West Harlem Master Plan & Waterfront Park

The New York City Economic Development Corporation engaged W to create the West Harlem Master Plan and Waterfront Park.

Masterplan:

The project was completed with a neighborhood coalition of over 40 groups, and active funding from city, state, and federal agencies. The specific goals of this project were to assess the present state of the Harlem waterfront, to develop a master plan for approximately 40 blocks and to map out a series of public-private steps, beginning with the design of improvements to city-owned land on the waterfront and culminating in the economic development of the entire neighborhood.

Waterfront Park:

As a first step in the revitalization of this former industrial area, this narrow waterfront park will create a destination that will begin to change the perceptions of the place by reconnecting to its past and linking the water with the community.

In order to maximize the narrow space, the adjacent street was narrowed and permission to build the new piers in the Hudson River– New York City's first new piers in over 40 years– resulted in a 40% increase in park area.

The design is based on the historic valley form and the interaction of land and water. As on a beach, the forces of deposition leave elements scattered and sorted as if left by waves. The elements include granite benches, sloped segments of lawn, and triangular steel planters. The pavement reiterates this wavelike motion in its pattern. The piers themselves follow land formation patterns as well, like sand bars rather than historic pier configurations. The piers provide various water-related activities including fishing, excursion boating, kayak access, ecological awareness, and general recreation. Artwork by Nari Ward recalls the neighborhood memories of its past and future.

Environmental features include 35% increased permeability and reuse of materials. Historic granite cobblestones were used in the paving of the new park, reducing waste and preserving New York’s history. Similarly, granite from the historic bulkhead are re-used for benches. Despite a tight budget, we have also incorporated solar powered blue lights on the piers. As mitigation for the pier construction, ‘reef balls’ have been placed in the water to improve marine habitat.