Hudson River Park050

Hudson River Park is under construction, but not in an obtrusive way. In just a few years, five miles (550 acres!) of the riverfront, from Battery Park to 59th Street, will be transformed into a green and blue oasis for all of New York to enjoy.

Check out this stretch of Manhattan during the summer months; catch a breeze off the Hudson, bike or roller blade the endless Esplanade, fly a kite, picnic by the water...the world's your oyster.

Named parks within this stretch include South Cove, which in summertime is practically tropical and offers great ramps for pushing strollers and winding staircases that lead to scenic views - the perfect place for releasing pint-sized energy.

Public restrooms are open at Christopher Street (six stalls in the ladies' room and a changing table) and at Jane Street (three stalls and a changing table). Facilities close at 8:30pm. The men's rooms have changing tables, too!

Weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day, plus Tue-Sun in July and August, from 11am-5pm, at Piers 46 (at Charles Street) and 95 (at 55th Street), sit back with a rod, reel and bait (all provided for free) and try your luck at catching a fish from the Hudson River. Experienced anglers give advice on techniques, tides, and untangling your lines! You can learn about the Hudson River's ecosystem at the River Workshops, use microscopes to take a closer look at the River inhabitants, find out who's eating the world's woodpiles, and check out the marine life in the touch tanks.

Pier 26 is home to a Trapeze School and the Downtown Boathouse. Batting cages are open daily just south of North Moore Street - kids and adults can whack baseballs or softballs (15 balls/$2) after purchasing tokens at the booth.

The Canal Street Tennis Courts are open 6am-8pm from April to September, and 6am-7pm from September to November. Playing on the courts is available on a first come, first served basis, with a one hour time limit when people are waiting on the benches.

Pier 34 is where you'll find the historic Holland Tunnel Vent Shaft and an art installation, Birds, by Ron Baron.

Pier 40 Baseball, run by The Pier Park & Playground Association, can be found at the intersection of Houston and the Hudson River. The facility also includes a large parking garage.

Pier 45 has a Water Taxi stop and a long lawn/sunning stretch.

Pier 51, between Horatio and Jane Streets, hosts a beautiful riverside playground - an excellent spot to catch a breeze on a hot summer day (though it could use a little more shade).

Pier 62 offers shaded seating, gardens, a beautiful carousel, and an unsupervised 15,000 square foot California-style skate park.

Pier 63 Maritime is the place for maritime artifacts, historic vessels, and food concessions.

Chelsea Waterside, a playground, with state of the art equipment, opened in May 2005 just east of the piers.

The Hudson River Skate Park is located just north of 30th Street. It's free and open daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

And Pier 84 offers newly shaded seating and a playground with plenty of water-based play during the summer months.

Clinton Cove is located between West 54th and West 56th Streets and features a sloping green lawn, a "get-down" that allows people to get close enough to the river to view it on a more intimate scale, and a boathouse for non-motorized boating.

Piers along the river offer a number of diversions:

Don't miss the seasonal Riverflicks programming - great summer movies shown outside on a big screen at Piers 46 (on Fridays) and 54 (on Wednesdays). Films rated G, PG, and PG-13 are listed on our calendar. Films begin at nightfall, and free popcorn is provided!

Pier locations are as follows:

Piers 25, 26, 34
Getting There: Take the 1, 2, 3, 9 or the A, C, E to Chambers Street; walk west and cross West Street/9A. Turn right immediately, heading north to Piers 25, 26, and 34. Or take the 1, 9 to Franklin Street, cross West Street/9A at N. Moore Street, head north for Pier 34, and south for Piers 26 and 25.

Pier 40 at Houston Street
Getting There: Take the 1, 9 to Houston Street. Walk west to West Street. Cross at West Houston and head to the walkway at the South end of the building.

Pier 46 at Charles Street
Getting There: Take the 1 to Christopher Street. Walk west to West Street, the north to Charles Street. Cross at Charles Street and walk slightly north to Pier 46.

Pier 54 at 13th Street
Getting There: Take the A, C, E, to 14th Street or take the M14 bus to Tenth Ave and 15th Street. Cross West Street at 14th and walk south.

Pier 62 at 23rd Street, Pier 63 Maritime
Getting There: Take the M23 or M14 Bus straight to Chelsea Piers or take the C, E to 23rd Street, walk west, and cross 12th Avenue at 22nd Street. Head around the northern corner of Basketball City for Pier 63 Maritime.

Pier 84 at 44th Street
Getting There: Take the M42 bus to the Hudson River or take the A, C, E to 42nd Street and walk west. Cross 12th Avenue at 43rd Street.