Inspiration Point (Hudson River Greenway) facts for kids
The Inspiration Point Shelter is a cool spot to take a break for people riding bikes along the Manhattan Waterfront Greenway. It's located inside Fort Washington Park in Manhattan. This park stretches from Inwood Hill Park in the north to Riverside Park in the south. From Inspiration Point, you can see amazing views of the Palisades cliffs across the Hudson River and the famous George Washington Bridge to the south.
A Look Back: History of the Shelter
The Inspiration Point Shelter first opened its doors in 1925. It was designed in 1924 by an architect named Gustave Steinacher. This beautiful sitting area was made as a resting place for people walking or driving for fun on the Henry Hudson Parkway. It quickly became a favorite spot for tourists visiting the Hudson River.
When it was first built, the shelter had two levels. The top level was an open-air covered area where people could relax. The lower level had restrooms for both walkers and drivers. You could reach the lower level by stairs on either side of the shelter.
How It Changed Over Time
In the 1930s, the Henry Hudson Parkway was built. This changed the area around the shelter a lot. What used to be a quiet place for relaxing drives became a busy road. The shelter ended up being cut off from the rest of Manhattan and wasn't used much anymore.
By 1989, the shelter was in rough shape. It looked like parts were falling off, and water had damaged the ceiling. It seemed like a forgotten place.
But good news! Soon after that, the city decided to fix up the shelter. They made some small changes to its structure. The old bathrooms and the roof were removed permanently. Now, only the street level of the shelter is open to the public.
Today, you can't drive right up to the shelter from the Henry Hudson Parkway. It's now only reachable from the Henry Hudson Greenway. You can get onto the Greenway from a footbridge at 181st Street or an underpass at Riverside Drive and Dyckman Street.
