Little Island rises from the Hudson River where an ageing New York pier once stood, its planted slopes resting on a series of concrete structures that make the park appear to float above the water. The 2.4-acre public space opened in May 2021 after years of planning, legal disputes and construction, as reported by The New York Times. It was largely funded by billionaire media executive Barry Diller through the Diller-von Furstenberg Family Foundation, turning the former Pier 54 site into a new part of Hudson River Park. What began as a proposal to repair a damaged pier has since become a heavily visited waterfront destination. Reportedly, by 2026, Little Island had welcomed more than 7.5 million visitors.
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