Little Island is the Newest Addition to New York’s Public Spaces

September 10, 2021

If you’re a New Yorker, you’ve probably been to Little Island by now… and if you aren’t one we’re willing to bet it’s crossed your radar anyway, as this new public park – an oasis of greenery designed by Heatherwick Studio – is quite the unforgettable addition to the city’s skyline.

A project commissioned by philanthropist Barry Diller for the city, Little Island was conceived as a sculptural structure along the Hudson River Park promenade. Driven into the ground are piles that extend into tulip-shaped ‘planters’ that fan out in an undulating pattern, providing the promenade with varying views of the marina and the skyline. “Typically pier structures are always flat, but we saw this as an unmissable opportunity to lift the surface to create a topography that would make a more dynamic social experience for visitors and give great sightlines for performing spaces and lookout points over the river and back towards the city,” explains founder Thomas Heatherwick.

Roughly 400 different plant and tree species were introduced in the park, arranged to represent different microclimates best suited to New York weather; they frame stairways and walking paths, and fringe the rolling lawns and rocky outcrops found around the park.

More than just a destination to commune with nature, cultural offerings can be held in any of the three performance spaces integrated into the park: a flexible central venue for large-scale events; a 200-seat spoken word stage, and a 700-seat acoustically-optimised amphitheatre with fantastic views of the Hudson River and the Statue of Liberty.

A fantastic addition to New York’s public parks, from Central Park to the Highline, Little Island is another unmissable destination when in the city. “Our intention has been to make an exciting space that is free for everybody to come to, that treats the river as part of nature as well as plants and even each other,” the studio says. Follow them on Instagram.