Right beside the Holland Tunnel sits a little slice of paradise called Freeman Triangle. This greenspace is a sanctuary in a bustling part of the city. Freeman Triangle provides a place for relaxation and productivity.
The Hudson Square Business Improvement District reopened Freeman Plaza East after a six-month renovation. It is located at Varick and Watts Streets. The 5,000 square-foot area offers respite from city life.
In 2021, HSBID renovated Freeman Plaza East. They wanted to provide the community with vibrant and accessible outdoor spaces. These spaces are perfect for relaxation and work. Improvements include lush plantings. These plantings act as natural buffers protecting the park from tunnel approaches. Accessible pathways lead to new seating and tables. Wi-Fi access supports outdoor working. Decking islands are made from recycled materials.
Freeman Plaza East originally opened in September 2014. It was part of an effort to make Hudson Square a place that puts people first. It features tables lounge chairs and umbrellas on platforms. A giant red Noguchi sculpture stands here.
In 2020, the space was modified to accommodate social distancing. This provided the community with more critical outdoor space during Covid-19. It is a great place to hang out clear your mind and let your imagination fly. Freeman Plaza East is open seasonally from spring to fall daily from 8am to dusk. It is owned and operated by the Port Authority of NY&NJ.
Freeman Plaza West originally opened in 2013. It underwent a renovation in 2018. It features a 900-square foot turf lawn. Additional seating and umbrellas are available. It is a popular spot to hang out clear your mind and let your imagination fly. The space was modified to accommodate social distancing. It provides the community with more outdoor space.
Freeman Plaza West features a custom painted ping-pong table. You can use the park’s paddles or bring your own. There is also a solar-powered charging station. Charge your phone for free. A Little Free Library includes books and magazines. There is a rotating menu of lawn and board games. Freeman Plaza West is open seasonally from spring to fall. It is open seven days a week from 8am to dusk.
MNLA developed a public realm master plan for Hudson Square. This neighborhood was once industrial. Now it is an epicenter of New York City’s creative industries. The plan proposes initiatives to create a sustainable network of spaces. MNLA’s plan identified a shortage of public space. Though the neighborhood bears the brunt of Holland Tunnel traffic there are two acres of unused space. These spaces are among the four tunnel approach routes. With creative planning and cooperation three temporary but long-term landscapes have taken root.
Within these spaces it is remarkably quiet. Cars no longer honk once they are in the queue to enter the tunnel. The design augments existing mature trees with understory and low-level plantings. It infills the large ballast stone surface with finer-grain aggregates. Simple platforms of recycled lumber support tables chairs and loungers. After a couple of successful years the plazas were enhanced. Enhancements include a Noguchi play sculpture a synthetic turf surface and solar wifi charging stations. Today lunchtime yoga and music events frequent the space. Many district workers enjoy the spacious sunlit and serene comfort of Freeman Plaza.