Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park and Pavilion | Thomas Phifer and Partners

The South Battery Park City Resiliency Project, along with other Lower Manhattan Resiliency Projects, is designed to protect one of New York City’s most densely built environments against future storms and sea level rise. The flood risk reduction projects and interior drainage improvements focused on Battery Park City provide protection for both this neighborhood and adjacent areas. Engineered to withstand a 100-year storm in 2050 and anticipated sea level rise, the project also delivers world-class public spaces that are built to last.

The project provides a comprehensive flood risk reduction alignment in a way that continues to provide public access to the waterfront while using as many static structures as possible to reduce risk of operational complexity or failure. The South Battery Park City site includes four different project areas, which integrate the flood risk reduction alignment according to their specific challenges and constraints: Museum of Jewish Heritage, Wagner Park, Pier A plaza, and The Battery.

Flood Risk Protection

Multiple flood resiliency strategies were explored in various combinations by interdisciplinary teams and evaluated for their technical feasibility and impact on the public realm. A key priority in selecting these measures was preserving the character and value of the existing public spaces within and around the project area. Due to the height of intervention required, some impacts to public space were unavoidable. However, the project leverages the changes in topography necessary to create an integrated and cohesive flood risk reduction system, and to provide an improved public realm. The graphics below illustrate the wide range of flood risk reduction tools that were studied and integrated to navigate the significant changes in elevation across the site.

Project Overview

The design and planning of Wagner Park reflect a collaborative, interdisciplinary approach that integrates flood risk mitigation, landscape architecture, and architecture that prioritizes views across the landscape to the waterfront, strengthens pedestrian connectivity, and ensures universal access into the surrounding fabric of Lower Manhattan. The legacy park featured a blend of open lawns, a pavilion, and seasonal gardens, organized to frame views of the Statue of Liberty and take advantage of its prominent location at the southern end of Battery Park City. The future park will be elevated approximately 10 feet above the legacy park elevation to address flood risk, while maintaining sightlines to the harbor and access to the Museum of Jewish Heritage to the north, Battery Place to the east, and Pier A Plaza to the south. Inspired by a commitment to long-term waterfront access and respect for the site’s design legacy, the new design of Wagner Park follows the same organizational principles, spatial experiences, and views by hiding the necessary flood risk reduction infrastructure underneath the elevated park.

Pavilion Overview

Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park visitors approach the Pavilion from Battery Place by moving up through two sloped gardens, each ordered by the rhythm of an allée of trees. The Wagner Pavilion is in dialogue with nearby historic structures on New York Harbor, including Castle Clinton, Castle Williams and Fort Wadsworth. The deep, warm red color of the concrete harmonizes with the warmth of the brick buildings that distinguish Battery Park City. Arched vaults welcome the public to the entry piazza, serving as the gateway to the park. As visitors pass through the tremendous vault, the expansive green park and harbor come into view. The Wagner Pavilion perfectly frames views of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. This procession celebrates the presence of the Wagner Pavilion and the gardens, honoring the site and its history.

Visitors can also approach the Pavilion from the waterside esplanade by ascending the accessible ramps and stairs that provide multiple options for access.

The Wagner Pavilion will offer both a restaurant and a classroom to support public enjoyment of Robert F. Wagner Jr. Park. Tables and seating outside connect the life of these interiors with the surrounding park and gardens, forming an energetic piazza that unfolds and opens to the harbor. Two grand stairs and an accessible elevator bring visitors up to the observation deck, which presents 360-degree views looking out over the New York harbor and The Battery towards Staten Island and New Jersey, as well as inland to Battery Park City and downtown Manhattan. The roof design features plantings that overhang and soften the edge of the roof parapet and harmonize with plantings on the nearby Museum of Jewish Heritage. The Wagner Pavilion’s geometry is designed with softly curving walls to reflect the surrounding topography and gardens. It sits harmoniously in nature, offering a poetic experience of discovery grounded in its surroundings.

