Little Island 2021
LITTLE ISLAND
Manhattan’s latest attraction is Little Island, the new public park located in Hudson Pier Park between 13th and 14th street.
It’s 2.4 acres floating in the Hudson River, on 132 of these giant concrete tulips atop concrete piles.
For me, what really distinguishes this from other structures built into the Hudson is that it’s three-dimensional, with rolling hills and dales.
Little Island was primarily funded by Barry Diller and the Diller-Von Furstenberg Family Foundation, to the tune of a quarter-billion dollars.
There are plenty of steps, but . . .
. . . also alternate pathways for strollers (or for guys with suspect knees).
They say that more than 65,000 bulbs and over 100,000 trees were planted on Little Island.
There are some special treats for kids; countless venues to snap photos of companions; and a number of spots to sit and meditate.
Here’s a view, looking back toward Manhattan (and those two seemingly off-kilter structures at the top left), of the 687-seat amphitheater . . .
. . . and here’s the view looking across the river – an ideal spot to watch the concerts, dance and other programs that got underway this month.
There are fine views of the vessels that ply the river and the skyline on the Jersey side.
Here's an assortment of views from Little Island, featuring Manhattan towers, the Verrazano Bridge, and some intrepid ducks.
Little Island is open from 6 am to 1 am, 365 days a year, with no entry fee. My visit was in the morning, but entry reservations are required after noon.
Food and drink are available in this pleasant open setting.
As the headline of the lengthy New York Times article about Little Island trumpeted: “A New $260 million Park Floats on the Husdon. It’s a Charmer.”
Here’s a final close-up of those magnificent concrete “tulips”.
Farewell, fair isle . . . . (The shadowy selfie is of the photographer.)