In a city where density is everything, these park projects make creative use of existing public spaces—and, in some cases, create their own.
From a floating "Little Island" on the Hudson River to a plaza under the Brooklyn Bridge, Michelle Colman lists some of New York City's most exciting new park projects, including a recently opened public park nestled in the middle of a luxury development and the Gansevoort Peninsula, a 5.5-acre green space in the Hudson River Park.
The city's Parks Commissioner, Mitchell J. Silver, praised the creativity of the various park projects. "Every inch of available space in New York is utilized," he said, citing the High Line as a prime example of effective reuse of public space and expressing his goal to expand public spaces "into the fabric of" the city.
One of the more controversial projects on the list, the Marsha P. Johnson State Park, is facing criticism from community members for its plan to install a one-acre concrete slab "covered with a thermoplastic mural printed with rainbow stripes and planted with eight-foot-tall sculptural flowers." Intended as a tribute to Johnson, an LGBTQ civil rights icon "who often wore flowers in her hair," the installation is being criticized as "the opposite of an environmental option" and a poor alternative to green space or actual flower gardens. Another high-profile project, the High Line extension to the recently opened Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station, is the first step in connecting the transit hub to park space and eventually the Hudson River Park.
With spring on the horizon, New Yorkers have some exciting new public spaces to look forward to.
FULL STORY: New York City's newest parks
Designs Revealed for Manhattan's First Public Beach
A designer was chosen in January, and conceptual rendering were released in July. Project boosters are also pushing an ambitious timeline that would start construction in late 2020.
'Little Island' Opens as a Photogenic Addition to the Hudson River
Little Island came into the world as Pier 55 and even managed to come back from the dead before opening last week.
Local Resistance for NYC's Open Parks Program
The Parks Without Borders program in New York City is intended to open parks to the rest of the public realm, but some local activists like their parks just how they are.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
America’s Best New Bike Lanes
PeopleForBikes highlights some of the most exciting new bike infrastructure projects completed in 2022.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
