SCAPE was asked by the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy to speculate on new futures for Fort Wadsworth and the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area. As an urban national park, Fort Wadsworth is a valuable historic, ecological, and cultural resource most widely known for its panoramic views of New York harbor and massive fort and battery infrastructure. While the assets are clear, much of the site is difficult to navigate and interpret and does not strongly connect to the surrounding neighborhoods or regional populations.
SCAPE developed a series of catalytic and small-scale interventions that better link the park to the coastline and the surrounding region and more clearly reveal historic resources within the visitor experience. A new bicycle route, the Shoreway, connects coastline military structures with the popular bikeways and boardwalks of Staten Island’s East Shore. An expanded pedestrian trail network offers more intimate and unique experiences of the historic military infrastructure, while small scale physical space improvements upgrade the visitors experience, offering outdoor exhibits, clear destinations, and waiting and picnicking space for visitors. At the southern end of the site, space is allocated for the expansion of low-impact camping program within the coastal zone, contributing toward the proposal to make Gateway America largest urban national campground.
Client
- National Parks of New York Harbor
Collaborators
National Park Service
