Hudson River Park Friends Annual Report 2024
Hudson River Park continues to redefine Manhattan’s waterfront, transforming dilapidated piers and aging infrastructure into four miles of beautiful green, open spaces and sparkling Hudson River waters. In 2024, the Park stretched its green arms wider than ever, welcoming millions to explore new spaces and experiences. With the openings of Pier 97 at its northern end and the Pier 26 Science Playground downtown, these additions represent another exciting step towards completing the Park’s original vision.
The Park is an essential resource for the communities it borders, with its reach extending far beyond Manhattan into all five NYC boroughs and the region. It has become a top destination for New Yorkers and visitors from around the world and a vital space for families, neighbors and businesses, large and small, to thrive.
Its robust free programming fosters joy, healthy lifestyles and community connection. With a calendar of activities and events as varied as the city itself, Hudson River Park attracts hundreds of thousands to its 600 performing arts, science education, environmental stewardship and fitness programs. Through our unique public-private partnership with the Hudson River Park Trust, Friends helps make this possible because of supporters like you.
Thanks to our collective commitment to the Park, your generosity fuels its continued transformation — embodied in the Park’s beloved recreational piers and landscapes; in our evolving understanding of the importance of the Hudson River estuary; and in the physical and mental health of our community, which relies on the Park to play, learn and grow. We are deeply grateful to everyone who brings this space to life each day and celebrates its extraordinary natural and recreational assets throughout the year.
Diana L. Taylor,
Chair, Board of Directors
Connie Fishman,
Executive Director
A New Pier Opens to the Public
📍 Pier 97
As we take a stroll through some of the many highlights from a remarkable year, we’re choosing our favorite path — along four miles of Hudson River waterfront, starting from its newest gem at the northernmost part of the Park, Pier 97.
Where garbage trucks once parked, nature now blossoms! Until 2011, Pier 97 was an asphalt slab — a parking lot for the Department of Sanitation. But now, it is a green destination that provides recreational and lounging space for Hell’s Kitchen and West Side neighbors and city visitors.
An innovative playground, athletic field, sloping lawn, elevated belvedere, all-ages slide and sunset deck are among the features that make Pier 97 such an exciting addition to our waterfront. The design of the 2.5-acre pier was shaped by extensive input from the local community. Take a closer look with abc7NY.
Bringing Broadway’s Best to our Riverfront Stage
📍 Clinton Cove
Outdoor event venues dot the four-mile length of the Park, bringing delight to every neighborhood. When it comes to free programming we have the entire Park covered. In 2024, Hudson River Park introduced Broadway by the Boardwalk, a series that transformed the scenic Clinton Cove lawn into a welcoming open-air theater by inviting Broadway’s brightest stars to perform for free right in Broadway’s backyard.
The series connected the Park’s Hell’s Kitchen theater community and celebrated Broadway’s vital role in NYC arts and culture, free for all to enjoy. Sparking joy, it introduced new audiences to the magic of live performance while giving longtime fans the chance to enjoy their favorite talents in an informal, outdoor and accessible community setting. Hear from Broadway star Eden Espinosa, who opened the series.
A Science and Sustainability Hub
📍 Pier 84
The Park kicked off our 2024 season of public events with the SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival — a two-day shell-ebration of NYC’s coastal waters held on May 17 and 18 at Pier 84 in Hell’s Kitchen.
Led by Hudson River Park’s River Project, the 11th Annual SUBMERGE Festival brought together STEM experts from around the region for hands-on demonstrations, local wildlife, river-themed experiments and kid-friendly science entertainment. Day one welcomed 1,000 students from all five NYC boroughs for festival field trips, while day two invited science-lovers of all ages. Both days brought marine science to life for more than 4,000 of you — a fantastic of-FISH-ial start to our 2024 events.
Later in the year, the Park wrapped up the season at Pier 84 with our Fall Pumpkin Smash, where more than 2,100 people helped compost a record 6,000 pounds of Halloween pumpkins for our Community Compost Center.
These programs book-ended a spectacular season of free events that welcomed over 150,000 visitors to enjoy 600+ free riverfront concerts, dance parties, workouts and more, and created opportunities for learners of all ages to explore hands-on marine science through River Project programs and field trip experiences.
A Stage for Culture, Flavor and Dance
📍 Pier 76
Making our way south down to W 35 St., Pier 76 was a hub of energy and celebration as the Park greeted tens of thousands to a vibrant lineup of free festivals, music and dance events. Remarkably, this interim open space was transformed from a massive tow pound into a public recreation area in just 81 days.
