i’ve spent quite a bit of time running, biking, soaking up the sun, and sometimes just strolling along the hudson lately… i grew up on its banks up at west point and this summer, perhaps more than ever, the river has served as a welcome antidote to the heat and density of the city. i’m on a deadline today and just walked out to west harlem piers park for a bit of a breather, and after what seems like an obligatory stop into fairway i was walking back alongside a sweet little old lady who made my day. i can’t remember why we started chatting, but soon enough she was telling me how happy her doctor is because she’s been walking along the river every single day since this park opened up. she’s lost weight, her hips don’t ache anymore, she’s sleeping better… she’s just downright healthier. in her words, “i don’t know why people move to florida, we’ve got it all right here!”

we continued to talk about how much the waterfront has changed, and how the only part of the entire length she doesn’t like is between 23rd and 59th “where they haven’t made as much of an effort.” here’s the kicker, though: when i asked her how long she’s lived in harlem to see all the changes up here, she replied “oh i don’t live here honey, i live in queens!” this woman takes the subway over from queens nearly every day to walk along the hudson river!

so congratulations and thank you to all the hudson river park designers – barbara wilks for west harlem piers, thomas balsley for riverside park south, michael van valkenburgh for chelsea cove, signe nielson for the fabulous stretch down in the west village, and of course the patrons and stewards at hudson river park trust – for bringing us a little closer to the edge.

(images courtesy of the cooper hewitt, where west harlem piers park was nominated for a 2009 people’s design award.)