Little Island, an artificial island and free public park opened earlier this year, providing visitors with a unique green space unlike any other in New York City. We visited Little Island a few weeks after it opened last May, and the place was packed with people who, like us, couldn’t wait to check out the new park. Don’t let my pictures scare you though… the crowds have significantly thinned out since the opening!
Little Island took three years to build, and the design is eye-catching – begging to be photographed. 😉 The park sits on piles that have been described as concrete tulips, each one weighing 68 tons and measuring from 16 ft to 52 ft creating the base of Little Island. It’s located on the Hudson, the river that separates Manhattan from New Jersey and features more than 350 species of flowers, trees and shrubs, a large esplanade called “The Play Ground,” a 687-seat amphitheater and an intimate stage and lawn space, along with brilliant views of New York City (we spotted One World Trade Center and Edge NYC!) and the Hudson River.
It’s close to Chelsea Market and the High Line, so add it to your list of places to visit in Chelsea! Go to Chelsea Market and shop at Artists and Fleas then grab lunch or an afternoon snack/dessert and take it to the High Line and people watch while you eat. The High Line is a public park built on a historic rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. And it’s another one of our favorite spots in the city. You could spend an entire morning or afternoon in Chelsea! If you go in the afternoon, be sure to catch the sunset from Little Island.
The pier is open daily, and these are the current hours:
November 1, 2021 – March 2022: 6:00am – 8:00pm
Check out the Little Island website for up to date info and events happening at the park!