New Yorkers enjoyed smoky flavors and soulful tunes at the Park’s signature Blues BBQ Festival; savored the culinary delights and spicy sounds of the NY Latin Food Festival; and took in the unique excitement of the Unicycle Festival. Dance is Life! and Sunset Salsa kept the rhythm alive with sessions that brought people together to move and groove against stunning waterfront views and spectacular sunsets. Hear from some of the attendees who joined us for Blues BBQ.
This is just a sampling of the outstanding and diverse Park programming and community celebrations hosted in partnership with local organizations and talent, and thanks to our generous sponsors and supporters.
Transforming Waste into New Life
📍 Hudson River Park’s Compost Center at W 32 St.
The Park’s Community Compost Program is an initiative designed to engage the community in helping divert NYC’s organic waste from landfills and reduce the truck traffic and carbon emissions that harm the environment. In 2024, with the help of Friends volunteers, HRPK diverted nearly 460,000 pounds of organic waste from landfills, including 375,000 pounds of horticultural waste and 83,000 pounds of community food scraps that were collected at our 10 drop-off locations throughout the Park.
Park staff collect the food scraps and horticultural waste and process them on site; then the nutrient-rich compost goes back into our gardens and landscapes. This self-sustaining operation ensures that Hudson River Park reduces the impacts of emissions at all stages of its compost collection, generation and use, and it saves valuable Park resources.
Enjoying Front-Row Seats
📍 Piers 62, 63 and 64
For the first time in 11 years, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, the largest fireworks display in the nation, returned to the Hudson River. Hudson River Park worked closely with Macy’s and City and State agencies to ensure safe viewing for everyone; and the public was able to register for free first-come, first-served access to view the dazzling show from select Hudson River Park piers. Check out moments from a spectacular show!
Shining a Spotlight on Volunteer Support
📍 Chelsea and throughout the Park
Transformations come in all shapes and sizes, and volunteers play an important role in the vibrant parade of colors that the changing seasons bring — and so much more. Working alongside Park horticulturists, volunteers help Hudson River Park thrive: planting bulbs, removing invasive species, supporting composting efforts, conducting shoreline cleanups and helping to monitor oyster populations. In 2024, the Park’s generous volunteer community donated the Park 8,800 labor hours across 117 projects over all four miles.
🙋 2,855 Volunteers
🌱 2,761 Plants in the ground
🌷 24,900 Flower bulbs planted
HRPK Friends hosts volunteer projects throughout our 550 acres and to illustrate their impact, here is some of the work accomplished in Chelsea this year. In the Habitat Garden, the Park’s largest native plant garden, volunteers helped remove invasive species, cut back overgrowth and collected debris for composting. Along popular pathways in Chelsea Waterside Park and on Piers 62, 63 and 64, volunteers weeded, planted flowers and prepped gardens for a vibrant spring in 2025 by planting thousands of bulbs last fall.
Whether helping out during Corporate Volunteer Days, Saturday Green Teams, Blue Team shoreline cleanups or Park events, or as Neighborhood Gardeners and Compost Facilitators, our volunteer community is central to the Park’s care. HRPK Friends is especially grateful for the support of Citi, our long-time Volunteer Program Presenting Sponsor, for their generous contributions in making this impactful work possible.
Check out highlights from a spectacular volunteer season, and learn more about getting involved.
Playground Committee and Gala Fundraising
📍 Chelsea Piers
The HRPK Friends 8th Annual Playground Committee Luncheon was the highlight of our winter season; in 2024 it raised nearly $400,000 to support the Park’s playgrounds, athletic fields and courts, environmental education and family programs. Hosted by author and co-host of NBC’s TODAY, Dylan Dreyer, the afternoon honored Maria Dueñas Jacobs, CCO and Co-Founder of Super Smalls and Hoda Kotb, author and Co-Anchor of NBC’s TODAY.
Friends’ 2024 Gala unified New Yorkers for one reason: to support and celebrate the people — the neighbors, members, volunteers, park users, staff and community partners — who bring our Park to life every day. Hosted by writer, producer and Emmy Award-nominated actress, Desi Lydic; the Gala honored Alex and Miles Pincus, Co-Founders of Grand Banks and Crew, the Terminal Warehouse Development Team, and Matt Bomer, Actor, Producer and Director and Simon Halls, Founder/Partner of Slate PR. The nearly $2.6 million raised supports the Park’s landscapes and gardens, education and estuary research, environmental stewardship and sustainability, and free public arts and cultural programming.
Year-Round Science at the Discovery Tank
📍 Pier 57
Pier 57 served as a NYC municipal bus terminal and maintenance facility for three decades and had been vacant since 2003. Transformed from its original maritime use through an award-winning historic restoration, Pier 57 features ample indoor and outdoor public space for year-round enjoyment.
