The 5.5-acre Gansevoort Peninsula has opened at Hudson River Park, the first public beachfront in Manhattan. The $73 million project was designed by Field Operations and includes a large sports field, boardwalks, promenades, lawns, a picnic area, and an ecological salt marsh.

The southern edge of the park provides direct access to the Hudson River for non-motorized boats and views of both the river, the lower Manhattan skyline, and Day’s End, a monumental, site-specific sculpture by David Hammons. The adjacent beach holds 1,200 tons of sand with beach umbrellas, Adirondack-style chairs, and a misting feature for cooling down or rinsing off sand.

A large picnic area with tables and benches overlooks the river, while a boardwalk with a Pine Grove draws people onto the site from the adjacent esplanade before connecting with the western esplanade where Manhattan’s Thirteenth Avenue was once located. Despite its waterside location, Gansevoort Peninsula is designed to be a sunbathing beach, and swimming will not be permitted.

The center of the peninsula holds a large “U13” ballfield, while other recreational amenities include an adult fitness area and two dog runs with water features that will open later this fall. At the Peninsula’s eastern edge, a building designed by nARCHITECTS will include public restrooms, a concession stand, and a small area to support Park maintenance needs.

“Inspired by community input, Gansevoort Peninsula is a place for respite, relaxation, exploration, sports, and play,” said Field Operations partner Lisa Switkin. “A defining characteristic is how the design embraces each side of the peninsula, offering new ways to engage with the Hudson River, with diverse and varied edges that elongate the transition from land to water. Here, a combination of promenades, lookouts, tidal pools, ledges, sandy beach, salt marsh, and kayak access create an immersive and dynamic environment that changes with the tides, making for a truly unforgettable experience.”

The park’s opening comes in the same week that discussions over the city’s flood mitigation strategy came into focus following a recent rainstorm. In Brooklyn, meanwhile, the PAU-designed Refinery at Domino reopened as a modern workplace. In September, the city unveiled a major zoning overhaul to boost housing stock while ODA completed a residential building on West 14th Street with a glass box facade.