Malt Drive Park

The name references the former beer distribution center that used to occupy the site—and cut the area off from the river. The park restores public access to the waterfront, strengthens the city’s shoreline resilience, and bridges the connections between Hunter’s Point South Park, a new mixed-use development, and the neighborhood of Long Island City.

Long Island City has one of the lowest open space ratios in all of New York City, a disparity the park directly addresses with 3.5 new acres of open space. Malt Drive Park is a key piece in a network of waterfront spaces in Hunter’s Point South, connecting the new mixed-use development and the surrounding neighborhoods of Long Island City.

Every element of the design honors the surrounding water and its unique ecology. The landscape gently slopes toward the creek, and the paths meander like rivulets in a stream. Multi-functional spaces encourage visitors to linger as nature-based infrastructure mitigates flood risks.

Largely located within the 100-year storm zone, the park is designed to withstand flooding by filtering the creek through a hardy, salt-tolerant landscape. Native plantings, such as bald cypress, swamp white oaks, and red maples, filter and divert storm water while providing shade for seating and play structures.

Visitors flow through other social and practical spaces, such as a civic grove, an outdoor classroom, and a dog run. People can watch the river from the open lawn or from above an “eco-cove:” carved into the shoreline. This cove is lined with a marine mattress to support aquatic vegetation and habitat.

This active and immersive new shoreline will help the city adapt to a changing climate. SCAPE hopes that it also encourages visitors to feel a strong sense of connection with the rivers at the heart of New York City.