Inside Pier 57, visitors will find the Discovery Tank, an interactive technology-powered gallery and classroom that is free for the public to enjoy. In 2024, the Park’s River Project launched new year-round programming at the Discovery Tank, connecting visitors of all ages with marine science through Guided Gallery hours, interactive workshops and field trips for NYC schools.
Adult science-lovers found inspiration in Ask a Scientist talks and Science Stories, while creative programs like Painting Nature helped participants explore the natural world through art. Discovery Tank programming will continue to expand and enable us to make science fun and accessible, sparking curiosity and deepening public appreciation for our waterways.
Strengthening Scientific Research and Partnerships
📍 Gansevoort Peninsula
In the Meatpacking District, a massive trash incinerator known as the Gansevoort Destructor plant used to loom over the Hudson River waterfront. Gansevoort Peninsula is now completely transformed into a 5.5-acre green (and blue!) recreational space. NYC said goodbye to garbage trucks and incineration and hello to sandy beach days, playing on a ballfield, strolling through a pine grove and bringing back vital salt marshes and oysters!
Gansevoort Peninsula is also a hub for environmental research and learning. The Park’s habitat restoration efforts include the addition of more than 20 million oysters at its northern edge and the creation of a thriving salt marsh, transforming the area into a living laboratory where Visiting Scholars can research and monitor the habitat and assess the health of the Park’s Sanctuary waters. You can read more about our oyster restoration efforts in the New York Times and the BBC.
New educational offerings in 2024, such as Salt Marsh Science field trips, offered students hands-on learning experiences that connect them with the science and significance of wetland habitats. Meanwhile, our Blue Team shoreline cleanups brought community members together to remove plastics and other marine debris, supported by “Gulp”, our WasteShark aqua-drone, to protect local wildlife and clean our river.
During Climate Week, the Park’s River Project took part in New York’s Climate Science Fair, a celebration of climate optimism and big ideas alongside other positive change-makers and community scientists. Collaborations like this amplify our efforts to engage the public in climate action and urban environmental stewardship, while our growing roster of Visiting Scholars highlights Hudson River Park’s commitment to advancing research in our Estuarine Sanctuary.
Amplifying Our Impact Through Membership
📍 Pier 45 and throughout the Park
In 2024 our Friends with Benefits members, Playground Committee, Development Committee and individual supporters broke their record for giving. Every supporter, from monthly Sustainers to HRPK 550 Fund contributors, helps make the Park’s beauty, sustainability, public programming and vital greenery possible.
There were so many reasons to celebrate their impact: in June, members gathered at Drift In by Pier 45 for our Annual Membership Party, enjoying drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a shared love for the Park. Other 2024 activities included touring Gansevoort Peninsula with River Project educators and providing VIP access to the Park’s signature Blues BBQ Festival at Pier 76, featuring soulful live music and delicious bites from some of NYC’s best pitmasters. Check out highlights in our Events Gallery!
Meanwhile, the Development Committee grew in membership and advanced some fantastic initiatives: In March and November, a record number of Team HRPK athletes finished half and full marathons while raising crucial funds for Hudson River Park. And our Arts and Culture Group hosted their very first gallery tour in Chelsea.
Thank you for giving to your Park!
Celebrating Pride at Pier 45
📍 Pier 45
Hudson River Park culminated Pride Month with an unforgettable evening of music and community at Pier 45. The Park kicked off Pride Weekend with a special Sunset on the Hudson featuring NYC’s only all drag-queen band, the Bad Judies, and Randy Jones, the original Village People cowboy. We were especially thrilled to welcome Randy back to the waterfront where he and his bandmates filmed the iconic YMCA music video more than four decades ago. Hudson River Park is honored to serve as a welcoming space for everyone and be part of the city’s Pride history. Check out our interview with Randy Jones.
Championing Sports and Play
📍 Pier 40 and throughout the Park
Hudson River Park’s fields, courts, skateparks and other athletic facilities bring New Yorkers together to enjoy their favorite sports. In 2024, our fields hosted 75 leagues at seven locations, providing nearly 25,000 hours of practice and play. The Park offers safe, free and high-quality athletic experiences to thousands of players — young and old — keeping its fields and courts ready for every sport and every season.
Gansevoort Peninsula celebrated its first full season in 2024, quickly becoming a hub of league activity. It hosted 42 youth and 57 adult field permits, accommodating approximately 15,000 players. With the addition of the Pier 97 sports court, the Park is now home to eight turf fields, four pickleball courts, three tennis courts, three basketball courts, three beach volleyball courts, two all-purpose sports courts and two skateparks.
