Hastings-on-Hudson Shoreline Park

The Village of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY selected the team of Offshoots and Roux Associates to develop a schematic design plan for a new park on the Hudson River shoreline on 30 acres of vacant industrial property owned by BP America, Inc. The team first created a detailed site analysis that assessed environmental and programmatic opportunities, permitting issues, town and regional connectivity, flooding, sea level rise and climate change, underwater topography and aquatic habitat of the river. Offshoots then facilitated a series of interactive workshops, charettes and steering committee meetings to gather community input for potential park programs and shoreline treatments. The team created 3 schematic park alternatives that were then combined with public and steering committee input to create one preferred alternative. Offshoots provided high resolution graphics for the Town and BP to utilize for fund-raising and marketing efforts.

The preferred schematic plan provides recommendations for water-related recreational uses such as boat access and a ferry terminal, fishing piers, playgrounds, overlook areas, and flexible festival uses and community events. A natural systems enhancement strategy provides a framework for the design including a new salt marsh, meadow areas, forested areas and living shoreline to create diverse habitats for new species. Passive recreation and a series of hierarchical looped paths and bike trails weave programs together with enhanced natural areas. Innovative living and hard shoreline stabilization approaches were combined with phytoremediation plantings to assist in the remediation of industrial site contaminants and water quality improvements. Planting and habitat restoration of the shoreline is designed to accommodate the impact of flooding, sea level rise and tidal surges.

The design process required involvement of many stakeholders including the Village, the property owner BP, NYS DEC’s Hudson River Estuary Program and Division of Environmental Remediation, the Riverkeeper, Scenic Hudson. The project was funded with assistance from a Local Stewardship Planning grant from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) Hudson River Estuary Program.