DMAVA Park and Shoreline Stabilization

Jersey City, NJ

SCAPE collaborated with Langan Engineering on this signature new waterfront park along the Hudson River on the New Jersey shore, directly across from lower Manhattan. Situated on the historic Morris Canal, the relationship of the users to the waterfront is an integral aspect of the park’s vision. The role of the Hudson River in the early making of America is a compelling story, epitomized by the movement of goods and cargo from canal boats upstream to ships on the Morris Canal’s Little Basin. Historic migrations of people through nearby Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty also played a role in our research. Our sensitive preservation approach, strong landscape design, and ecologically based engineering interpret and magnify this history.

The degraded site is transformed into a publicly accessible waterfront park with ‘get-downs,’ open lawns and environmentally sensitive micro gardens on higher ground. Additionally, SCAPE worked with artists during the design process to develop an interactive Morris Canal map highlighting the history and importance of the canal to the Tri-state area. Through a series of design moves and a carefully crafted plant palette, the design merges environmental, historical and recreational issues into a vibrant, waterfront park on the Hudson River.

With dramatic views of the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan as a backdrop, DMAVA park pays tribute to the history of the site while providing a outdoor space that provides water access, intimate spaces for relaxation, a promenade and a large event space to move the area into the present day.

Credits:
LANGAN