From October 2021 to October 2022, the Hudson Valley Collaborative developed a climate-adaptive design for the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park in Hudson NY. The project was funded by The New York Department of Environmental Conservation / Hudson River Estuary Program & NEIWPCC and developed in partnership with the City of Hudson and several Hudson-based organizations. The final design report was adopted by the City of Hudson Common Council as a framework to facilitate future improvements to the Henry Hudson Riverfront Park to extend the usefulness of the Park as a public recreational space.
Henry Hudson Riverfront Park is a 7 acre park situated along the Hudson River in the City of Hudson, NY.
Adaptation to the challenges of climate change underpins the design process. With a projected 54” rise in sea level expected to occur by the year 2080, the design team has proposed a climate-adaptive plan for the anticipated 2080 shoreline. Primary among these measures is expanding the park to higher ground in response to increased frequency of flooding and encroaching water. The plan includes transformation of current parking into green spaces, and raising the shoreline walkways to boardwalks in phases as the river advances over time.
An intensive community engagement process produced four main goals to inform design outcomes: ‘‘Expand the Park’, ‘Prioritize Pedestrians’, ‘Enhance Nature’, and ‘Design For Inclusion’. With these goals in place, the plan proposed new boardwalks and accessible pathways, a terraced amphitheater, new water access points, and wetlands to support biodiversity. The plan envisions a solution for present and future generations to enjoy the waterfront.
Download the full report here.
This project was led by Hudson Valley Collaborative members Wendy Andringa of Assemblage Landscape Architecture and Kaja Kühl of youarethecity together with environmental engineers eDesign Dynamics
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This project was developed for the Hudson River Estuary Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, with support from the NYS Environmental Protection Fund, in cooperation with NEIWPCC. The viewpoints expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NEIWPCC or NYSDEC, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or causes constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.