The Park’s Newest 5.5-Acre Green Space Features the First Public Beachfront in Manhattan
Recreational Space and Amenities Include Lounging Areas, a Salt Marsh, Sports Field, Adult Fitness Area and Misting Station
Governor Hochul: “It's the people who have the vision to bring this to reality that I'm constantly in awe of. This is so New York, to take a place that had been abandoned and overlooked and forgotten and, my God, and turn it into a gathering place for people from around the world to walk, to stroll, to bring their dogs, to kick a soccer ball, play in the sand.”
Hochul: “As we reimagine ourselves constantly, and that's what a living city does. We don't accept the status quo. We're always pushing ourselves farther and pushing us to a place where, could you have possibly imagined this become a reality? And it does. We're here to witness this.”
Earlier today, Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams welcomed the opening of Gansevoort Peninsula, a 5.5-acre green oasis that is now the largest stand-alone recreational space within Hudson River Park. The $73 million project, designed by a team led by Field Operations, features Manhattan’s first public beachfront, with a rocky seating ledge and a new water access point for kayakers and other small boaters. Gansevoort Peninsula also includes a large sports field, boardwalks and other walking promenades, a large seating lawn, a picnic area, an ecological salt marsh, and 20 million juvenile oysters in the water.
VIDEO of the event is available on YouTube here and in TV quality (h.264, mp4) format here.
AUDIO of the event is available here.
PHOTOS of the event will be available on the Governor's Flickr page.
A rush transcript of the Governor's remarks is available below:
Let's get this party started. Thank you, Noreen. You can look it up on Chat GPT, although half of it's a lie. I will take today as Mother Nature seeking forgiveness for Friday. Okay, we'll give you a break, Mother Nature. Just don't do it again. Next time I come back here, sandals and a beach ball, okay? That'll be me. I'll have a baseball cap on, ponytail, you will not know it's me, but I'll be having the best time of anybody.
This day, this place, reminds me why New Yorkers are so exceptional. This is a place, all of our places are incredible, but it's the people who have the vision to bring this to reality that I'm constantly in awe of. This is so New York, to take a place that had been abandoned and overlooked and forgotten and, my God, and turn it into a gathering place for people from around the world to walk, to stroll, to bring their dogs, to kick a soccer ball, play in the sand, wonder about the 20,000 – is it 20 million oysters? How many oysters, 20 million oysters! Okay, we can talk about meeting 20 million oysters.
But it's also, you need to sit here and reflect on this city from this vantage point. Look over my shoulder. No, not at New Jersey. The Statue of Liberty. The Statue of Liberty is right there. Freedom Tower. These are the places that remind us of what New York is all about, who we are as a people. Especially when times when those values are tested, like right now. This is a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of so many people who had a vision for this place, but never were around long enough to see it realized.
This is the largest park built in New York City since Central Park back in 1869. Someone will correct me on that, but around that time. I can give you the history, Noreen already did. It was beautiful. But as we think about the history, let's think about the future. Let's think about the generations of young people who grow up here, always thinking it was like this, never knowing the before and the after. But that's alright, we are all the beneficiaries of those who came before and imagined the greatest city right here on this planet.
As we reimagine ourselves constantly, and that's what a living city does. We don't accept the status quo. We're always pushing ourselves farther and pushing us to a place where, could you have possibly imagined this become a reality? And it does. We're here to witness this. So, I hope you take pride in this.
I'm proud of the support New York State had. Noreen, knows I never say no to her, so whatever you want next, let me just talk to my new budget director before we scare him away. I want to thank my partners from the federal government, Jerry Nadler, State Official Brad Hoylman. Our city members, Mark Levine, our Borough President, Erik Bottcher, thank you. Thank you.
But thank all of you for being the enlightened ones. The ones who saw the possibility to build a treasure here. And for that, you've succeeded. So, thank you for allowing me to share in this. My heart is bursting with pride when I see what we've created here. And I know there's so much more to do. This is a storied place. It is part of our past history. It's part of today. But my gosh, this has a bright future because of the people here who are the visionaries of today. Thank you very much.