Pier 42 renderings by Mathews Nielsen.
Early this year, the Public Design Commission and Community Board 3 approved a conceptual master plan for a park at Pier 42. Mathews Nielsen, the firm hired to design the 8-acrre recreational space near Montgomery Street will return to CB3’s parks committee October 21 to present a preliminary plan for phase 1 of the project.
The $94 million initiative will create active and passive recreational facilities, a marine habitat, waterfront marshes, a water ecology educational center and a dock for small boats. Three years ago, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer and State Sen. Daniel Squadron helped secure $16 million in 9/11 recovery funds for the first phase. It entails the dismantling of the old 600 foot shed once used to store bananas and the development of an interim park.