by Mike Hays
Who knew? South Nyack has two tiny riverfront parks, Towt Park and the Gesner Avenue parcel.
River View from Towt Park. Bridge viewing platform at Memorial Park is on the far left.
Towt Park had a rare opening on Labor Day as a Pop-Up park. Families visited 115 Piermont Avenue and kids played bean toss, colored with crayons, and wandered around the tiny waterfront parcel. The event included a brainstorm of future waterfront usage in South Nyack. One idea put forth was kayak rentals.
The Towt Park is not typically open because two decaying buildings remain on the site, leftover from the sewage management system built there in 1938. At the time, it was a vast improvement over direct Hudson River release. A modern pumping station some time ago replaced the facility.
Pop-up party looking up to Piermont Avenue
The tiny waterfront offers views north, to Memorial Park and the bridge viewing platform, and south, to sandy beaches arcing around to Voorhis Point.
River view from Gesner Avenue Parcel
The Gesner Avenue Parcel is even smaller. It is located at the end of Gesner Street, has no parking, but the park has several small benches right on the river edge. It offers great views of sunrise over the Hudson and close-ups of the new Tappan Zee Bridge by day or night. Overwhelmed by Hurricane Sandy, the park has recently been returned to usefulness.
Riverside seating at Gesner Avenue Parcel
Photo Credit: Mike Hays
Michael Hays is a 30-year resident of the Nyacks. He grew up the son of a professor and nurse in Champaign, Illinois. He has recently retired from a long career in educational publishing with Prentice-Hall and McGraw-Hill. He is an avid cyclist, amateur historian and photographer, gardener, and dog walker. He has enjoyed more years than he cares to count with his beautiful companion, Bernie Richey. You can follow him on Instagram as UpperNyackMike.
