Story at a glance
- Little Island is a new public park in the Hudson River.
- The $265 million park consists of a playground area that has snacks, a nearly 700-seat amphitheater and a serene “Glade” area.
- Little Island opens Friday at 6 a.m.
Little Island, a new public playground in the Hudson River, opens Friday morning.
Off West 14th Street and right on the Hudson River, the new park is the city’s most creative venture since the High Line.
The $265-million dream park was mostly funded by the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, which is headed by IAC Chairman Barry Diller, who put $235 million into the project, alongside additional funds from the city and the Hudson River Park Trust.
“We had our first meeting on it 10 years ago, and I’m kind of surprised it’s actually opening,” Diller told the New York Post. “Watching humans right now wandering around in the park — it’s kind of a miracle.”
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Covering 2.4 acres, different areas of Little Island range from 15 to 62 feet above the river.
Designed by Thomas Heatherwick, the park consists of a playground area that has snacks, a nearly 700-seat amphitheater, and a serene “Glade” area. All together, Little Island is the home to 114 trees of 35 species, 65 species of shrub, 66,000 bulbs, and 290 kinds of grasses.
The floating park is held up by 132 tulip-shaped concrete pots, some driven down up to 200 feet below the water, engineered by Arup, giving it its unique floating appearance.
Starting Friday, Little Island will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. While admission is free, time-limited reservations are required between noon and 8 p.m.
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