Little Island Theater

Little Island rises above the Hudson River on one hundred and thirty-two concrete structures that resemble oversized tulip petals. These supports vary in height, lifting the park between fifteen and sixty-two feet above the water to create an undulating landscape of hills and pathways. Engineers designed this forest of pillars to mimic ice formations gathering around wooden pilings in winter, transforming a structural necessity into a signature architectural feature. Each petal is a unique piece of engineering, calculated to bear different loads depending on whether it supports a grassy hill, a performance stage, or a heavy cluster of trees.