New York City's Little Island Is Finally Open To Visitors

New York City's Little Island Is Finally Open To Visitors


June 17, 2021 | Eul Basa

New York City's Little Island Is Finally Open To Visitors


Move over, Central Park—there's a new trendy outdoor spot in town. After seven years of planning and development, New York City's Little Island is now officially open to the public in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, and it serves as yet another green space for visitors to explore.

Built along the Hudson River on what was formerly Pier 54 on West 13th Street, Little Island is one of the first green spaces to open in New York City since the pandemic started. While it's nowhere near as big as Central Park, the 2.5-acre venue will surely provide people with a sense of refuge from the hustle and bustle of the downtown core.

There are several points of interest within Little Island to check out, including an outdoor amphitheater with 687 seats, a central plaza called 'The Playground' where people can get food and enjoy the views, and a lawn stage called 'The Glade' which can be used for performance and cultural events. The entire area was designed by Thomas Heatherwick and funded by the Diller von Furstenberg Family Foundation. After a tough year of strict closures around the city, the opening of Little Island is definitely a breath of fresh air.

"I hope Little Island will serve as a whimsical oasis for everyone who visits, a place to wander around and be happily surprised at every turn, to lounge and graze the landscape, and to be entertained, educated, and stimulated by our programming,” said Barry Diller, the media mogul who donated $260 million to the Little Island project.

Diller hopes that New Yorkers will embrace the new green space and enjoy the free independent arts programming that it has to offer. In fact, Little Island will already host hundreds of local talent as early as this June to entertain new visitors right away.

Currently, Little Park is open daily and completely free of charge to visit. However, due to the ongoing pandemic and the restrictions that are still in place, Little Park will be taking timed reservations between the hours of 12 pm and 8 pm. Those interested in visiting the park will have to first book a time slot online at LittleIsland.org before heading out.

"In the midst of all these other crises we are all facing, we are in a crisis of place," says Heatherwick. "We have become so digitally connected, but that tends to put us in different tribes. With this project, we were just as interested in how it would work in the day-to-day experience of people just wandering around—all of us with each other."

READ MORE

uncertain and thoughtful man holding documents, standing in front of a house undergoing repairs
INVESTING

My friend insists that in 2026, homeownership is a scam because of taxes, insurance, and repairs. Is renting actually now smarter long term?

Your friend is not wrong to cringe at property taxes, insurance bills, and surprise repair costs. Those expenses are real, and in many markets they have risen sharply in the past few years. But calling homeownership a scam goes too far, because the long term math depends on time, location, financing, and what would happen to your rent if you do not buy.
May 19, 2026 Miles Brucker
FINANCE TIPS

I loaned a friend $5,000 to buy a car via an informal payment arrangement. He recently tragically died. Can I still ask his widow to keep paying me?

Loaned a friend $5,000 before he passed away? Learn whether you can ask his widow to keep paying, how estate debts work, and how to handle the situation with compassion and proof.
May 22, 2026 Jack Hawkins
SAVE MONEY

My son moved back home, and now my utility bills are out of control. He can't afford to pay us, is now the time to upgrade my home for efficiency?

Having an extra person in the home can spike your utility bills, especially if they have high usage habits.
May 25, 2026 Marlon Wright
FINANCE TIPS

I refused to lend my son $1000 to the end of next week, so he went and took out a payday loan instead. Did I make a mistake?

Setting boundaries for lending to family members is important, but what it they resort to high-interest payday loans instead?
May 25, 2026 Jane O'Shea
Restaurant Investment
INVESTING

My brother wants me to invest in his restaurant even though he has already failed at two businesses. Should family loyalty trump my instincts?

Few money conversations get messier faster than this one. Your brother wants you to invest in his restaurant, but he has already watched two businesses fail. That puts family loyalty on a collision course with cold financial reality.
May 18, 2026 Miles Brucker
Confused man holding debit machine
SMART SPENDING

I tipped on the machine, but the final charge was higher than expected. Did I just get scammed?

You tapped your card, added a tip, and walked away thinking the transaction was done. Then your banking app showed a higher charge than the amount you remember approving. Sometimes it is just a temporary hold or payment processing delay, but hidden fees, double tips, and even shady billing tactics can also be to blame.
May 25, 2026 Penelope Singh

Disclaimer

The information on MoneyMade.com is intended to support financial literacy and should not be considered tax or legal advice. It is not meant to serve as a forecast, research report, or investment recommendation, nor should it be taken as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or adopt any particular investment strategy. All financial, tax, and legal decisions should be made with the help of a qualified professional. We do not guarantee the accuracy, timeliness, or outcomes associated with the use of this content.




Dear reader,


It’s true what they say: money makes the world go round. In order to succeed in this life, you need to have a good grasp of key financial concepts. That’s where Moneymade comes in. Our mission is to provide you with the best financial advice and information to help you navigate this ever-changing world. Sometimes, generating wealth just requires common sense. Don’t max out your credit card if you can’t afford the interest payments. Don’t overspend on Christmas shopping. When ordering gifts on Amazon, make sure you factor in taxes and shipping costs. If you need a new car, consider a model that’s easy to repair instead of an expensive BMW or Mercedes. Sometimes you dream vacation to Hawaii or the Bahamas just isn’t in the budget, but there may be more affordable all-inclusive hotels if you know where to look.


Looking for a new home? Make sure you get a mortgage rate that works for you. That means understanding the difference between fixed and variable interest rates. Whether you’re looking to learn how to make money, save money, or invest your money, our well-researched and insightful content will set you on the path to financial success. Passionate about mortgage rates, real estate, investing, saving, or anything money-related? Looking to learn how to generate wealth? Improve your life today with Moneymade. If you have any feedback for the MoneyMade team, please reach out to [email protected]. Thanks for your help!


Warmest regards,

The Moneymade team




✕

Want to read more?

If you like humaverse you may also consider subscribing to these newsletters:

Healthcare AI News
5 minutes or less is all it takes to elevate your Healthcare knowledge with our expert-curated weekly AI newsletter. The Sweaty Startup
Join 46,000+ people who read my weekly newsletter about real-estate, entrepreneurship, and what it takes to succeed long-term. The Yellowbrick Road
Want to make more money in the stock market? Our AI tool reads and summarizes 100s of stock articles every day and sends the best in our free, daily email. Join 10,000+ smart investors.