From cargo terminal to athletic landmark
Pier 40, located at 353 West Street in Manhattan, is part of Hudson River Park. Originally built in 1962 as a terminal for the Holland America Line, the complex has undergone several transformations over the decades.
Today, Pier 40 is the largest pier in Hudson River Park, covering more than 15 acres. It combines sports facilities, a parking garage, the offices of the Hudson River Park Trust, a wetlab for river research, and recreational features such as an open-air trapeze school on the roof.
Athletic fields elevated
The most striking feature is the rooftop turf field, part of Pier 40’s multi-level sports complex that also includes courtyard and indoor fields.
According to Hudson River Park, there are:
- Rooftop Field #1 – an all-purpose turf field measuring 40 x 70 yards (approximately 36.6 x 64 meters)
- Rooftop Field #2 (youth only) – 33 x 67 yards, for players aged 16 and under
- The fields are open from 6 a.m. to midnight
- The combined Pier 40 facilities host more than 200,000 children and adults every year
- The rooftop fields support sports such as soccer, rugby, American football, and lacrosse.
Experience and atmosphere
Playing on the roof of Pier 40 offers a unique experience. The field rises above the Hudson River, surrounded by panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline and the West Village waterfront.
Local leagues such as NYC Footy describe it as “the epicenter of soccer in Manhattan,” where you can play in formats from 5v5 to 9v9.
In summer, the roof also welcomes the Trapeze School of New York, one of the few outdoor trapeze setups in the city.
“Here, between river and sky, New Yorkers rediscover what it means to play.”
Accessibility, permits and use
The rooftop fields are open to both organized groups and casual players. Permits are required for team practices and leagues, while certain time slots are available for open play on a first-come, first-served basis.
Pier 40’s fields are open from early morning to midnight, offering a rare combination of accessibility and location. Beneath the roof sits a large parking facility that helps fund the maintenance of Hudson River Park.
A new layer of public space
Pier 40 is more than a sports facility, it’s part of a larger urban vision. Hudson River Park connects the west side of Manhattan with a string of recreational spaces, parks, and community areas along the river.
By transforming an industrial pier into a mixed-use recreation hub, New York has shown how existing infrastructure can be adapted to create more active, livable cities.
Opportunities and challenges
Opportunities
- Adds much-needed sports capacity in a dense urban area
- Makes movement and recreation highly visible
- Combines infrastructure and leisure to increase city value
Challenges
- Ensuring roof structure and load-bearing safety
- Installing protective netting and fencing for security
- Managing accessibility through elevators, stairs, and exits
- Coordinating scheduling between different sports and events
Pier 40 shows that rooftop sports are not only feasible, they can become icons of urban life. A roof field doesn’t have to be a novelty; it can be a vital part of the city’s recreational ecosystem.
In a city where horizontal space is precious, looking upward is no longer a gimmick but a necessity. New York proves that with vision, creativity, and courage, even rooftops can become fields of movement and connection.