Hudson River Segments 6 & 7

Segments 6 and 7 of the Hudson River Park between West 26th and 59th Streets were designed by an association of Dattner Architects and MKW Landscape Architects between 2001 and 2003, with phased construction completed in 2007. The Hudson River Park Trust (HRPT) was our client, while participation of City and State Parks and Community Boards 1 and 5 played a significant role in all programmatic and design decisions. As a team addressing both city- and state-owned portions of the park, with a multitude of riverine, waterfront and regulatory requirements, a broad client/user group and large consultant team, strong executive leadership was essential to achieve the transformation of this derelict portion of riverfront with deficient pier and bulkhead structures into a highly utilized and loved public amenity, with esplanade, boathouses, classrooms, park-related concessions, and rebuilt piers including a range of active- and passive-functioning landscape and buildings. Connie Fishman led the HRPT as Executive Director, while Beth Greenberg, Partner at Dattner Architects, oversaw the executive functions of the design team and managed the project’s satellite office. Women-owned firms—Page Ayres Cowley (Historic Consultant), Li Saltzman (Historic Bulkhead Consultant), Lebowitz Gould (Graphics), and Ann Kale (Lighting Design)—were integral members of the design team. An earlier, initial segment of the park in the West Village was under the purview of the Hudson River Park Conservancy led by Frances Huppert. Other portions of the Hudson River Park followed, and Segments 6 and 7 were the first under the direction of HRPT. Though many of the park’s elements were established in the initial segment, our client and design team enjoyed a unique palette of conditions as well as establishing management, design and operational precedents for the full Hudson River Park, which is now complete and plays a rich and vital part of the city’s green space.