A Walk Back Through 2024 in Hudson River Park

In 2024, Hudson River Park stretched its green arms wider than ever before, welcoming visitors to new spaces and experiences. This was a year of growth and connection, and we’re grateful to everyone who brought this open space to life through play, learning, exploration and celebration.

With the opening of Pier 97 this fall, the Park is closer than ever to completion. As we take a stroll through some of the many highlights from a remarkable year, we’re choosing our favorite path—along our four miles of waterfront, starting with its newest gem.

Inspiring Joy and Relaxation

PIER 97

On October 15, we celebrated the official ribbon-cutting for Pier 97, a beautiful new green space designed to inspire joy and fun for all ages while inviting respite and relaxation.

A large playground, athletic field, sloping lawn, elevated belvedere, all-ages slide and sunset deck are among the features that make Pier 97 such an exciting addition to our waterfront. The design of the 16,000 square-foot pier was shaped by extensive input from the community. Take a closer look with abc7NY.

Bringing Broadway’s Best to its Backyard

CLINTON COVE

This summer, Hudson River Park introduced Broadway by the Boardwalk, a series that invited Broadway’s brightest stars to perform for free in the Park’s scenic Clinton Cove, right in Broadway’s waterfront backyard.

Connecting the Hell’s Kitchen’s theater community in a welcoming neighborhood open space, the series celebrated Broadway’s vital role in NYC arts and culture, free for all to enjoy. Sparking joy, it introduced new audiences to the magic of live performance while giving longtime fans the chance to enjoy some of their favorite talents in an informal, outdoor community setting.

Hear from Broadway star Eden Espinosa, who opened the series this July.

Connecting our Community to Science and Sustainability

PIER 84

For the first time, we kicked off our season of free events with the SUBMERGE Marine Science Festival, a two-day shell-ebration of NYC’s coastal waters held on May 17 and 18 at Pier 84.

Led by Hudson River Park’s River Project staff, the 11th Annual SUBMERGE Festival brought together STEM experts from around the region for hands-on demonstrations, local wildlife, river-themed experiments and kid-friendly science entertainment. Day One welcomed nearly 1,000 students from all five boroughs of NYC during festival field trips, while Day Two welcomed science-lovers of all ages. Both days brought marine science to life for 4,000+ of you — a fantastic of-FISH-al start to our 2024 events!

In November, we wrapped up our season with Pumpkin Smash, where more than 2,100 people helped compost a record 6,000 pounds of pumpkins in support of the Park’s Community Compost Program.

SUBMERGE and Pumpkin Smash book-ended a spectacular season of free public events that delivered 600+ free riverfront concerts, dance parties, workouts, hands-on marine science programs, field trips and more to over 125,000 visitors.

Setting a Stage for Culture, Flavor and Dance

PIER 76

Pier 76 was a hub of energy and celebration this year as  Hudson River Park welcomed tens of thousands to a vibrant lineup of free festivals and dance events.

Together, we enjoyed smoky flavors and soulful tunes at our signature Blues BBQ Festival, savored the culinary delights and sounds at the NY Latin Food Festival, and took in the unique excitement of our first Unicycle Festival. Dance is Life and Sunset Salsa kept the rhythm alive with sessions that brought people together to move and groove against stunning waterfront views. Hear from some of the attendees who joined us for Blues BBQ!

This is just a sampling of the outstanding and diverse programming and free community celebrations we were able to host this year in partnership with local organizations and talent, and thanks to our sponsors and supporters.

Enjoying Front-Row Seat to a Spectacular Show

PIER 64

For the first time in 11 years, Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, the largest fireworks display in the nation, returned to the Hudson River. Hudson River Park worked closely with Macy’s, the City of New York, the New York Police Department and other local agencies to ensure safe viewing for everyone, and the public were able to register for free, first-come, first-served access to the show at select Hudson River Park piers. Check out moments from a spectacular show!

Shining a Spotlight on Volunteer Support

CHELSEA

Volunteers play an important role in helping Hudson River Park thrive by working alongside Park horticulturists, supporting composting efforts, conducting shoreline cleanups and helping to monitor oyster populations. And this year was a banner year for our Volunteer Program, with more than 2,800 volunteers turning out at 117 project events.

