Chelsea Waterside Park
Interactive Park Map
About the Location
Historical Evolution
Chelsea Waterside Park spans approximately 2.5 acres at West 23rd Street and the West Side Highway in Manhattan. The land was initially acquired by the city in 1907.
Originally named Thomas F. Smith Park in 1923, the area was connected to the working industrial waterfront. In 2000, the park was expanded, renovated, and renamed Chelsea Waterside Park, representing the reclamation of the Hudson River and adjacent properties for recreational use.
Design and Features
The park's design, created by landscape architect Thomas Balsley, incorporates various recreational features to serve the local community. The playground features a custom-designed, multi-colored, 64-foot wooden slide in the shape of a Pipefish, one of the fish species native to the nearby Hudson River waters.
Limestone cattle head sculptures, salvaged from a former slaughterhouse in Hell's Kitchen, have been incorporated into the park's water features. Additionally, granite seating blocks and medallions from the former elevated West Side Highway have been repurposed within the park.
Recent Renovations
In 2018, the park underwent renovations, including updates to its play area. More recently in 2023, a significant $15.2 million renovation enhanced usable spaces while prioritizing the expansion of green areas through the reduction of paved surfaces.
The 2023 redesign emphasized environmental sustainability, incorporating features such as solar panels, efficient water fixtures, and native plantings. Chelsea Waterside Park is now under the jurisdiction of the Hudson River Park Trust and continues to serve as a vital recreational space for the Chelsea neighborhood.