The new Pavilion minimizes environmental impact while creating harmony within its natural context. From diverting construction waste to reducing both operational and embodied carbon, the design incorporates a range of sustainable practices and aligns with Battery Park City’s long-term sustainability goals. The Pavilion is expected to obtain International Living Future Institute (ILFI) Zero Carbon Certification, the first worldwide zero carbon third-party certified standard. The intent of the Zero Carbon Certification program is to provide a roadmap to a fully decarbonized built environment by evaluating, reducing, and offsetting both operational and embodied carbon impacts of buildings.

Park Sustainability

The site’s layout and grading are strategically designed to ensure universal accessibility while simultaneously managing overland stormwater flows, optimizing on-site capture and reuse. The stormwater management strategy differentiates between the “wet” side—water-side of the flood protection line—and the “dry” side—landward of it. On the wet side, precipitation is directed through planted areas within the Performative Gardens and/or filtration systems along the Esplanade. From there, water flows into an underground infiltration gallery, where it is temporarily stored before gradually percolating through the soil to the relieving platform. This platform is equipped with weep holes that allow for controlled release of water. On the dry side, stormwater is conveyed to a reuse cistern and subsequently directed to a water reuse equipment room, where it is filtered and treated for non-potable uses including site wash-down and irrigation. Areas on the dry side that do not drain to the reuse cistern are designed to capture, treat, and release stormwater into the NYCDEP storm sewer system, ensuring compliance with city standards and maximizing environmental performance.

Sustainability is further advanced through the selective salvaging and reuse of existing site materials including stone, wood, and trench drains. High albedo materials are used in all spaces of the park, except for the esplanade, where the current NYC park-standard hex pavers are being kept or replaced in kind. These high albedo materials include hex pavers in a range of light colors and a resin bound aggregate to provide a more garden-like feel. Of these high albedo areas, about 40% of it will be pervious and direct the water that filters through them to the water reuse tank. Turfgrass areas are equipped with subsurface irrigation systems that reduce water consumption by over 30%, further promoting sustainable resource use across the park. Lighting throughout the site, including solar-powered fixtures, adheres to dark sky principles to reduce glare and enhance nighttime views of the New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty.

Ecology and Living Shoreline

Wagner Park’s redesign has earned Gold certification under the Waterfront Alliance’s Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines (WEDG), recognizing its innovative integration of resilient, ecological, and accessible waterfront design. Through a collaborative landscape architectural and engineering approach, the project elevates both the programmatic and ecological diversity of the site while reinforcing its environmental value and community relevance. A central objective in the park’s redevelopment was to maximize green space—both to address community feedback and to mitigate urban heat island effect. To meet the WEDG target of 50% greenspace, pathway widths were minimized to essential circulation needs, and areas of unavoidable hardscape, such as the allees, were softened with shade trees to reduce solar exposure and introduce a dappled, comfortable microclimate.

The park introduces a range of ecological features and educational opportunities that foster environmental stewardship. A new marine habitat education zone near the Pier A inlet offers direct public engagement with the living shoreline and highlights the value of restored aquatic ecosystems. Along the water’s edge, terraced topography and habitat shelves support native vegetation, tide pools, and salt-tolerant plantings, enhancing habitat complexity for marine and bird species. Engineered elements like pile wraps and specialized concrete veneers further expand surface area for invertebrate colonization, bolstering ecological productivity.

The planting design emphasizes seasonal variation and ecological function. The central garden rises from the north and south ends of the park, creating an immersive and lush environment. Entry points are framed by vibrant, seasonally dynamic plantings, while the central garden introduces deeper-toned foliage for visual contrast and spatial depth. The site supports four regional plant communities—tidal estuary, maritime meadow, maritime forest, and upland woodland—all composed primarily of native species to reduce irrigation demand, lower maintenance requirements, and significantly increase biodiversity. Upland ecological zones are designed as salt-tolerant stormwater management gardens, capturing runoff while simultaneously creating habitat and visual interest. These upland systems, along with the living shoreline components, collectively transform the site into an active, resilient, and educational waterfront landscape that exemplifies best practices in ecological design and climate adaptation.