We host volunteer projects throughout our four miles, but to illustrate their impact, we’re zooming in on some of the work we accomplished in Chelsea this year. In the Habitat Garden, the Park’s large native plant garden, volunteers helped remove invasive species, cut back overgrowth and collect debris for composting. Along popular pathways in Chelsea Waterside Park and at Piers 62, 63 and 64, volunteers weeded, planted flowers and prepped gardens for a vibrant 2025 by planting thousands of bulbs in the fall. Just north of the gardens, in the Park’s Community Compost Center, volunteers helped process compost materials and track their health and volume.

Whether helping during Corporate Member Volunteer Days, Saturday Green Teams, Blue Team cleanups or Park events, as Neighborhood Gardeners or as Compost Facilitators, our volunteer community is central to the Park’s care. We’re especially grateful to Citi, our Volunteer Program’s Presenting Sponsor, for their continued support in making these efforts possible.

Check out highlights from a spectacular volunteer season, and learn more about getting involved.

Connecting Science and Creativity with Year-Round Programming

PIER 57

This year, the Discovery Tank at Pier 57 enabled us to launch new year-round programming, connecting visitors of all ages with marine science through Guided Gallery hours, interactive workshops and year-round field trips for NYC schools.

Adult science-lovers found inspiration in Ask a Scientist and Science Stories talks, while creative programs like Painting Nature helped participants explore the natural world through art. The Discovery Tank is a valuable new addition to Hudson River Park’s River Project team, enabling us to make science fun and accessible, sparking curiosity and deepening appreciation for our waterways, no matter the weather.

Strengthening Scientific Research, Partnerships and Community Engagement

GANSEVOORT PENINSULA

Beyond being a beautiful place for recreation, Gansevoort Peninsula shined this year as a hub for environmental research and learning. The Park’s habitat restoration efforts here, including the thriving salt marsh and the submerged habitat features supporting more than 20 million oysters that were integral to this portion of the Park’s design, have transformed the area into a living laboratory. Visiting Scholars conduct research on these habitat enhancements, monitor oyster growth, and assess the health of the waters they sustain. You can read more about our oyster restoration efforts throughout the Park in the New York Times and the BBC.

New educational offerings, such as Salt Marsh Science field trips, offered students hands-on learning experiences that connect them with the science and significance of wetland habitats. Meanwhile, our Blue Team shoreline cleanups brought community members together to remove marine debris alongside our WasteShark, “Gulp,” supporting both local wildlife and cleaner waterways.

During Climate Week, in addition to hosting an oyster-themed Blue Team, we were proud to be invited to take part in Emerson Collective’s Climate Science Fair, a celebration of climate optimism and big ideas. Working alongside other positive change makers and community scientists, this collaboration helped us amplify our efforts to engage the public in climate action and urban environmental stewardship. Our growing roster of Visiting Scholars highlights Hudson River Park’s commitment to advancing research in our Estuarine Sanctuary waters.

Convening our Community of Supporters

GREENWICH VILLAGE

This year, we brought Hudson River Park Friends’ Friends with Benefits members together to celebrate the Park and their invaluable support. In June, members gathered at Drift In by Pier 45 for our Annual Membership Party, enjoying drinks, hors d’oeuvres and a shared love for the Park.

Throughout the year, higher-tier members enjoyed exclusive experiences, including a guided tour of Gansevoort Peninsula led by River Project staff, a behind-the-scenes look at its unique ecological features, and a cocktail reception at City Winery. Skipper and above members also savored live blues performances and NYC’s best barbecue with VIP access to the Blues BBQ Festival at Pier 76. Even our Four-Legged Friends community joined the fun at Paws for the Park in the spring and Barktoberfest in the fall. Check out highlights in our Events Gallery!

Hudson River Park relies on private funding to sustain its programming, maintenance and operations, making donor support critical to our horticultural, educational, cultural and sustainability initiatives. Your generosity keeps the Park clean, green, safe and beautiful for all to enjoy. Want to join these celebrations or simply show your appreciation? Become part of our Stream of Support and help the Park thrive.

