Riverbank State Park

679 Riverside Drive (Map)
New York, NY 10031
212-694-3600

Riverbank is the only park of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. Inspired by urban rooftop designs in Japan, this 28-acre multi-level landscaped recreational facility is a state-of-the-art park facility. Rising 69 feet above the Hudson River, Riverbank offers a wide variety of recreational, athletic and arts experiences for all ages, interests and abilities.

Housed in five major buildings are an Olympic-size pool, a covered skating rink for roller skating in the summer and ice-skating in the winter, an 800-seat cultural theater, a 2,500-seat athletic complex with fitness room, and a 150-seat restaurant.

Outdoor sports amenities include a 25-yard lap pool, a wading pool, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, a softball field, four hand/paddleball courts, and a 400-meter eight-lane running track with a football/soccer field.

Riverbank also boasts spectacular promenade views of the Hudson River, the Palisade Mountains and the George Washington Bridge. At water level, there is a 400-seat amphitheater and docking facilities for excursion and fishing boats.

Two playgrounds, a water splashing area and a number of picnic areas round out Riverbank's many offerings.

No bicycle riding within Riverbank State Park.

Attractions

* Empire Passport Accepted Food
* Gymnasium Hiking
* Ice Skating Performing Arts Theater
* Picnic Tables Playground
* Playing Field(s) Pool
* Recreation Programs Showers
* Tennis

Directions

By Car from the NYS Thruway: Take Major Deegan Expressway South; exit at the 155th Street Bridge, turn right & bear right off the bridge onto 155th Street, continue straight to Broadway, turn left and continue to 145th Street, turn right and continue down the hill one block to the entrance of the park.

By Car from New Jersey: Take George Washington Bridge (lower level) to Henry Hudson Parkway South, bear left and exit at Riverside Drive, continue South on Riverside Drive to 145th Street, turn right to enter the park.

By Car from Long Island: Take Whitestone Bridge to Cross-Bronx Expressway, take Westside Highway exit, bear left to Riverside Drive exit, turn right off the exit and continue straight to Riverside Drive to 145th Street. Turn right into the park.

By Bus: From Bronx - Cross-town BX19 to Riverbank. From Manhattan - M11 Bus directly into the park.

By Subway: Westside IRT #9 (skip service) to 145th Street. Walk one block west.

History

Resting 69 feet above the Hudson River, with a captivating view of the Palisades and the George Washington Bridge, Riverbank State Park is one of the city's most unique and beautiful facilities. The only park in the Western Hemisphere modeled after Tokyo's rooftop gardens, Riverbank emphasizes the Japanese tradition of bringing rusticity and nature into the city. With its pedestrian paths, fountains and benches, community gardens, a greenhouse, the waterfront amphitheater, and a picnic area, Riverbank's design is a careful balance of natural disorder in an ordered environment.

The park runs from West 137 Street to West 145 Street, between the Hudson River and Riverside Drive in Manhattan. The Board of Estimate (a now defunct municipal body) approved the site on October 4, 1985, and construction began in 1992; New York State and the New York City Department of Environmental Protection provided $130 million for the project. Riverbank State Park opened to the public on May 27, 1993, and is now operated by the New York State Department of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation.

Riverbank State Park annually receives over 2 million visitors, the third highest attendance of any New York State park--after the Niagara Reservation State Park and Jones Beach State Park. Host to many sports youth leagues, programs and events each year, the park's outdoor athletic facilities include a baseball field, four basketball courts, four handball courts, four tennis courts, a soccer field with night lighting, and an eight-lane running track.

Of the many facilities at Riverbank State Park, the skating rink, roller in the summer and ice in the winter, is one of the most popular. The Cultural Center contains a theater, two rehearsal rooms, and men's and women's dressing rooms. The Athletic Building facilities include a gym, a game room, a fitness room, and men's and women's locker rooms; two playgrounds hold play equipment with safety surfacing. There is also a Water Play Area, and the Riverbank Cafe and Snack Bar. The Totally Kid Carousel ride, created by Milo Mottola for the children of New York State, was designed by New York City school children. A floating dock, for improved boat access to the Hudson River, will open in the spring of 2002 with funding from the New York State Clear Water/Clean Air Bond Act.


Source: nysparks.state.ny.us
nycgovparks.org

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