Hudson River Park has opened another big chunk of the riverfront, and this one is unique in that it is not a pier — it’s actually a peninsula that was left behind as the city’s western edge was shaped and morphed over the decades. It’s fabulous and very hard to capture in a handful of shots, so just stroll up there asap. The pine grove is my favorite spot, but folks will be drawn to the Loll Adirondack chairs with a prime view of Downtown.

It’s 5.5 acres and includes a huge sports field, which was partly the result of Downtown sports leagues’ demands; a promenade around the perimeter; a lawn and picnic area facing south; a really pretty grove of trees and the thing even People magazine is talking about: the first sandy beach in Manhattan. There’s also a rocky shoreline for hanging and a get-down to the water, intended as a kayak launch. Swimming is not allowed, and I think I was the only one to put my feet in — probably crazy after that much rain with two sewer outflows nearby but I was willing to take my chances for the experience. Worth it.

Gov. Kathy Hochul was among the electeds who cut the ribbon yesterday, and she noted that Hudson River Park is the biggest park addition to the city since Central Park — including the water areas it is 550 acres.

“This is so New York,” she said. “To take a place that had been forgotten abandoned and turn it into something like this. “Look over my shoulder — no not at New Jersey — at the Freedom Tower and the Statue of Liberty. This is a reminder that we stand on the shoulders of people who had a vision for this place.”

Plus I wrote this down: to the park’s president, Noreen Doyle, she added, “Noreen, (I never say no to her) let me know what you need next.”

There are some other unique features:
> The Whitney installed and donated Day’s End, a monumental, site-specific sculpture by Downtowner David Hammons in 2021 and now that the construction is gone it is really shining.
> There will be a dog run on the north side.
> There are the vestigial remains of two city streets: 13th Avenue and Bloomfield Street.
> The north side has been planted as a salt marsh, along with 20 million juvenile oysters.
> The FDNY’s Marine One is now fully on display at the northwest corner of the pier.
> NYC DOT, with help from the Meatpacking District, is constructing a new crosswalk at Gansevoort from The Whitney.

Bonus feature: The construction fences along the bikeway have a 25th Anniversary photo exhibit of Hudson River Park—Then and Now, featuring photos from the Tribeca Trib’s Carl Glassman. And below, see the landscape architects who designed the pier: Lisa Switkin and James Corner from James Corner Field Operations. The very cool buildings — the concrete panels and shade structure are beautiful — are by Mimi Hoang from N Architects. Also pictured, the Trust’s Kira Levy, director for events and marketing; and Kevin Quinn, the SVP for design and construction; and above, I.D. Aruede, the Whitney’s COO and CFO and Patrick Foster, our regional director for the state Department of Environmental Conservation.