The Park’s River Project offers year-round programming at the Discovery Tank at Pier 57, connecting visitors of all ages with marine science through Guided Gallery hours, interactive workshops and field trips for NYC schools.
February kicked off Plankton Month in Hudson River Park’s Discovery Tank — from field trips to hands-on activities, our River Project team offered New Yorkers of all ages a fascinating peek at these important organisms that form the base of marine food webs and produce over half of the planet’s oxygen.
Adult science-lovers found inspiration at Ask a Scientist events, exploring topics from global phytoplankton and ocean health to microbes and how microplastics in our waterways may contribute to the spread of antibiotic-resistant genes. Our River Project team also took a closer look at the Park’s annual plankton bloom with the New York Times.
In mid-May, we shell-ebrated local science with thousands of science lovers at the SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival — welcoming NYC students for field trips on Friday, May 16 and inviting the public to join in on the fun on Saturday, May 17. This beloved festival focuses on our local waterways and brings together partners from across the state, creating inspiring opportunities to meet wildlife, enjoy hands-on science experiments and learn about our protected river waters.
Crab Week scuttled back into Hudson River Park in July, kicking off our third annual week-long crustacean celebration. From exploring the crabbier side of NYC with Crabigail, our Crab About Town — to clawntent and quizzes designed to get you in touch with your inner crab, the week spotlighted the the species of friendly neighborhood decapods that call Hudson River Park’s Estuarine Sanctuary home, shining a light on local biodiversity and inviting everyone to put their claws up and join the crabstravaganza.
The Park served over 6,000 New York City students in 2025 — a 20% annual increase. With targeted outreach to under-resourced communities, programs taught to Title I schools grew by 10% to ensure more students have access to hands-on science learning. Nearly half of those served came from outside of Manhattan. Our most popular field trip program was Wetlab Wildlife, where students dive into fish anatomy and adaptations in the Pier 40 Wetlab.
Hudson River Park has an ongoing commitment to Estuarine Sanctuary research. In 2025, the Visiting Scholars program helped to advance the research, data analysis and resource management goals outlined in the Park’s Estuarine Sanctuary Management Plan, offering 31 Visiting Scholars access to a variety of Park research facilities, field sites and scientific resources, and providing them with logistical and staffing support.
Our River Project closed out the season at our Pier 40 Wetlab with the annual Release of the Fishes, inviting the community to help return last year’s marine ambassadors to the Hudson River. For the first time ever, the River Project introduced a fish slide, offering a new, fun and efficient way to return our wildlife ambassadors to their Hudson River home. Learn more about the amazing species that thrive in our Estuarine Sanctuary in our Virtual Wetlab.
