Manhattan’s Pier 26 will soon be home to a brand new 4,000-square-foot playground that will give kids the chance to both have fun and learn at the same time.
The Hudson River Park Trust broke ground last month on the new playground, which is set to open to the public this year as Hudson River Park’s fifth children’s play area.
Designed by award-winning firm OLIN and managed by Gilbane Building Company, the playground will be entirely science-focused, offering kids a space to not only play but also be inspired by and learn about marine wildlife and the Hudson River Habitat.
Children will be able to climb inside interactive sculptural elements–such as play structures shaped as the two endangered sturgeon species that are native to the Hudson River–and explore fish “anatomy” while interacting with other marine-oriented play features.
Trees, plants, climbing nets, and various other engaging play features will also be planted and installed throughout the park.
The multi-purpose park will also serve as an outdoor extension for environmental programming planned for the future Hudson River Estuarium, and will complement the ecology-focused Pier 26.
“Hudson River Park is one of our city’s most treasured green spaces, especially for our youngest residents, which is why we’re so excited to start construction on the Pier 26 Science Play Area,” Noreen Doyle, president of the Hudson River Park Trust, said.
Located at North Moore Street in Hudson River Park, the play area will sit next to the Hudson River Estuariuam once complete. It’s expected to open to the public this year.