With this stifling heat wave New Yorkers are trying to brave, it is hard to take refuge in the city filled with skyscrapers and traffic. This summer, we are flocking to parks along the edge of the Island to relax amidst a sea of greenery, catching some breezes off the water while enjoying the amazing views of the skyline and different bridges. This step marks an important part in our history, as prior to this, as Nathan Ward in an Op-Ed for the New York Times put it, we have shied away from “claiming our waterfront.” In Ward’s article, he outlines the history of the waterfront, explaining that as the ports’ economy slowed down toward the end of the 1900s, the abandoned piers became “a ghost town between landlubbers and the water” where no one wanted to be, let alone live. Within the past few years, we are beginning to discover the potential the waterfront has to offer. And, areas that have been rundown and vacant for years are now getting green makeovers and contributing more and more feet of parkscape for New Yorkers to enjoy.
Whether you are closest to Governors Island, the West Side or perhaps Brooklyn, here’s the scoop on three fairly recent park developments we hope all can enjoy.
Stretching from Battery Park in Downtown, through Tribeca and Chelsea to Midtown/Clinton, the Hudson River Park has packed so many activities into this green strip that it would be foolish not to take advantage of its offerings. Free kayaking, night time movies for children and adults, walking tours, small classic ensembles, fishing, and art installations are offered constantly – not to mention the miles of perfect running conditions and large green lawns to play or soak up sun.