Celebrating Pride in June and Beyond

PIER 45

Hudson River Park culminated our Pride Month programming with an unforgettable evening of music and community at Pier 45. We kicked off Pride Weekend at Pier 45 with a very special Sunset on the Hudson concert featuring NYC’s only all-drag queen band, the Bad Judies, as well as Randy Jones, the original Village People cowboy. We were especially thrilled to welcome Randy back to the waterfront where he and his bandmates filmed the iconic YMCA music video.

Hudson River Park is honored to serve as a welcoming space for everyone and to play a part in NYC’s Pride traditions. We can’t wait to continue the celebration next year, but in the meantime, you can read about it here.

Championing Sports and Play

PIER 40

Hudson River Park’s many fields and courts continue to bring New Yorkers together to enjoy their favorite sports. In 2024, our fields hosted 75 leagues across seven locations, providing 23,500 hours of practice and play. Notably, we welcomed 33 youth leagues, offering safe, free, and high-quality athletic experiences to more than 2,000 young players.

The Gansevoort Peninsula field celebrated its first full season in 2024, quickly becoming a favorite place for sports play. It alone accommodated 42 youth and 57 adult permits, hosting approximately 15,000 players.

Nurturing the Next Generation of STEM Leaders

PIER 40

This summer, Hudson River Park’s Science Leadership Program (SLP) continued to inspire and empower students through a paid summer research program hosting a cohort of 15 budding stewards. Designed for high school-aged students from underrepresented communities in STEM, this annual research opportunity offered hands-on experiences, professional development, and mentorship for participants. This year, we expanded the program to welcome interns for more field days, allowing even deeper engagement in ongoing Park research efforts in such inspiring spaces as our Pier 40 Wetlab aquarium.

Students participating in this program built their science research skills, explored STEM career paths, and formed meaningful connections with near-peer CUNY City College mentors. Their work culminated in presentations of their scientific posters at the American Museum of Natural History focused on their research on plastic pollution impacts on Hudson River wildlife.

We also launched a new internship program in partnership with CUNY, inviting college students to pursue environmental education and research efforts, further extending our impact. By cultivating the next generation of environmental stewards and STEM leaders, these programs embody Hudson River Park’s mission to connect New Yorkers to the Hudson River through science, education and discovery.

Want to hear directly from our inspiring interns?

Climbing Inside a Giant Sturgeon

PIER 26 SCIENCE PLAYGROUND

Opened in early 2024, the Park’s new Pier 26 Science Playground offers families and young explorers an exciting way to engage with the Hudson River’s ecosystem. The centerpiece of this innovative play space are two enormous sturgeon sculptures that invite kids to climb inside and learn about these endangered Hudson River species.

Made possible by a $3.5 million fundraising campaign successfully completed by Hudson River Park Friends, the playground was designed to spark imagination and connect children to the natural world. The Science Playground includes interactive elements inspired by the River’s habitats and biodiversity that encourage hands-on discovery. By fostering an early appreciation for the Hudson River and its wildlife, the Park’s Science Playground makes science fun and accessible for the next generation of environmental stewards, and parents love it too.

Staying Healthy on the Hudson

PIER 25

This year, Healthy on the Hudson kept New Yorkers active with free fitness classes across Hudson River Park’s piers, from Pier 97 all the way south to Pier 25. Partnering with fitness clubs like Tone House, Modo Yoga and IronStrength, the program offered a wide range of workouts, including yoga, bike yoga, conditioning, HIIT and dance, running weekly from Monday to Thursday. Bike New York also hosted learn-to-ride classes for all ages on weekends, and Ajna Dance Company led fitness dance classes.

These free, dynamic, outdoor classes invited participants of all fitness levels to get active while enjoying the Park’s waterfront views and breezes — connecting health, community and the outdoors, and making wellness accessible and fun for everyone.

Showing Gratitude

All the growth and celebration we enjoyed together this year reflects the strength of our Park community — our supporters, members, volunteers, partners, visitors and neighbors — who make Hudson River Park a place of joy, discovery and connection.

As we look ahead, we’re excited to keep this momentum going, and to create even more opportunities for New Yorkers and visitors alike to find activity, relaxation, exploration, wonder and community. Thank you for being part of our journey this year — we look forward to an exciting 2025!