Tell Hudson River Park What You Want At Manhattan's First Beach

MEATPACKING DISTRICT, NY — The Hudson River Park Trust is hosting a meeting to discuss how to revitalize Gansevoort Peninsula.

The peninsula — which up until last year was used for Department of Sanitation parking — is expected to be home to Manhattan's first public beach on the south side of the 5.5-acre strip of land on the Hudson River.

Though future beach-goers won't be able to swim on the site, the beachfront park will expand the Trust's environmental programs, the Trust said earlier this year.

The meeting is next Tuesday, March 26 at 6:45 p.m., located at MS 297, 75 Morton St. in the first floor auditorium.

The design firm on the project James Corner Field Operations and Hudson River Park Trust will take feedback and ideas from the public to transform one of the remaining pieces of Manhattan's west side park. James Corner is the architect behind Brooklyn's Domino Park and the High Line.

"We're thrilled to be selected to work with HRPT and the surrounding community to create a design for Gansevoort Peninsula — an incredible site that will integrate art, nature, and recreation to become a signature gathering place for New Yorkers," architect James Corner said in a statement earlier this year.

The west side community is already advocating for certain features on the peninsula. Downtown United Soccer Club launched a petition for the Trust to include a full-sized field in the design in light of ongoing restoration and concerns over the future field space at Pier 40. The club garnered more than 2,000 signatures as of Tuesday.

The design process for Gansevoort Peninsula will continue throughout this year. Construction will begin in 2020, the Trust announced in February.

The Trust is in the works of finishing some of the final portions of Manhattan's west side park. Pier 26 in Tribeca and Piers 55 and 57 are under construction and Pier 40's piles are being renovated. In addition to Gansevoort Peninsula, Pier 97 in Hell's Kitchen is also in the design process.