The Tide Deck, located at the western edge of Pier 26, is an engineered rocky salt marsh created to provide an immersive and educational river ecology experience for Park patrons—not to mention a supportive environment for wildlife.
The Tide Deck offers visitors a unique opportunity to explore the plantings and tidal pools that reflect natural features and dynamics of local river ecology. Flooding regularly with the daily tidal cycle, the Tide Deck nourishes its native plants and animals with waters from the Hudson River, creating a one-of-a-kind ecosystem visible from above Pier 26 and open to the public during guided tours led by Park staff.
The Tide Cycle
The Hudson River Estuary, where saltwater and freshwater converge, experiences two high tides and two low tides daily. During high tide, the Tide Deck becomes submerged, and filter feeders like oysters and barnacles open their shells to feed on plankton from the River.
Six hours later, at low tide, the Tide Deck emerges, providing waterfowl, such as mallard ducks, a sheltered refuge from the River’s strong currents. Various animals utilize the platform at different stages of the tidal cycle, showcasing the dynamic interactions within this ecosystem.
Habitat Features
- Native Marsh Plantings: The Tide Deck is planted with smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, which is a common estuarine marsh plant. When planted in a marsh, smooth cordgrass acts as a soil stabilizer and helps control erosion along coastlines.
- Tide Pools: Tide pools are shallow depressions typically carved into rocks that collect River water and become vital basins as the tide recedes. Predators often hunt for food in these small, isolated environments where river plants and animals can be found.
- Submerged Enhancements: Pier 26 and the surrounding Park waters also host structures supporting oysters.
Visit the Tide Deck
Hudson River Park’s River Project staff will periodically offer guided tours of the Tide Deck, providing visitors with an immersive and educational river ecology experience. For guided tours, school groups can book a Shoreline Ecology field trip, while members of the public can explore during our Thursday Big City Fishing programs. These experiences occur seasonally.
Want to dig even further? Reach out the Park’s education team at [email protected].
Design Funding Acknowledgment
- Lower Manhattan Development Corporation through Community Development Block Grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
- NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund
- NYS Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund
- NYS Environmental Protection Fund through the Hudson River Estuary Program of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation