Pier 42

New York, NY

On Pier 42 in the Lower East Side, the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council worked with Hester Street Collaborative and local community groups to commission a temporary park that gives residents waterfront access while plans for a permanent park are in development. The project, called ‘Paths to Pier 42’ incorporates a series of art, education, and design installations over four summers along the East River Waterfront.

LSS designed the master plan for the project, coordinated artist-installations and managed the construction and budget for the project. In addition, LSS designed and built two kinetic structures: an entry gate and bridge for the park, and a shaded performance space utilizing storage containers. Subsequently, LSS was also commissioned as a guest artist and worked with the Henry Street Settlement GED class to create Water’s Edge Canopy—a space that captures the power of the park’s waterfront. To create the installation, the team employed concrete fabric, rebar, and aluminum cloth to build a shady place for viewing, resting, and learning.

Pier 42 was included as a case study in Barbara Brown Wilson’s Resilience for All, a book on equitable change through community-driven design.

To learn more about Pier 42, click here.