Chelsea Waterside Park

Chelsea Waterside Park is a public green space located at West 23rd Street and the West Side Highway in Manhattan, New York City. The park, which spans approximately 2.5 acres, has undergone several transformations since its initial acquisition by the city in 1907.

Originally named Thomas F. Smith Park in 1923, the area was initially connected to the working industrial waterfront. However, its current incarnation represents the reclamation of the Hudson River and adjacent properties for recreational use. In 2000, the park was expanded, renovated, and renamed Chelsea Waterside Park.

The park's design, created by landscape architect Thomas Balsley, incorporates various recreational features to serve the local community. In 2018, the park underwent further renovations, including updates to its play area. The playground now 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.

Chelsea Waterside Park also includes elements that pay homage to the area's history. 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.

In 2023, the park underwent another significant renovation, costing $15.2 million. This update focused on enhancing usable spaces while prioritizing the expansion of green areas and plantings through the reduction of paved surfaces. The redesign also 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 residents and visitors in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan.