Pier 97 Opens Near W. 57th St. After $47.5 Mil Renovation
The formerly neglected outcrop, famous for being featured in the opening scene of Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver, is now replete with two-and-a-half acres of open space and 16,000 sq. ft. of plant life. A building that will house public restrooms and concessions is slated for completion by “this winter.”
| 17 Oct 2024 | 03:11
The Hudson River Park Trust has completed a $47.5 million renovation of Pier 97, which opened to the public on October 15. (
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Pier 97, famous for being featured in the opening scene of the seedy Martin Scorsese film Taxi Driver, has been renovated into a $47.5 million public park overseen by the Hudson River Park Trust and designed by the firm !melk. Renderings for the project were first issued in 2019, and a projected opening date in 2022 was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The reimagined pier, located across the Hudson River Parkway from E. 57th St., officially opened to the public on October 15. It will feature: a 7,600 sq. ft sun lawn, 16,000 sq. ft. of flowers and plants, an athletic field, a playground with a 26-ft.-high rope climbing apparatus and “seasonal water spray” features, an “all-ages” granite slide, a sunset deck with bistros chairs and chaise lounges, and a promenade. A building that will feature much-needed public bathrooms and a concession stand will open by “this winter,” the Trust says, and is nearly completed.
“Over 30 years ago, planners for Hudson River Park envisioned transforming 13 neglected Manhattan piers into a new public park that would reclaim our waterfront and enhance our city’s environment,” Hudson River Park CEO Noreen Doyle said in a statement. “As the northernmost of these piers, the completion of Pier 97 is a significant milestone, adding 2.5 acres of new public open space for New Yorkers to enjoy while connecting Hudson River Park’s scenic four-mile stretch with our neighboring Riverside Park.”
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, who rode the granite slide alongside City Council Member Erik Bottcher on opening day, called attention to the upcoming bathrooms: “Pier 97 is a dream come true for Hell’s Kitchen, Hudson River Park, and anyone who enjoys spending time along the river. There’s something for everyone at Pier 97, and I’m particularly thrilled that new public restrooms are almost complete, making the park an even greater asset to our borough.”
The majority of the the renovation’s final cost, or $40.8 million, stems from New York State’s Capital Budget. The remaining $6.7 million is derived from a Transferable Development Right Sale undertaken by the Trust in 2018. Additionally, the pier’s “structural deck” was rebuilt in 2013, which cost $16 million. All told, over $60 million has been sunk into the pier in a little over a decade.
Community Board 4 was instrumental in the renovation’s final design, and were heavy advocates for the inclusion of a playground and additional recreational space, especially the athletic field. The playground is specifically positioned near the incoming bathrooms.
Until 1975, Pier 97 housed the terminal for Swedish American Line, a passenger ship line. Thousands of Scandinavian immigrants made their way into America via the pier during the 20th century. The terminal was demolished by 1985, and the pier transitioned into a concert venue; superstars ranging from Billy Idol to Madonna have graced the stage there. It was also used as a depot for Department of Sanitation trucks until 2011, when a lawsuit forced the agency to remove them in order to comply with the Hudson River Park Act, which established the Hudson River Park Trust.