Little Island, a floating park in New York

It is possible to return to New York over and over again, but always find a different city. The truth is that the Big Apple always surprises and leads its visitors to live experiences that are difficult to find elsewhere.

Among the singularities that this great city offers, one of the most innovative alternatives is to visit Little Island, a park built on 132 tulips made of cement and supported by pillars over the Hudson River.

The landscape is made up of approximately 400 different species of trees, shrubs, grasses and plants that adapt to the New York climate. Each corner of the island represents a different microclimate based on topography, sun exposure, and wind patterns.

Little Island joins the list of original New York parks, including Domino Park in Williamsburg, where structures from the old sugar factory were reused, Gantry Plaza State Park built around the vintage Pepsi-Cola sign, or the High Line Park designed on an abandoned elevated train track.

Little Island was designed by the English architect Thomas Heatherwick and is full of paths, hills and viewpoints, always with vegetation and panoramic views being the main protagonists. There is no doubt that the landscaping of the new park was planned to the millimeter. In total, 16 teams of engineers, contractors and designers worked to make this project a reality.

The point of origin of the project was thought based on the experience of its visitors: the emotion of being on the water and the feeling of leaving the city behind and immersing yourself in the green. Heatherwick claims to have been inspired by Central Park, where it is possible to forget that you are in the middle of the most densely populated city in the United States.

Access to the park is completely public and it is located between the Chelsea and Meatpacking neighborhoods. It has the following areas:

The Playground: An area where you can find tables, chairs, umbrellas and food carts, drink stalls from May to September.

Main Lawn: A large lawn especially for relaxing and resting.

The Glade: A small area with stands where dance, poetry and comedy performances are performed.

The Amphitheatre: It functions as the space for events and shows. At The Amph some performances are free, and others are paid. It offers space for 700 people with views of the river where every day there are different theater performances, concerts, but also dance and all kinds of shows.

The cultural program is also completed with educational classes, workshops and other forms of free entertainment for children and adults.

Something very remarkable about the park are its viewpoints, since from Little Island you can see One World Trade Center to the south crowning the southern Manhattan skyline, and to the north the Empire State and the profile of the new Hudson Yards neighborhood.

Something that makes it even more peculiar is that this park was given to the city and fully financed by a New York couple of billionaires (Fürstenberg and Diller) in order to replace the old Pier 54 on the Hudson River (a pier of high symbolic value due to to which the survivors of the sinking of the Titanic landed here in 1912). In order to maintain part of its interesting history and as part of paying tribute to the past, the original gate of Pier 54 at the entrance gate to the park and the old wooden pillars of the pier were maintained.

Information to visit it:

How to get?

-The park is located at Pier55 in Hudson River Park (West 13th Street). You can enter through one of its two bridges located at the height of 13th and 14th streets, but the main entrance to the south is recommended, in order to cross the original gate of Pier 54.

-The closest metro stop is 14 St where lines A, C, E and L stop.

Other data of interest:

-The visit can be done in approximately 1 hour and admission is completely free.

-The park is open all year between 6am and 11pm depending on the time of year. It is suggested to go with a prior reservation (from its website) if you see it between the months of May and September.

-The park has ramps and is accessible for people with reduced mobility and pushchairs.

-The best time of day to visit this park is at sunset, since the sun falls behind Jersey, illuminating the Manhattan skyline.

– Little Island has restrooms

– Pets are not allowed in the park.

– Bicycles are not allowed in the park.

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