAK PROGRAMMING
Programming was intentional to limit themselves to individual piers. Maybe it was thought that one would visit only one pier at a time. Since it is a big project and its underconstruction the overall integration is not possible. But the design cohesiveness should also apply to the revune generating piers as well the spaces and walkways between the piers.
dead edges along the transition between piers
KEY LEARNINGS Hudson River Park is overall well designed and mainted park. No place or design is perfect, but this park has a lot opportunities to improve. Also many things can be learn from the design principles which made this a successful waterfront in making and can be replicated while designing other waterfronts.
Testing and Changing
Many of the great public spaces around the world require time and right settting to make it active. What Hudson River Park does in terms of experimenting with ideas and programming is a way to constantly improve on what’s already being built. Small things from changing planting, short events to bigger things like changing seating materials and environmental programs; the ideas are constanlty being generated and used.
Merging the waterfront with Environmental Benefits
Waterfront is a great asset to the neighbourhood, city and state, and Hudson River Park has tried to utilize with its designers focussing on a balance between environment and human needs.
Multiuse spaces and Connection
One thing to always notice at Hudson River Park is there is always a multi use of a space in terms of activities. This shows how productive and efficient the designers were while designing and programming of the space. Identifying the key destinations at the pier and providing with a flow for the user to get emersed in the experience of the surreal environment of Hudson River Park has been beautifully designed. Some of the things that were missing, which are important for a successful waterfront.
Community Led Vision
Making sure the project does not become a real estate development project but foster the community in terms of different benefits. The current scenario of hudson river park has done very little to mitgate the effects. Maybe due to lack of community led vision.
Accessibility
It is essential that the waterfront becomes accessible to people, with the current setting of the park there is a lack of accessible points from the city mainly due to he highway present which is dividing the park and the city.
Universal Integration
There is always a challenge to integrate every kind of user and season. The park being heavily programmed during summer leaves room for very little activities during other season. A hollistic approach towards all seasons programming can solve with different users coming to the park at different times of season. The park is a great example where parks and promenade donot serve as the entire waterfront. There is a balance between passive green active green as well as different kind of activties present throughout the park
As summer is near people enjoying the sun on the lush green lawns at pier 63
Enjoying the sunset at pier 84
REFERENCES Martin, Douglas (July 30, 1998). “Hudson Park Draws Closer To Reality; Proponents Celebrate Approval by Albany”. nytimes.com. The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/1998/07/30/nyregion/hudson-park-draws-closer-to-reality-proponents-celebrate-approval-by-albany.html?pagewanted=all “About Us”. Friends of Hudson River Park. Retrieved 25 April 2015. “WATERFRONT TIMELINE”. hudsonriverpark.org. Hudson River Park Trust, Friends of Hudson River Park. Retrieved 24 May 2015. Pier 84 Play Area | Hudson River Park “Chelsea Piers History 101”. chelseapiers.com. Chelsea Piers. Retrieved 23 May 2015. http://www.nyc-architecture.com