Nurturing the Next Generation of STEM Leaders
📍 Pier 40 and throughout the Park
This past summer, Hudson River Park’s Science Leadership Program (SLP) continued to inspire and empower with a cohort of 15 budding science stewards. Designed for high school-aged students from communities underrepresented in STEM, this annual summer research opportunity offered hands-on experience, professional development and mentorship. In 2024, the Park expanded the program to welcome interns for more field days, allowing deeper engagement in Park research efforts at inspiring spaces such as our Pier 40 Wetlab aquarium.
Students participating in this program built their research skills, explored STEM career paths, and formed meaningful connections with CUNY City College mentors. Their work culminated in presentations of scientific posters at the American Museum of Natural History, showcasing their research on how plastic pollution impacts Hudson River wildlife.
The Park also launched a new internship program in partnership with CUNY, inviting college students to support environmental education and research and further expanding our impact. By cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards and STEM leaders, these programs embody Hudson River Park’s mission to connect New Yorkers to the Hudson River through science, education and discovery.
Want to hear directly from our inspiring interns?
A Living Laboratory for Visiting Scholars
📍 Pier 26 and Pier 40 Floating Docks
In 2024, the Park’s Visiting Scholars Program invited its scientific partners to work on important projects, including microplastic research. This program empowers local and national academic institutions, researchers and industry scientists to deepen our scientific understanding of the Lower Hudson River Estuary.
One of these projects explores the impact of the microplastic microbiome on the environment and human health, highlighting the urgent need to prevent plastic pollution. By utilizing a strategy known as bacterial community sequencing, the team analyzed microbiomes in river and microplastic samples to investigate the connections between microplastics and antibiotic-resistant genes. Preliminary findings indicate that factors such as season, location and microplastic characteristics shape local bacterial communities, with numerous antibiotic resistance genes detected in both river water and in bacteria attached to microplastics found in the Park.
Another team at NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center is studying how microplastics interact with organic contaminants in the Hudson River, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), which are known to contaminate the river. This pilot study trialed new sampling methods, but much remains to be learned about microplastics’ adsorption capacity of organic contaminants in the Park’s Hudson River water column.
Climb Inside a Giant Sturgeon
📍Pier 26 Science Playground
Opened in early 2024, the Park’s new Pier 26 Science Playground offers families and young explorers an exciting way to engage with the Hudson River’s ecosystem. At the center of this innovative play space are two enormous sturgeon sculptures that invite kids to climb inside and learn about these endangered Hudson River species.
Made possible by a $3.5 million fundraising campaign completed by Hudson River Park Friends, the playground was designed to spark imagination and connect children to the natural world. The Science Playground includes interactive elements inspired by the River’s habitats and biodiversity. By fostering an early appreciation for the Hudson River and its wildlife, the Park’s Science Playground makes science fun and accessible for the next generation of environmental stewards, and parents love it, too!
A Place to be Healthy on the Hudson
📍 Pier 25 and throughout the Park
This year, the Park’s Healthy on the Hudson parkwide program kept New Yorkers active with free fitness classes from Hell’s Kitchen down to Tribeca. Partnering with fitness clubs like Tone House, Modo Yoga and IronStrength, the program offered a wide range of workouts, including yoga, bike yoga, conditioning, HIIT and dance, with classes running weekly from Monday – Thursday. Ajna Dance Company led fitness dance classes, and Bike New York hosted learn-to-ride classes for all ages on weekends (at Pier 76).
These free, dynamic, outdoor classes invited participants of all fitness levels to get active while enjoying the Park’s waterfront views and breezes — connecting health, community and the outdoors, and making wellness accessible and fun for everyone.
A Truly Remarkable Transformation — by and for New Yorkers
Hudson River Park serves as an essential piece of infrastructure for New York City, and as more green spaces have opened, the demand on Park operations, maintenance and free public programming has increased. Transformation takes time, talent, resources and funding.
And more is on its way: A 17-block stretch of asphalt and concrete from W 29 to W 44 Street is being redesigned in phases in consultation with the community to create greener and more welcoming spaces starting with the upland areas connecting Piers 81, 83 and 84.
All of this growth and celebration reflects the strength of our entire Park community — donors, supporters, members, volunteers, partners, visitors and neighbors who make Hudson River Park a place of joy, discovery and community connection.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep the momentum going, creating even more opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors to find recreation, relaxation, exploration, wonder and nature in their lives. Thank you for being part of our 2024 journey — we look forward to more exciting Park developments in 2025!
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