Headed to HRPK after dusk? You’re in for a radiant welcome. Fifteen-foot tall stainless steel and glass beacons now serve as bright, friendly guideposts for visitors at seven major Park entrances. Illuminated for the first time late last week, these beacons offer a glowing capstone to the Park’s new brand identity and signage package—Hudson River Park’s first ever permanent signage and wayfinding system.
The beacons, which feature the distinctive Hudson River Park logo in our custom stencil typeface, are lit from within with white LED illumination after dark. Integrated into the landscape, they can be seen from a distance without obstructing scenic Park views. Like all elements of our new brand, the beacons’ long form takes inspiration from the physicality of HRPK, the longest continuous Park in NYC.
“The Park itself dictated its graphic identity—the logo is the Park, an abstract representation of its layout,” explained Emily Oberman, Partner at Pentagram, one of the key designers behind the Park’s new visual identity. “The logo encompasses the Park’s vast green space and references its iconic piers. It reinforces the Park’s vibrancy,” as does an energetic, playful color palette that reflects the unique range of activities you can find at HRPK. Developed by Emily Oberman, Timothy Cohan and their talented design team from Pentagram, the Park’s new brand and signage system reflect a six year-long, close collaboration with HRPK as well as input from the local community.
The lighting of these iconic beacons spotlights a true transformation for HRPK. Throughout our 20th Anniversary season, we have rolled out hundreds of new signs throughout the Park’s four-mile footprint, including directories and welcome and wayfinding features. The vibrancy of this new signage links various portions of the Park through visual consistency as well as information about the Park’s diverse locations and features, communicating a unified identity and making it easier than ever for Hudson River Park’s millions of annual visitors to learn about the amazing features at their fingertips.
Next time you are headed to HRPK—whether you’re coming to admire stunning #HRPKFall foliage, take your pups to their favorite dog Park or practice your favorite sport—let our bright new beacons and signs guide your way to something new. Who knows what you’ll discover?