Hudson River Park has transformed Manhattan’s west side waterfront from an impervious concrete hardscape into a green space capable of absorbing rainwater and runoff. Among the Park’s most valuable assets is its 400-acre Estuarine Sanctuary; its waters and the ecological abundance they support have informed virtually every aspect of Park planning and operations to date.
Responsible Park construction and sustainable operations are integral to all development in Hudson River Park. For example, when reconstructing deteriorating piers into Park space, in-water construction and pile driving are not allowed during winter months when sensitive juvenile fish populations are overwintering in the Park. Additionally, the Park uses an Integrated Pest Management system for maintaining green spaces, reducing the use of chemicals and protecting the Park’s ecosystem.
These sustainability efforts have grown to include two larger Park-wide initiatives focused on composting and plastics reduction. View the pages below to learn more and get involved.
A Closer Look at the Impact of Park Over Plastic
In 2019, HRPK kicked-off Park Over Plastic to fight plastic waste in our waters and reduce single-use plastics Park-wide by integrating collaborative research, education and community action. We worked with researchers from Knology to conduct a study of this initiative. Learn more about their major findings and recommendations from their study on this page.